I think of reading like a balanced diet; if your sentences are too baggy, too baroque, cut back on fatty Foster Wallace, say, and pick up Kafka as roughage.

In this quote, Zadie Smith compares the act of reading to maintaining a balanced diet. She suggests that just as a diet should have a mix of different food types, a reading routine should include a variety of writing styles. The reference to "baggy" or "baroque" sentences implies that overly complex or indulgent writing can be overwhelming, much like eating too much fatty food. Smith advises that if reading becomes too dense or difficult to digest, readers should balance it out by reading Kafka, whose writing, she suggests, acts as a form of roughage—something simple, cleansing, and easier to digest.

Smith's analogy emphasizes the idea that literature should not only challenge the mind but also provide a range of experiences. Just as a diet requires balance to avoid too much of one thing, a healthy reading habit should include a mix of challenging works and easier reads. The mention of David Foster Wallace highlights a writer known for his complex, verbose style, while Kafka represents a writer with more straightforward yet still impactful prose. By recommending a shift in focus, Smith encourages readers to find a balance between intellectual stimulation and literary nourishment.

The origin of this perspective likely comes from Smith's own wide-ranging reading habits and her desire to encourage others to explore diverse writing styles. As a novelist and essayist, Smith is known for her appreciation of both the complexity and simplicity in writing. Her advice suggests that reading should be an enjoyable, well-rounded experience rather than a task of unrelenting mental strain.

Ultimately, Smith’s quote serves as a reminder that reading, like eating, should be varied and nourishing. It’s not about consuming one type of writing exclusively, but about balancing the complex and the simple to create a more enjoyable and enriching reading experience.