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annesm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
4.0
meghan_plethoraofpages's review against another edition
5.0
Fight Night by Miriam Toews
I loved it. I laughed, I cried, I felt all the feels.. Swiv is a nine-year old who carries around some big burdens. She cares for her spunky, sassy grandmother Elvira who laughs uproariously frequently, always finding the comedic in the absurdity of life. Written in a stream of consciousness style, through the eyes of this wise beyond their years child, it’s beautifully written.
Swiv is constantly exasperated by her “embarrassing” mother and seemingly cautionless grandmother, feeling like the only “serious” one in the family. We are treated to an inside look at the everyday shenanigans and capers of Swiv & Elvira, a true joy to read. There’s one scene involving an airport wheelchair, a ramp, and a Body Shop stand that I will be squirrelling away in my memory for when I need a little laugh. The characters felt real, despite Swiv being perhaps far beyond her years. I could really visualize Elvira and her vivaciously extroverted ways.
A family of fighters, finding peace & joy in the everyday despite their great losses. While the style of the book might be off putting to some readers, I think it’s well worth your time to spend a few hours with these characters. I walk away with an impression of hope.
If you’re in need of a heartwarming book, don’t mind shedding a few tears and enjoy embracing the absurd in life, Fight Night is an excellent choice.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House Canada, Knopf Canada and to Netgalley for a free e-copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Fight Night is available now!
I loved it. I laughed, I cried, I felt all the feels.. Swiv is a nine-year old who carries around some big burdens. She cares for her spunky, sassy grandmother Elvira who laughs uproariously frequently, always finding the comedic in the absurdity of life. Written in a stream of consciousness style, through the eyes of this wise beyond their years child, it’s beautifully written.
Swiv is constantly exasperated by her “embarrassing” mother and seemingly cautionless grandmother, feeling like the only “serious” one in the family. We are treated to an inside look at the everyday shenanigans and capers of Swiv & Elvira, a true joy to read. There’s one scene involving an airport wheelchair, a ramp, and a Body Shop stand that I will be squirrelling away in my memory for when I need a little laugh. The characters felt real, despite Swiv being perhaps far beyond her years. I could really visualize Elvira and her vivaciously extroverted ways.
A family of fighters, finding peace & joy in the everyday despite their great losses. While the style of the book might be off putting to some readers, I think it’s well worth your time to spend a few hours with these characters. I walk away with an impression of hope.
If you’re in need of a heartwarming book, don’t mind shedding a few tears and enjoy embracing the absurd in life, Fight Night is an excellent choice.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House Canada, Knopf Canada and to Netgalley for a free e-copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Fight Night is available now!
el_hinchcliffe's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
helenmeigs's review against another edition
5.0
WOW SO GOOD. funny and moving and tender and smart and I cried at the end because all the characters are right there living in my heart.
darajackson14's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
jwallis55's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
candymoonshine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bibliobrandie's review against another edition
5.0
I love Miriam Toews. I love the way she writes. I love her humor. I love her characters, they stay with me long after I close the book.
stevienixit's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
4.75
I love Miriam Toews, she writes about things I can relate to, and she can make me laugh and cry like no other writer I know. Knocked a sliver of a star off of this one because there was a stretch of the narrative that didn’t quite land for me, but it was still a great novel and I think it’s worth reading. Probably more than once.
arih's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5