Allowing us a glimpse into the lives of the Kipps - a mixed race, academically divided family - and the Belseys - a deeply religious family committed to a traditional structure - On Beauty confronts the challenging ideas of love race, family, privilege, and happiness. These ideas are smoothly integrated, to the point where they solo and harmonise naturally, flowing into one another much like the Mozart listened to at the start of the novel.
Smith has a real talent for creating three dimensional characters in every sense of the word: these are people you can hear speaking and see moving. You can predict their reactions and feel their emotions. Kiki Belsey and her children were particularly alive to me. I admired their earnestness, their open hearts. Kiki especially was a character I would like to emulate in life: she was strong, emotionally open, willing and friendly. Most importantly, she was aware of the way she could be seen by others; Smith approached the lines of stereotypes, crossed them, even, but was aware of doing so. Kiki knew when she was acting a part and questioned herself repeatedly throughout the text about whether this was right or wrong of her. This felt like an honest way to admit that stereotypes exist but we don't need to move to the other end of the spectrum in order to dispel them, but ensure we are aware of the ways characters can be interpreted.
There's a passage about the way siblings behave with each other, how there's no small talk between siblings, and it rang so true for me. What I enjoyed about the Belsey children is that they were flawed, relatable teenagers, passionate about anything they could find as they tried to figure themselves and their place in the world out. They evidently loved each other and wanted to support each other, but it was difficult for them to articulate this. Smith's articulation of the teenage girl trying to be an adult was done incredibly, you could feel the awkwardness, the attempt to be sure of ones self, the insecurity lying just beneath. From both Zora and Victoria this inability to be what one wants at so young an age was brilliantly and tragically expressed by their respective storylines. I just loved all the teenagers in this story; so aware of the cultural expectations surround them but so caught up in the drama of their own lives. They were so much fun to reach about, even if sometimes it hurt a little.
Though I spare little sympathy for Howard or Monty, their families were fascinating. Monty had some interesting debates about privilege and opportunity, so I was incredibly disappointed to find his morality lasted no longer than Howard's did. That may just be what I like about Zadie Smith's charcters though their one big flaw isn't their only flaw. They have minor ones which, as we might in real life, we let exist without judging them too harshly. A example of what I mean is Monty's affair: it may be his major flaw, but he isn't otherwise perfect - he's haughty, and ignorant of his familial problems, hiding this behind his devotion to a good cause.
It's hard to explain the way Smith writes any more accurately, I just need you to know that I have never read a book where the characters are more real than in one of Smith's novels. She shows the true spectrum of life and humanity, the way life simply continues despite everything we go through. I'd recommend White Teeth before On Beauty but whatever you read I encourage you to pick up a Zadie Smith book. They might look daunting but they are so, so worthwhile.
Comments