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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
Family secrets, generations of women under one roof, a baby on the way and an emigrate from Nazi Germany. This book is loosely based on Florence Adler's character. It is a heartwarming story and you can't help but to love all of the characters in their own way.
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Abandonment
Perfect summer read. I was expecting something much different but not disappointed at all. I cried towards the end because you truly feel as if you have experienced this whole season with this family and are right there with them through it all. Fantastic novel!
Enjoyed the pieces of history of Atlantic City during the time period. Beanland's research/attention to detail of what was happening during the time period of the book is evident throughout. Good character development as well as the relationships between characters. Although the story is told through the perspectives of several characters, it is clear whose perspective you are getting at the start of each chapter as that character's name heads it. Reading the author's note part way through was interesting but I would recommend not reading until you finish the book.
This was so interesting, and based on a true story. I have never heard of this book and probably never would have, but someone I follow on Goodreads read it and it caught my attention. I have read a few novels based during the Holocaust, but never one that shows what it was like for an American family to try and help people in Europe immigrate over to escape. This book also gives a glimpse into Jewish tradition and lifestyle, which was interesting. I do think the whole Florence and Anna interaction the night before *it* probably needed to be unpacked a bit more, or just not included. This isn’t a jaw dropper, can’t put it down, but I was interested and enjoyed reading it.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was wonderful. The way the author set up the book showed that each of the characters grieved the Florence that they knew. Each character was allowed to be complicated and messy which made them all sympathetic, even the most selfish ones.
This is the story of a family and one life changing summer - the summer of 1934 in Atlantic City, NJ. Three generations of Adlers experience love (in all its iterations - first love, unrequited love, lost love) and loss in this one summer as a member of their family passes away unexpectedly. I truly enjoyed meeting all the members of the Adler family and seeing how they dealt with this tremendous loss during one summer. I was a little disappointed that one major issue was left unresolved at the end (at least in my opinion) but overall, this was a great read.
I loved this.
Florence Adler Swims Forever is now among my top ten favorite books of all time.
I'm not sure what it was about it. I really appreciated the different narrators (I believe there were seven..?), and all of the characters were so real. The scenario is not something that I would ever think to create (not telling a family member that another family member has died in order to protect the health of that first family member), but this is based on a real story and that DID actually happen. It makes a person question how far a family will go to protect a family member.
I think I'd someday love to teach this novel. The time period is interesting (Atlantic City, NJ, leading into WW2) and the decisions the characters make are so very complicated. Plus, there's so much to say about EVERY character. Isaac flat out sucks, but there are some human elements to him that make you sort of sympathize. Stuart is a gem. I adored Anna and Gussie and Joseph. Fannie was a bit of a mystery -- there's so much to speculate about what she's dealing with -- and Esther is very real. Sometimes difficult to like, but real. And when you consider what she's gone through, you just want to accept all of her decisions and give her a big hug.
Anyway, I loved this. It probably has something to do with the fact that I lost a brother recently and have an understanding of how everyone deals with loss differently. But on top of that, it was a wonderful, heart-wrenching read. I will recommend it to anyone and everyone. I loved it that much.
2021 Update:
Still love it. I think Florence Adler Swims Forever would make an excellent book club read. It’s rich with character development and there are sooooo many discussions to be had. I just adore this novel.
Florence Adler Swims Forever is now among my top ten favorite books of all time.
I'm not sure what it was about it. I really appreciated the different narrators (I believe there were seven..?), and all of the characters were so real. The scenario is not something that I would ever think to create (not telling a family member that another family member has died in order to protect the health of that first family member), but this is based on a real story and that DID actually happen. It makes a person question how far a family will go to protect a family member.
I think I'd someday love to teach this novel. The time period is interesting (Atlantic City, NJ, leading into WW2) and the decisions the characters make are so very complicated. Plus, there's so much to say about EVERY character. Isaac flat out sucks, but there are some human elements to him that make you sort of sympathize. Stuart is a gem. I adored Anna and Gussie and Joseph. Fannie was a bit of a mystery -- there's so much to speculate about what she's dealing with -- and Esther is very real. Sometimes difficult to like, but real. And when you consider what she's gone through, you just want to accept all of her decisions and give her a big hug.
Anyway, I loved this. It probably has something to do with the fact that I lost a brother recently and have an understanding of how everyone deals with loss differently. But on top of that, it was a wonderful, heart-wrenching read. I will recommend it to anyone and everyone. I loved it that much.
2021 Update:
Still love it. I think Florence Adler Swims Forever would make an excellent book club read. It’s rich with character development and there are sooooo many discussions to be had. I just adore this novel.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes