Zadie Smith: Essays & Novels

Zadie Smith's Changing My Mind, a collection of essays, hit stores in November. Interestingly, a number of other writers - Michael Chabon, Margaret Drabble, Chinua Achebe - have also recently brought books of essays into the world. David Shields, author of Reality Hunger: A Manifesto argues that perhaps this is because good novel writers have become weary of the traditional novel form and that perhaps the essay will offer a better structure for a new vision of fiction. Smith, in her infinite wisdom, pushes the envelope on this notion and wonders if Shields' ideas aren't just a little too simplistic.

More at The Guardian.

Comments

  1. How is it that I didn't know Smith had a new book out?! And how did you post about it without mentioning it to me? Serves me right for not checking your blog more religiously, I suppose. I just corrected my horrific oversight and will have it (and Alice Munro's most recent book of short stories) in 3-5 business days.

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