In many ways, On Beauty is a critique of academia. Does Smith portray the academe in a positive or negative light?
Are Howard’s deconstructivist views on art valuable or they just nonsense? Do we gain anything attacking prevailing notions of genius?
One the few relationships in the book that is positive (to me anyway) is the relationship between Carlene and Kiki. How would you define their relationship? Presumably they don’t have anything more in common than their husbands but they seem to hit it off. Why do you think that is?
Here's a short interview with Smith. She discusses her work shortly before the release of On Beauty in Sweden:
We'll be meeting to discuss this book May 14th, at the Main Library in Conference Room 3 at noon.
