August:
Swing Time
“Had me hook, line and sinker.” - Stylist
Powerful and engaging, Swing Time is a story of ethnicity, family, & belonging, of isolation and failure and of how our friendships can shape entire lives.
Swing Time is currently longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2017.
Book Review
by Kit, our Senior Books Buyer
Two girls dream of being dancers, but, separated by a wide gap in ability, they divert onto very different paths in life. Going from their early years together in 1980’s UK to interweaved lives set between London, New York, & West Africa; we see Tracey struggling to make the most of her natural talent and make a name for herself, while our narrator navigates her own choices and takes us through a rather an unexpected journey.
Drawing heavily from her own experience growing up in Willesden the White Teeth author brings a sense of truth to the story that is maintained throughout. A great read whether you’re a dyed in the wool fan of Zadie Smith or entirely new to the author.
No matter who you are, or where you’ve come from, if you’ve ever tried to make sense of your place in the world or look for that ‘you’ shaped niche then you’ll find something special in Swing Time.
