Swing Time

By: Zadie Smith

Narrated by: Pippa Bennett-Warner

Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction.

A New York Times best seller.

An ambitious, exuberant new novel moving from North West London to West Africa, from the multi-award-winning author of White Teeth and On Beauty.

Two brown girls dream of being dancers - but only one, Tracey, has talent. The other has ideas: About rhythm and time, about Black bodies and Black music, what constitutes a tribe, or makes a person truly free. It's a close but complicated childhood friendship that ends abruptly in their early 20s, never to be revisited, but never quite forgotten, either.

Tracey makes it to the chorus line but struggles with adult life, while her friend leaves the old neighborhood behind, traveling the world as an assistant to a famous singer, Aimee, observing close up how the one percent live.

But when Aimee develops grand philanthropic ambitions, the story moves from London to West Africa, where diaspora tourists travel back in time to find their roots, young men risk their lives to escape into a different future, the women dance just like Tracey - the same twists, the same shakes - and the origins of a profound inequality are not a matter of distant history, but a present dance to the music of time.

Zadie Smith's newest book, Grand Union, published in 2019.

©2016 Zadie Smith (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize

“A sweeping meditation on art, race, and identity that may be [Smith’s] most ambitious work yet.” (Esquire)

“Smith’s thrilling cultural insights never overshadow the wholeness of her characters, who are so keenly observed that one feels witness to their lives.” (O, The Oprah Magazine)

Wonderful characters, no resolution -a very satisfying read

An engaging journey through two women's growing up years, from public housing to a third-tier university, one-name celebrities and the complexities of fighting African poverty. Many fascinating female characters, vivid writing and time-shifting made this an engrossing novel.

Sadie Does It Again

What do we owe one another? It 's the central question of Swing Time. That and when does rescue become interference? For two little girls growing up in the northern suburbs of London, these questions are as intertwined as their lives as they grow up and go their separate ways. The talented one is admired. The admirer is supported. Does this make all the difference?

As always Ms Smith's writing is precise, funny, heartbreaking and true.

Adored it.

I really enjoyed this book

The narration was solid, and clever, and in some places fun. The story was interesting, and crafted in a way that pulls you in by noting the layers and depth in a chance meeting. I really enjoyed this book, and think that the pairing of Zadie Smith's words, with Pippa Bennett-Warner's performance, was an inspired choice.

Oh zadie

This is a huge book. But one thing Keeps it back for me. It's not the lack of resolution that it lacks rather the lack of anything to be resolved. But still loads of zadie wisdom in here. And I'm quite sure it will Age well!

very realistic fiction

Swing Time is relevant and relatable while grappling difficult social and systemic issues for a modern audience.

A sandwich, where the bread is the best part

A somewhat evocative story, Swing Time offers a fascinating beginning and ending that almost made it worth the lengthy investment in listening to the full book. The early narrative is promising and then it's set aside for a tale involving a host of unsympathetic characters and a meandering storyline. There was so much potential in continuing to develop the tension between the two initial characters, but this relationship was unfortunately abandoned until the final chapters.
I listen to 3-4 audio books per month and finding an interesting read is such a prize. Although at times well written and intriguing, Swing Time was not a great book. I can't recommend it.

Good listen and or read just not quite as good as White Teeth

Zadie Smith is one of the great writers of our time. Her insight into characters, and the reexamination of events from different perspectives, provided not just by race or country of origin, but also by time itself makes for a compelling read or listen.
With that said I never lost myself into it like I did with White Teeth. Perhaps it's nearly impossible to match White Teeth's achievements. Perhaps it's that I'm listening to this after Trump, the anti -immigrant, anti -refugee took office and I was hoping for the feel good inclusiveness of White Teeth. Really it's hard to judge anything because it feels like we have been thrown back into Germany in the 30's. White Teeth gave me hope for humanity. This book just left me sad, albeit with greater insight.
But, like I said, every dad feels dark and ominous since Trump got elected.

Not for me

The book had a lot of hype around it. I did not enjoy it. Maybe it’s a British thing. But I also did not like the main character. They continually made decisions I couldn’t relate to and I was frustrated by them putting themselves in bad situations.

Excellent!

Loved it. Great book and will share with my friends. Happy Reading and on to the next book.

Interesting Ending

So much detail but I wished there was a bit more closure in the story. I understand the way jealousy ,rivalry and personal insecurities can cause so much dismay in a persona life. I wish the main character had developed strength.