How to Be Both
How to Be Both by Ali Smith interweaves two narratives: the modern story of George, a young English woman grappling with her mother’s recent death, and the historical tale of Renaissance painter Francesco del Cossa, who is revealed to be a woman disguised as a man. The novel’s structure varies between copies, offering different reading experiences as the interconnected stories explore themes of grief, memory, and identity. Topics include death and loss.
Ali Smith's How to Be Both is widely praised for its innovative narrative structure and lyrical prose, captivating readers with its dual storylines that can be read in any order. Critics appreciate its exploration of art and identity but note that the unconventional format may challenge some readers. Overall, it's celebrated for its creativity and emotional depth.
A reader who would enjoy How to Be Both by Ali Smith appreciates experimental narratives and dual stories. Fans of Beloved by Toni Morrison or Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell, who savor intricate plots and explorations of identity and time, will find this novel compelling.
Add this title to our requested Study Guides list!
Continue your reading experience
SuperSummary Plot Summaries provide a quick, full synopsis of a text. But SuperSummary Study Guides — available only to subscribers — provide so much more!
Join now to access our Study Guides library, which offers chapter-by-chapter summaries and comprehensive analysis on more than 5,000 literary works from novels to nonfiction to poetry.
SubscribeSee for yourself. Check out our sample guides:
Add this title to our requested Study Guides list!
Continue your reading experience
SuperSummary Plot Summaries provide a quick, full synopsis of a text. But SuperSummary Study Guides — available only to subscribers — provide so much more!
Join now to access our Study Guides library, which offers chapter-by-chapter summaries and comprehensive analysis on more than 5,000 literary works from novels to nonfiction to poetry.
SubscribeSee for yourself. Check out our sample guides:
Add this title to our requested Study Guides list!
A SuperSummary Plot Summary provides a quick, full synopsis of a text.
A SuperSummary Study Guide — a modern alternative to Sparknotes & CliffsNotes — provides so much more, including chapter-by-chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and important quotes.
See the difference for yourself. Check out this sample Study Guide: