White Teeth became one of my favorite books the second time around. It was then that I appreciated the beautiful wit and imagery living in Zadie Smith’s language. God knows what I was thinking the first time around.

The story covers a cadre of characters that are all peculiarly connected in a story that spans race, class, sex, politics… name a hot-button and Smith has pressed it. But pressed it in such a way as if you were walking down the street and you overheard these amusing families and smiled to yourself. And in those brief moments, you want everything for them.

Via Amazon, $10.