At first, I intended to write about the latest book I read by Zadie Smith, her essay collection Feel Free (needless to say, I’ve read all her books—this was the only one left). But I soon realized it wasn’t a specific book I wanted to write about—it was her.
John Berger, in Ways of Seeing, says, “We only see what we look at. To look is an act of choice.” For me, Zadie Smith’s way of looking at the world and her choices about what to look at create a deep sense of connection. What I mean is that when I open one of her books, it feels like stepping through the door of a home. A new home—unknown but somehow also familiar. The setting might be her childhood neighborhood in London, a story unfolding in the U.S., or somewhere in West Africa—or, as in Swing Time, all three at once. But none of that matters. Once the door is open, a new world is revealed, one I instinctively connect with.
Her characters are never stereotypical, never simply good or bad. They are everything, all at once. In one of her interviews, she spoke about how limiting it is to be defined as just one thing. And isn’t that true? While there may be common threads in our lives, defining ourselves only by what we do or like is far from accurate. These things shift, transform, and change—just as a single act of kindness doesn’t make someone kind, nor does one bad choice make someone a bad person.
Most writers I admire, I admire for their writing, but with Zadie Smith, it feels impossible to define her by writing alone. Her presence extends beyond the page. Maybe my fascination with her also comes from the fact that she was born into a working-class family and, despite her success, remains deeply connected to her roots and never hesitates to express her political stance. Someone who has seen both worlds—the absence of things and their abundance—develops a way of seeing that goes beyond the default settings of their environment. It’s an eagle-eye view, a broader, deeper perception. And that, to me, is precious.
Oh, and her great sense of fashion and love for dancing… I mean, as a fellow dance lover, she didn’t give me much choice but to admire her. I’m glad she doesn’t have social media—otherwise, I’d definitely be tempted to DM her!
