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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
Florence Adler Swims Forever is a beautiful story of a family making hard choices and trying their best to cope with the tragedy that has struck them.
It is set in 1934 and based off a true story of the author's family. A tragedy happens right from the start and after a quick decision to keep the biggest secret, the family fumbles through the next few months the best that they can. The characters are all strong and complex and tell the story from so many sides. The reader gets an intimate feel for each character and I felt that I was fully immersed in their lives for one long summer. My heart broke for Esther and Joseph, I was immediately in love with Gussie, I wanted to give Issac the boot early on, and I so enjoyed Anna's immigration struggles and the outcome of that.
I do enjoy historical fiction and liked this book, but it did feel slow to me at times. I do look forward to reading more from the author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
It is set in 1934 and based off a true story of the author's family. A tragedy happens right from the start and after a quick decision to keep the biggest secret, the family fumbles through the next few months the best that they can. The characters are all strong and complex and tell the story from so many sides. The reader gets an intimate feel for each character and I felt that I was fully immersed in their lives for one long summer. My heart broke for Esther and Joseph, I was immediately in love with Gussie, I wanted to give Issac the boot early on, and I so enjoyed Anna's immigration struggles and the outcome of that.
I do enjoy historical fiction and liked this book, but it did feel slow to me at times. I do look forward to reading more from the author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed reading this book. It flowed nicely. Some of the circumstances were difficult to believe. The book also gave you a glimpse of life in the 30's and world events.
Really enjoyed it at first but the premise got a little old and then we never really got to see what happens with the sister.
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
stuart ilysm isaac u can rot in hell <3
I can see why people are comparing Rachel Beanland to [a:J. Courtney Sullivan|486136|J. Courtney Sullivan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1309796096p2/486136.jpg]. Their characters are endearing, their plots are satisfying and not (too) predictable, and their settings are absorbing. As someone who grew up going to the Jersey Shore (though not to Atlantic City), I thoroughly enjoyed getting a glimpse of it - particularly its Jewish community - in 1934. And I liked both the title and the cover as much after reading as I did before. I had very mixed feelings about the ending, though I will not spoil it here by explaining them, but otherwise I consider this a solid beach read.
Florence Adler will swim forever, or at least live forever in the memories of her loved ones. The story deals with how a family reacts to the loss of a member while trying to hold everything else together. Across the space of a summer, the Adlers help support each other in somewhat odd ways while they also discover new things about each other. The plot to keep Florence's death from her older sister seems almost comic in retrospect and Fannie's husband is the perfect caricature of the horrible husband. But throughout the story, the strong ties of the family, including their close friends, feels genuine and makes for an enjoyable and uplifting book, despite its tragic beginning.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.