There But For The

There But For The by Ali Smith is the best book about absolutely nothing that I have read in a long time. There is a thin story here, about a man at a dinner party who locks himself into the guest bedroom and doesn't come out for months. We find out little else about his story as four people who barely know him narrate seperate sections of the book.

However, the book was still thoroughly enjoyable. Smith seems to be writing for the simple pleasure she finds in words, in language itself, in puns and witticisms. The shorts stories ( for that is really what they are) are each engaging and thought provoking, ending with a story narrated by a very bright and precocious 10 year old that is a lot of fun to read.

If you enjoy wordplay and language and the way its use shapes us and our stories, you will find this book interesting. If you are looking for a book that answers all the questions it presents in the first chapter, you will find this book frustrating.