Full of flawed characters and the stupid things they do

It can't have been a coincidence that Zadie Smith named one of the main characters of On Beauty, Howard. The book is inspired by the author's love of E.M. Forster, is a hommage to him, and a modern re-writing of his "Howard's End". Unfamiliarity with Forster's early 20th century work need not deter someone from reading Zadie Smith's tale, which follows the Belsey family and how they cope after their academic father Howard gets his "end" away.

I didn't immediately take to the story. After an opening sentence that clearly declares the link with Forster, we're given a chaotic morning in what feels like an American family sticom. I also found it hard to believe that someone like Howard Belsey would turn up in London unable to make his own way to the home of his nemesis, Monty Kipps. Once these two scenes had passed, the book started to shine, and in the third section there were two outstanding, very moving scenes, first when Howard unexpectedly visits his father, and second a heartfelt monologue by Kiki Belsey after she and husband Howard have shared an intimate moment.

On reflection, there were so many things I enjoyed about On Beauty: the occasional old-fashioned style of narration, questions about intelligence, hypocrisy, education and class, and the vivid descriptions when the setting moved to London. It's full of flawed characters and the stupid things they do. Just like real life.