In NW, Zadie Smith invites her reader to peer through windows, allowing you to gaze at sequences of moments in the lives of a range of characters.
Against the vividly drawn backdrop of north-west London, we watch four characters - Natalie, Leah, Felix and Nathan - living alongside each other, growing up together, their lives colliding and paths crossing. They were raised on the same council estate, and although their fates disperse in differing directions, their journeys continue to intersect through their past and present. NW is concentrated and accomplished, but isn’t always an easy read: at times the narrative feels slightly disjointed. However, this is a rich and vibrant novel which seems like an observation of the real life stories of people we might know.
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