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chocococo's review against another edition
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
freemanfreezy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-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
kelly_inthe419's review against another edition
3.0
I finally picked up The Swimmers to fill a prompt in a reading challenge about a sport or athlete. But, well, this book isn't really about swimming although it starts out that way.
It opens with the swimmers at an underground pool who come to clear their heads and leave the noise of the above world behind. Then one day a crack appears. What does it mean? Why now? Then more and more cracks appear until the pool must be shut down permanently.
The effect is devastating to one swimmer in particular, Alice, who is slowly losing her memory to dementia. For the remainder of the story, we bear witness to Alice's fading memories; a Japanese internment camp during WW II, her childhood, her marriage and motherhood, and eventually her move to a memory care facility.
It's a heartbreaking story with a unique narrative flair as the omniscient narrator speaks directly to the reader, sometimes metaphorically and sometimes sarcastically. I can't decide if I loved it though, because of this style. Still, it's a solid story about what brings people together and what happens when the cracks of society drive us apart.
It opens with the swimmers at an underground pool who come to clear their heads and leave the noise of the above world behind. Then one day a crack appears. What does it mean? Why now? Then more and more cracks appear until the pool must be shut down permanently.
The effect is devastating to one swimmer in particular, Alice, who is slowly losing her memory to dementia. For the remainder of the story, we bear witness to Alice's fading memories; a Japanese internment camp during WW II, her childhood, her marriage and motherhood, and eventually her move to a memory care facility.
It's a heartbreaking story with a unique narrative flair as the omniscient narrator speaks directly to the reader, sometimes metaphorically and sometimes sarcastically. I can't decide if I loved it though, because of this style. Still, it's a solid story about what brings people together and what happens when the cracks of society drive us apart.
beegcly's review against another edition
4.0
I absolutely loved the first half of this book. The second half was still good but in a much different way. Obsessed with Otsuka’s writing throughout. I will definitely be reading more by her!
bookishcitygal's review
5.0
Beautifully written and particularly emotional if you have ever loved someone with dementia. Wow.
breesbookmark's review against another edition
3.0
I spent most of this book wondering what it was about. By the time I finally understood, there was only about 25% left in the book. As a piece of literature, it was captivating; the first-person plural writing really drew me in from the get-go, and the descriptions of the swimmers painted a vivid picture. Still, I can't say I loved it. I watched my grandmother suffer through dementia, Alzheimer's, and eventually death in hospice care, and none of the writing towards the end really matched the true horror of watching someone you love go downhill.
kswimz1993's review against another edition
4.0
I have been a lover of water my entire life. I swam in high school and college and worked as a lifeguard at pools and lakes. I have been a member of 4 different Masters swim teams and have successfully completed marathon distance swims in open water. I routinely train in the frigid waters of the SF bay… but I have never been privy to the inner workings of the relationships among “lap swimmers.” This book had me absolutely tickled as it described the personalities and social hierarchy of the underground lap pool swimmers as they navigated the crack forming in their beloved pool (that served Downtown Berkeley YMCA vibes).
4 stars solely because I wish this book was *only* about the swimmers. The entire thing was written beautifully, but it would have been a 5 stars from me had the book ended just before “Diem Perdidi.”
4 stars solely because I wish this book was *only* about the swimmers. The entire thing was written beautifully, but it would have been a 5 stars from me had the book ended just before “Diem Perdidi.”
georgiahi's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
The writing is beautiful and packs an emotional wallop, but it doesn’t quite hang together as one book.