On Beauty

This book follows the experiences of one family, although other characters intertwine in various ways. Howard, the father, is a White British professor in the American Northeast. Kiki, the mother, is a Southern African-American woman who has invested her life in her husband and children. Jerome, their oldest child, is a college student is notable as the only family member who is religious (Christian). Zora, their daughter, is a college student who struggles notably with her own body image. Levi, their youngest child, is a high schooler who becomes active in a movement supporting equal rights for Haitians.

Overall, the book is about conflict...conflict between various family members, conflict between family members and other people in their surroundings, conflict between liberal and conservative values, conflict between different racial/ethnic/socioeconomic groups, conflict between who characters are, who they want to be, and who they want people to think they are, etc. While the story itself is generally not overly heavy, it does provide a great deal of thought provoking material. I think you might want to read it.