Zadie Smith is an author who receives constant and well-deserved praise from critics but seems to evade other casual readers and bookworms with ease. Each of her novels paints a rich and textured portrait of its characters in a delicate and intimate way. In White Teeth, Smith uses her author's paintbrush to expertly illustrate the inner workings of six different characters. Although these characters are encapsulated within two close families and only have a minor generational gap, each is painfully unique. This novel is a personal favorite, and as her first, it's a great place to begin reading her novels and essays. She is a modern master; she is a peer to both Toni Morrison and Dave Eggers, bridging the gap between classic and hip. I implore you, reader to reader, please give this underrated author a spot on your shelf. Please read Zadie Smith.
Set in post-war London, this novel of the racial, political, and social upheaval of the last half-century follows two families--the Joneses and the Iqbals, both outsiders from within the former British empire--as they make their way in modern England. A first novel. Reprint. 200,000 first printing.