White teeth

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • This debut novel from a "preternaturally gifted" writer is set against London’s vibrant racial and cultural backdrop, celebrating the chaos of modern life while embracing the humor found in everyday experiences. Critics have likened the author’s voice to literary greats such as Charles Dickens and Salman Rushdie, yet it remains uniquely her own. Central to this invigorating narrative are two unlikely friends, Archie Jones and Samad Iqbal, both World War II veterans whose lives reflect England’s profound transformation. Archie’s second marriage to Clara Bowden, a beautiful Jamaican woman half his age, revitalizes him and brings forth Irie, a daughter whose personality contrasts with her name, meaning “no problem.” Meanwhile, Samad’s arranged marriage, delayed until his bride was born, leads to twin sons whose divergent paths challenge his attempts to guide them and prompt a selective return to his Islamic faith. “[White Teeth] is, like the London it portrays, a restless hybrid of voices, tones, and textures…with a raucous energy and confidence.” —The New York Times Book Review