Swing Time

By: Zadie Smith

Narrated by: Pippa Bennett-Warner

“Smith’s thrilling cultural insights never overshadow the wholeness of her characters, who are so keenly observed that one feels witness to their lives.” —O, The Oprah Magazine

“A sweeping meditation on art, race, and identity that may be [Smith’s] most ambitious work yet.” —Esquire

A New York Times bestseller • Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction • Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize

An ambitious, exuberant new novel moving from North West London to West Africa, from the multi-award-winning author of White Teeth and On Beauty.

Two brown girls dream of being dancers—but only one, Tracey, has talent. The other has ideas: about rhythm and time, about black bodies and black music, what constitutes a tribe, or makes a person truly free. It's a close but complicated childhood friendship that ends abruptly in their early twenties, never to be revisited, but never quite forgotten, either.

Tracey makes it to the chorus line but struggles with adult life, while her friend leaves the old neighborhood behind, traveling the world as an assistant to a famous singer, Aimee, observing close up how the one percent live.

But when Aimee develops grand philanthropic ambitions, the story moves from London to West Africa, where diaspora tourists travel back in time to find their roots, young men risk their lives to escape into a different future, the women dance just like Tracey—the same twists, the same shakes—and the origins of a profound inequality are not a matter of distant history, but a present dance to the music of time.

Wonderful characters, no resolution -a very satisfying read

An engaging journey through two women's growing up years, from public housing to a third-tier university, one-name celebrities and the complexities of fighting African poverty. Many fascinating female characters, vivid writing and time-shifting made this an engrossing novel.

Sadie Does It Again

What do we owe one another? It 's the central question of Swing Time. That and when does rescue become interference? For two little girls growing up in the northern suburbs of London, these questions are as intertwined as their lives as they grow up and go their separate ways. The talented one is admired. The admirer is supported. Does this make all the difference?

As always Ms Smith's writing is precise, funny, heartbreaking and true.

Adored it.

I really enjoyed this book

The narration was solid, and clever, and in some places fun. The story was interesting, and crafted in a way that pulls you in by noting the layers and depth in a chance meeting. I really enjoyed this book, and think that the pairing of Zadie Smith's words, with Pippa Bennett-Warner's performance, was an inspired choice.

Oh zadie

This is a huge book. But one thing Keeps it back for me. It's not the lack of resolution that it lacks rather the lack of anything to be resolved. But still loads of zadie wisdom in here. And I'm quite sure it will Age well!

very realistic fiction

Swing Time is relevant and relatable while grappling difficult social and systemic issues for a modern audience.