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Lisa's Reviews > Intimations
Intimations
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Intimations is a perfect title for this short collection of essays, reflections, and literary sketches that Zadie Smith wrote over the course of the first few months of the pandemic. While not front and center in most of these pieces, the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement hover in the background throughout.
The thread that weaves these works together is the concept of difference and sameness; we are all in the same situation, and our circumstances differ. These particularities matter.
The essay that most strongly stood out to me was one of the "Screengrabs," her brilliant metaphor of contempt as a virus.
I am always impressed by Smith's writing. I am in awe of the consummate skill with which she ended each of these essays with the perfect sentence or paragraph to tie the piece together. She brilliantly succeeds at her stated aim to, ". . . give readers the thing I try to fight for myself, which is a space to think your own thoughts, whatever they might be."
The thread that weaves these works together is the concept of difference and sameness; we are all in the same situation, and our circumstances differ. These particularities matter.
The essay that most strongly stood out to me was one of the "Screengrabs," her brilliant metaphor of contempt as a virus.
I am always impressed by Smith's writing. I am in awe of the consummate skill with which she ended each of these essays with the perfect sentence or paragraph to tie the piece together. She brilliantly succeeds at her stated aim to, ". . . give readers the thing I try to fight for myself, which is a space to think your own thoughts, whatever they might be."
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Linda
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Sep 15, 2022 08:16AM
Nice review.
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Linda wrote: "Nice review."Thank you, Linda.
I wondered about this one, glad to see you enjoyed it, Lisa. Have you read other nonfiction by her?
Jennifer wrote: "I wondered about this one, glad to see you enjoyed it, Lisa. Have you read other nonfiction by her?"I have not. I am very impressed by the writing here, and will definitely read more in the future.
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The title is indeed very appropriately selected. I have been wanting to read this, Lisa. Your review is inspiring as always.
Great review, Lisa. I have read little of her fiction, but was very impressed by another essay collection of hers, especially by her essays on books, eg on Middlemarch.
Nika wrote: "Excellent review, Lisa."I appreciate your kind words.
©hrissie ❁ [Back-ish -- Recovery Mode] wrote: "The title is indeed very appropriately selected. I have been wanting to read this, Lisa. Your review is inspiring as always."Thank you, Chrissie. This is a wonderful collection with brilliant writing. I hope you find it as brilliant as I did.
Ilse wrote: "Great review, Lisa. I have read little of her fiction, but was very impressed by another essay collection of hers, especially by her essays on books, eg on Middlemarch."It has been a while since I read her fiction, and I loved these essays even more. I appreciate the recommendation to look for more.
