Reviews

Intimations by Zadie Smith

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adayafterautumn's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

3.0

I absolutely love Zadie Smith's writing and these essays are no exceptions. She just has a way with words that is so magical.
This really short collection of essays is a beautiful recap of the year so far - both intimate and universal, hopeful and sad, perfectly bittersweet.

My favourite essay was The American Exception, closely followed by Suffering like Mel Gibson. I also thought the postscript was stunning and very insightful.

100% would recommend - a fitting tribute to 2020 and a perfect way to end the year reflecting on what's happened.

tildahlia's review

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3.0

Controversially, I find Zadie's work often doesn't click for me as it does for others. Objectively I see she is incredibly smart and deft in her writing, but I do find some of her analysis a little pretentious and unnecessarily complex. This collection had passages of brilliance but overall felt a bit rushed to the printers. I prefer her fiction (Zadie stans don't @ me).

xtie's review

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2.0

I’m not sure it added much to my life - and whoever approved the awful thick margins needs to be fired! Jokes aside; this felt a little ordinary and repetitive and unfortunately, a perspective of the pandemic (and ultimately, writing during the pandemic) that didn’t feel that… necessary

genevievefarrell_'s review

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

laurenoh's review

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5.0

Piercing prose as always.

moth_dance's review

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4.0

*unintended NYU alumni bias included in this review*

Essential Zadie Smith. Essential 2020.

Intimate musings & conversations that I don't know if I would've recognized & honored as much as I would have had I not lived in NYC or attended NYU. These essays are very specific without being too extra. They are very honest but also tremendously objective.

auntquinoa's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective medium-paced

4.0

I read Imitations in 2024 and the essays gave me time to reflect on my experience in the pandemic, the death of George Floyd, and the people around me at that time. Zadie Smith is an excellent writer that brought out hope, sadness, desolation and intimacy. Her voice is strong — she speaks directly to you as the reader yet to herself at the same time.