On Beauty is about the lives of a mixed-race British/American family whose dynamics mirror the themes of beauty, identity, and cultural clashes. The story unfolds with wit and depth as the characters navigate through love, infidelity, and academia.
On Beauty Book Summary
Howard Belsey, a white Englishman teaching art history in Massachusetts, is an insecure man married to Kiki, an African American hospital administrator. Their children, Zora, Jerome, and Levi, are navigating their own complex relationships and identities.
Howard is having an affair with a colleague, Claire, which is revealed at an academic event where the conservative Monty Kipps, a Trinidadian-British celebrity intellectual, speaks. The Belsey and Kipps families become intertwined.
Jerome falls for Monty's daughter, Victoria, while Levi, an intellectual rebel, begins a relationship with Carl Kipps. Zora, a driven college student, is focused on her future but struggles with her family's disarray.
Howard is forced to confront his infidelity when Kiki discovers his affair. Clara Kipps, Monty's daughter from another marriage, forges a bond with Howard, adding further complexity to the relationships.
The cultural and ideological differences between the Belseys and the Kippses come to a head, reflecting the wider issues of race, class, and privilege in society.
Monty and Howard engage in a public debate that exposes their personal animosities, culminating in a physical fight.
The fallout from the fight reverberates through the families, with Kiki and Howard contemplating the state of their marriage and the impact on their children.
Zora's pursuit of success leads her to consider a relationship with a wealthy student, further distancing her from her family's struggles.
Levi's romance with Carl deepens, and they both grapple with their identities and their place within their families and society.
The tension between Howard and Monty continues, reflecting the incompatibilities of their worldviews.
Jerome and Victoria's relationship is challenged by their families' opposing values, and they must decide if their love can transcend these differences.
At a crucial moment, the Belsey family's home is vandalized, leading to reflections on the nature of beauty and the destruction of identity.
As the story concludes, the characters are left to pick up the pieces, reevaluate their lives, and consider the importance of love and understanding in the face of deep-seated differences.
The novel's multifaceted exploration of beauty encompasses not only the physical, but also the beautiful and ugly aspects of human relationships and society.
On Beauty masterfully captures the complexities of modern life and the struggle to find meaning and connection in a rapidly changing world.
On Beauty Quotes
- We are all so desperate to be understood, we forget to be understanding.
- It’s no good pretending that any relationship has a future if your record collections disagree violently or if your favorite films wouldn’t even speak to each other if they met at a party.
On Beauty Ending Explained
At the end of On Beauty, the tensions between the Belsey and Kipps families reach a turning point, reshaping their relationships and attitudes.
Howard and Kiki confront their marriage's fragility, with a renewed understanding of each other's flaws and strengths. The impact on their children's lives is profound, as they continue to navigate their own paths.
The novel closes with a sense of both resolution and open-endedness, suggesting that while conflicts may subside, the quest for beauty and understanding is ongoing.
Characters in book On Beauty
- Howard Belsey: A middle-aged art history professor at Wellington College in Massachusetts, who is flawed and struggling with his own identity.
- Kiki Belsey: Howard’s wife, a strong and practical woman who embodies a different definition of beauty and struggles with her husband's infidelity.
- Jerome Belsey: The eldest Belsey child, who attends the local college and becomes involved with the Kipps family.
- Zora Belsey: The ambitious and sharp-tongued daughter of Howard and Kiki, who is on the verge of adulthood and faces her own challenges.
- Monty Kipps: A successful, conservative Trinidadian-British academic who becomes entangled with the Belsey family.
- Carl Kipps: Monty's son and a fellow student at Wellington College, whose interactions with the Belsey family spark significant events.
- Clara Kipps: Monty's daughter, an artist and free spirit who forges connections with the Belsey family.
- Lionel Kipps: Monty's son from a previous marriage, who brings a fresh perspective to the Belsey-Kipps encounters.
- Victoria Kipps: Monty's snobbish wife, who represents a stark contrast to Kiki Belsey.
Key Lessons
- Embrace Differences: Recognize and value diversity in people's appearances, opinions, and backgrounds as a source of richness and growth.
- Seek Understanding: Strive to understand others before expecting to be understood, as this can lead to deeper connections and empathy.
- Question Beauty: Understand that the definition of beauty is complex and subjective, and it's important to question and expand conventional notions of beauty.
- Confront Hypocrisy: Be aware of your own inconsistencies and confront them honestly, as hypocrisy can damage relationships and self-worth.
- Value Family: Despite its complexities, family can offer support, love, and a sense of belonging that is essential for personal growth and happiness.
My Personal Opinion
Is On Beauty worth reading? Absolutely! I found the depth of the characters and their interwoven stories to be deeply engaging.
I was struck by Smith's ability to blend humor with serious societal reflections. The way she handles complex issues like race and class is both intelligent and accessible. On the downside, the pacing can be a bit slow for some readers, but the character development makes it worthwhile.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy literary fiction and are interested in exploring the modern human condition. It's particularly poignant for readers who appreciate a story that reflects on the complexities of family and identity.