White Teeth

White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Reviewed by Jess
📕📗📘📙📒

I honestly couldn't tell you how I've gone this long without reading a single Zadie Smith novel because this was simply an amazing book. The story she tells is one of London, of real life, of friendship and love and hardship and roots. Samad and Archie are best friends thrown together by the circumstance of the Second World War and somehow find themselves married to immigrant wives with children in North London. The book is the story of their life, and later their children's lives. Never have I ever read a book where cultures and languages and beliefs co-exist in harmony with no stereotyping, no reference to being "unique" or "cultural". All people exist as they are alongside each other, as in every suburban street in London, IN REAL NORMAL LIFE 👏🏽🎉. Their lives are far from ordinary though; they struggle with their immigrant identities, religious standing and what they mean to each other as family. Smith also tackles religious and domestic extremism with tenacity and tact. Importantly for me, Smith ties up all the loose ends with a perfect conclusion. White Teeth should be compulsory reading in schools for sure, and I also strongly recommend it to you!