Why people recommend it
NW is a critically acclaimed contemporary novel by Zadie Smith that follows the intertwined lives and experiences of four individuals growing up together in a diverse section of London. On The Book Review podcast, various contributors and hosts frequently brought up the novel in discussions about friendship, urban settings, and essential modern fiction. John Williams highlighted the book when discussing female friendships as part of a colleague's reading recommendations, and elsewhere named it alongside White Teeth as one of his personal favorite works by the author. Additionally, Parul Sehgal included the novel in a curated list of notable contemporary titles, while host Pamela Paul mentioned picking up the book to read after having wanted to dive into it for a long time. These recurring mentions across multiple episodes illustrated the enduring critical esteem and widespread appeal of Smith's novel among literary critics, who continually returned to its vivid portrayal of modern city life, socioeconomic shifts, and complex personal relationships.
Who recommended it
- John Williams Recommended
- Parul Sehgal Discussed
- Pamela Paul Discussed
John Williams — 2 mentions
“my my two favorites are probably white teeth and NW”
“Jennifer salai our colleague at the book review uh named z Smith's NW about a group group of four friends who grew up together in London”
Parul Sehgal — 1 mention
“homesick for another world bya mve NW by Zade Smith”
Pamela Paul — 1 mention
“and and then I started reading NW by Zade Smith which I um have wanted to read for a long time”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
- A Passage to India
- American innovations
- Americanah
- Asymmetry
- Authority of the Court and the Peril of Politics
- Black Silent Majority
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“I think and I know most people think of Z Smith in terms of her novels you know n w and on beauty and of course the white teeth”
“in that it's about a couple of girls growing up in the projects in North West London”