[REVIEW] NW

NW by Zadie Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first novel from Zadie Smith and I have seen many reviews stating that Smith's best work are essays not novels. I think I understand why -- this book is not completely easy, in particular for a non-native. It changes structure several times, it introduces us to a character that we end up liking, to later not referring to him again at all... Was that really needed? Maybe yes, to show how everyone knew everyone in that NW neighbourhood...
It also explores the lives of 2 girls, best friends, where 1 is able to be herself with her best-friend, but the other ends up having a (somewhat weird) parallel life. All this is shown, not told, so I think I understood the reasons, but I'll never be sure. Also, the end of the book does not bring closure to many topics and I got the feeling of something almost done but not completed... I cannot explain it better than this...
Basically, I think I got it (but I am not sure LOL) still, I really liked it, enough for a 4 stars rating :-) however, I would definitely NOT recommend this book to everyone.

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