“Zadie Smith is the best writer of our generation”

NO MAJOR SPOILERS

 

Just finished Grand Union by Zadie Smith. Short stories. This is her first collection of short stories to be published and there are 19 in all.

While I must admit some of them were not too memorable, there are a fee that stand out. Escape from New York is a tale about 9/11. The towers are never mentioned in the story, just the fears of 3 upper class individuals looking to drive out of the city by Car on that fateful day.

Sentimental Education is about a married woman in her 40’s who is looking back at her life, including past romances. Miss Adele Amidst the Corsets is about a transvestite who is getting on in years who has a bad day of shopping.

But the real gem here is Kelso Deconstructed, the tale of the last day in the life of a man who had everything to look forward to in life and the tragedy that comes his way.

An uneven but at times surprising collection. A must for the many fans of the author.

 

Reviewed by:

Richard Franco

Added 12th February 2020

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Richard Franco