Reviews

Swimming Lessons and Other Stories from Firozsha Baag by Rohinton Mistry

ben_miller's review against another edition

Didn't finish, but I read enough of these stories to see that they're not a patch on his novels...very much practice pieces, developing his style and exploring how he wanted to write about his native city of Bombay. Interesting in that respect, but not really otherwise.

lauraportalupi's review against another edition

funny hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

4.25

I enjoyed this collection more and more as I read and saw how the characters and storylines intersected. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Excrement, Classism, Toxic friendship, Sexual content, and Xenophobia

yuyuv's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Physical abuse, Medical content, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Misogyny, Grief, Emotional abuse, Death, Cancer, Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, and Fatphobia

itsjade_here's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

matttrevithick's review against another edition

2.0

Some occasional clever writing, but all in all a boring set of stories that all obsess over the same things: food, sex, and going to the bathroom. Literally. And this is not the first Indian author I've read who has used those three concepts as integral to their work...

strikingthirteen's review against another edition

3.0

I've read "Swimming Lessons" and "Squatter" in university at various points and, while those two are the best in the collection, the rest each have their merits. I love the collection of people all living in this complex and how each story builds off the others.

caterinaanna's review against another edition

4.0

While the links between the stories were satisfying and gave a sense of community and continuity, they were very variable in terms of content, tone and enjoyability. My favourite was The Collector which left one feeling sympathy for the man of the title and the boy who had deserted him. Other stories were far too scatalogical for my tastes and the final two, almost post-modernly self-referential, were also disappointing.

I think Mistry's ability to paint broad pictures by focussing on the (usually troubled) lives of individuals works far better in a novel.

sookieskipper's review against another edition

4.0

Minus the obvious references to a specific community, the stories can belong to anyone who has lived a life in a (cramped) apartment complex. The dynamics between people is what makes this collection stand out. They all have couple of things in common - self actualization and a bittersweet ending.

Mistry has a wonderful way in transcending human nature into words. This wasn't a fun read. The stories are about people we have known in our lives. An uncle here, an aunty there, a friend's relative on the side...they are in our midst. And that's what makes this seemingly simplistic collection, achy in all the right places :)

shani's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 - interconnected short stories that span decades. Parsi culture; I enjoyed that not everything was spelled out - there was enough context that I, as an outsider, could understand - but it was not spoon-fed. Narrators change, perspectives change - the stories get more complicated and more entertaining as time goes by.

ohthathayley's review against another edition

3.0

I liked some parts, but others were- not as good.

For ENGL101.