AT THE LIBRARY
“Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays,” by Zadie Smith, Hamish Hamilton, 320 pages
Zadie Smith’s latest novel “Swing Time,” like her earlier novels “NW” (2012) and “White Teeth” (2000) are among the best novels of the past decade. But what I’d really like you to do is read “Changing My Mind,” an earlier collection of essays that are so full of intelligence, wit, thoughtfulness, not to mention a writing style that is enthralling, you won’t want the book to end.
Great books do a couple of things very well. One, they make you think and see beyond yourself, and two, they make you want to read more.
Smith’s essays accomplish this and more. In fact, her essay “E.M. Forster: Middle Manager” made me find and read his collection of BBC Talks, a nearly weekly record of his radio book reviews from 1929-1960.
A success all around.