Reviews

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

silbs's review against another edition

4.0

Very hard to review this one. At first I was just upset as I felt it read like almost separate stories… but then I started seeing the analogies between the two parts of the book and it’s very good?? On top of that, I love the weird narrative style that is almost overwhelming, not for everyone though.

soojaymax's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.75

kendra_kendra's review against another edition

emotional funny sad

5.0

anav44's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

kmagee's review against another edition

5.0

I was afraid of reading this book because I thought it would be too sad. Well let me tell you, it is extremely sad, the kind of sad that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since I started reading it. Otsuka writes about aging and the often inevitable degrading of the mind in such a real way. She doesn’t sugarcoat it, but at the same time she makes it feel like such a normal part of life - which, as we know, it is. She also emphasis the fact that nobody is really guilty when these things are unfolding. And the pool, the description of its members, what a wonderful little sliver of a world she created. READ IT! But have tissues nearby, and call your grandma when you finish :)

ktrudo's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

kshiffler's review against another edition

3.0

The first third is about how a pool closed. The second half is about the slow decline of Alice.

lottie1803's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

zoebowieee's review against another edition

emotional relaxing sad slow-paced

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

3.5

babyskillet's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I picked this up without reading the inside cover. I thought it was going to be a fun, lighthearted, poolside read. And I was wrong. Absolutely soul crushing book. Really lovely writing, (it's in second person which is fun) good characters, and an ode to the ones you love.