HAVING not read any of Zadie Smith's previous offerings, I decided it was time to check out this acclaimed author.

People seem to either love or hate her but I have to say, I'm still somewhat undecided.

On Beauty tells the tale of two families with completely opposing views, whose lives end up intertwined through a series of events and affairs.

Smith deals with some fairly in-depth intellectual issues as well as looking at love, desire and the rights and wrongs of relationships.

The book is well crafted, though not with the lyrical language I expected to see.

Is this an idea I had imagined of Smith's work or has her style departed from the previous two novels?

Yet On Beauty is still a finely crafted story, weaving between the lives of the Kipps and Belsey families, developing each character as much as is necessary - and that little bit more to help us get to know them.

Smith has a remarkable talent in switching our sympathies between characters, leaving the reader never quite knowing who we should feel for.

This is a book that encourages plenty of reflection and definitely shows off Smith's talents as a writer, although not as much as it could.

But it has definitely encouraged me to pick up some of her previous works and to look out for the next which, if anything, is guaranteed to be an interesting read.

ECB