To quote the back cover:- Why do we fall in love with the people we do? Why do we visit our mistakes on our children? What makes life truly beautiful? Set in New England mainly and London partly, On Beauty concerns a pair of feuding families - the Belseys and the Kippses - and a clutch of doomed love affairs. It puts low morals among high ideals and asks some searching questions about what life does to love. For the Belseys and the Kippses, the confusions - both personal and political - of our uncertain age are about to be brought close to home: right to the heart of the family. I've another copy of this, I'm hoping someone will pick this one up to read shortly and maybe we could do a mini-readalong. If not, just enjoy. The first three chapters are amusing . Let's hope the rest of the novel lives up to its promise.

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At Chelmsford Bookcrossing Meet Riverside Inn 1900 Tuesday 5th June

Picked this up at Chelmsford. I'll let you know when I'm ready to read it!

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Lending to Pakasanelly as it's what her reading group is reading next!

Sorry, checking in rather late to say I have it! Must read by 14th so will return it to TF ***24th November at Sudbury meet***.

Have to admit that I'm not looking forward to it, having dragged myself through White Teeth.

This is an interesting book! In the sense that I enjoyed the second half more than the first, which is unusual for me. (And actually had trouble stopping at the end of the chapters towards the end.) It's far more readable than White Teeth IMO!

What I liked; the relationships between characters, especially those involving Kiki; the scene between Howard and his father; the fact that Smith didn't do some obvious plot things which I anticipated; the challenge to form our own opinions about other people.

What I didn't like; low on plot; the arty-farty waffle which made it overlong (tho I suppose was necessary to fit in with the story); too American?; and we didn't get Kiki's closing thoughts, so to speak.

So why only 6 out of 10? Eyeano! I certainly didn't agree with any of the reviews plastered over the back and inside. "A rollicking satire", "A dazzling comedy", "Gloriously funny". Not for me it wasn't!!! Though it might have helped if I'd read Howards End, it seems. (And I've been told I take things too seriously.)

Looking forward to hearing other viewpoints!

Howard Belsey, Kiki, Jerome, Zora, Levi, Harold
Monty Kipps, Carlene, Vee
Carl, Choo, Michael

Returned yesterday by Pakasanelly. Thanks!

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Taking to the Chelmsford Meet tonight. Have culled this from my TBR pile as it was getting rather dangerous - I kept knocking it over!

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Please check the Tey Brook Organic Farm Shop opening times on their website.

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