Tag Archives: Zadie Smith

Do Novels Open Us Up or Contain Us?

By Robin Bates | Published: October 2, 2019

A recent Zadie Smith article explores whether novels open us up or contain us. Her answer: Both.

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Michelle Obama’s Favorite Books

By Robin Bates | Published: December 11, 2018

Tuesday The indispensable “By the Book” column in the New YorkTimes recently interviewed Michelle Obama about her favorite books, and her answers are fascinating. I’ll list them and then discuss the patterns I see: Novels she’s currently reading –Zadie Smith, White Teeth, which Malia also loves –Tayari Jones, American Marriage –Mohsid Hamid, Exit West –Anne Patchett, […]

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Despite Trump, “The Land Holds Us Still”

By Robin Bates | Published: December 7, 2016

On this one-month anniversary of the 2016 election, I look back at two authors who meditated on what to do next immediately after hearing the news. Terry Tempest Williams looks to nature while Zadie Smith looks to the music to be found in multiethnic harmony.

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