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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
From start to finish this was a beautiful story. You will love and connect with all of the characters on some level. Even if you do not agree with some of their choices, you will fully understand why they are made. I am sure this will be a book club favorite this summer.
I think this was a good book and well written it just wasn't for me. It was slow and very little 'happening'.
47: Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland
I no longer recall exactly who prompted my adding this book to my tbr pile (please identify yourself if it was you!), but I am still and always of the mind that something divine happens in my selecting what to read at all, let alone "next."
What is it, but something orchestrated elsewhere, that compelled me to, in this case, first pack this book among the 16 I took on our annual camping vacation (me figuring that we were headed out for 13 days, and I could NOT run out of books--can only have too few along, never too many--and I don't like being locked in but prefer, instead, to create a little stacked library in the camper and get to choose each new read as I finish the previous)? Then, second, what compelled me to pick it up "last" on that trip, such that I had barely begun it by the time we returned home?
I have no idea (keep reading).
This book's main characters, the Adlers, are members of the Jewish community in Atlantic City in 1934. They keep the faith and adhere to, honor its customs, and are also concerned for the well-being of others connected to them who are still in Nazi Germany and seeking emigration to the U.S., as things heat up there. And this is just one of the book's layers, then, this sharing of Jewish customs and practices, which includes, due to the storyline, the practice of burial as soon after death as possible and then a week of Shiva.
And it was as I was finishing the book last night that I learned of the sudden passing, Tuesday, of a colleague and with whom I had met via Zoom just Monday morning, and that his funeral is tomorrow, Shiva starting shortly afterwards. And that is part of what I am still trying to understand: how this very book made it into my hands and reading eyes at this very time for me to be reminded of these Jewish customs of death, as well as the meaning of life in the faith. Beanland presents here through her characters that the "most important question" is "Whether you've been a good person. Done good things for other " (142). And in the case of my recently departed friend, there is nothing but a clear and very certain "Yes, he did!" response to that most important question. And I am pleased to know that and have learned that through my reading of this work of literature simultaneous to his passing. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.
And as for the "rest of the book," it is simply very well done. While its main character and her plight--to swim the English Channel--are fictitious, Beanland is honoring her great great aunt who shares first names with the main character, Florence, and who was also a swimmer who also died in a swimming accident. She has certainly honored the memory of her family in creating this story, which allows Florence to "live" for as long as it helps others to believe that she is.
Fearing I've already told you too much, I'm going to stop right there and suggest that...as I often do...you read it yourself. It's a good one.
I no longer recall exactly who prompted my adding this book to my tbr pile (please identify yourself if it was you!), but I am still and always of the mind that something divine happens in my selecting what to read at all, let alone "next."
What is it, but something orchestrated elsewhere, that compelled me to, in this case, first pack this book among the 16 I took on our annual camping vacation (me figuring that we were headed out for 13 days, and I could NOT run out of books--can only have too few along, never too many--and I don't like being locked in but prefer, instead, to create a little stacked library in the camper and get to choose each new read as I finish the previous)? Then, second, what compelled me to pick it up "last" on that trip, such that I had barely begun it by the time we returned home?
I have no idea (keep reading).
This book's main characters, the Adlers, are members of the Jewish community in Atlantic City in 1934. They keep the faith and adhere to, honor its customs, and are also concerned for the well-being of others connected to them who are still in Nazi Germany and seeking emigration to the U.S., as things heat up there. And this is just one of the book's layers, then, this sharing of Jewish customs and practices, which includes, due to the storyline, the practice of burial as soon after death as possible and then a week of Shiva.
And it was as I was finishing the book last night that I learned of the sudden passing, Tuesday, of a colleague and with whom I had met via Zoom just Monday morning, and that his funeral is tomorrow, Shiva starting shortly afterwards. And that is part of what I am still trying to understand: how this very book made it into my hands and reading eyes at this very time for me to be reminded of these Jewish customs of death, as well as the meaning of life in the faith. Beanland presents here through her characters that the "most important question" is "Whether you've been a good person. Done good things for other " (142). And in the case of my recently departed friend, there is nothing but a clear and very certain "Yes, he did!" response to that most important question. And I am pleased to know that and have learned that through my reading of this work of literature simultaneous to his passing. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.
And as for the "rest of the book," it is simply very well done. While its main character and her plight--to swim the English Channel--are fictitious, Beanland is honoring her great great aunt who shares first names with the main character, Florence, and who was also a swimmer who also died in a swimming accident. She has certainly honored the memory of her family in creating this story, which allows Florence to "live" for as long as it helps others to believe that she is.
Fearing I've already told you too much, I'm going to stop right there and suggest that...as I often do...you read it yourself. It's a good one.
I was waiting for at least a small moment of secret revelation, simply because I was preparing myself for tears, haha (well, why not? I actually set myself up to hear that heartbreak and how Fannie would cry)
Overall, I really liked the book, even though it wasn't exactly summery. "Living in the heads" of the characters and hearing their thoughts was very interesting.
Things with Isaac are a bit ambiguous. I still want to see more books where a couple, despite their own struggles and obstacles (like Fannie and Isaac), still stay together. Something like the second chance romance trope. But that's just my opinion. Knowing all the crap they went through, I still hoped they would be together because people don't always do the right thing. And just leaving isn't always a good option. Sometimes, you need to face the consequences and learn to live with it.
I don't know, consider this the final stage of delusion.
Overall, I really liked the book, even though it wasn't exactly summery. "Living in the heads" of the characters and hearing their thoughts was very interesting.
Things with Isaac are a bit ambiguous. I still want to see more books where a couple, despite their own struggles and obstacles (like Fannie and Isaac), still stay together. Something like the second chance romance trope. But that's just my opinion. Knowing all the crap they went through, I still hoped they would be together because people don't always do the right thing. And just leaving isn't always a good option. Sometimes, you need to face the consequences and learn to live with it.
I don't know, consider this the final stage of delusion.
Well done! The second novel by Beanland that I’ve read. She writes historical fiction with such a flair!
A book I have read I am now bringing this review to Goodreads.
Atlantic City, 1934.
Florence Adler is training to swim the English Channel.
She dives into the ocean and disappears beneath the waves.
Left on the beach are her parents and her niece and a German woman named Anna.
Who they don't tell about this tragedy is their other daughter, Fannie, who is pregnant and on hospital bedrest.
The secrets and lies insulate her but eventually cocoon the entire family.
The story flowed, despite the complexity of the lie and how it affected the various characters.
It drew the reader into an intimate family drama which was actually based on the life and tragic death of the author's true great aunt. (Actually, great-great-aunt.)
It was a lovely story, skillfully told.
But...
It had cracks that just made it hard to connect to the characters.
So, sometimes I felt close to them, and sometimes, not.
Maybe, that is how families are? 3.5 stars.
Atlantic City, 1934.
Florence Adler is training to swim the English Channel.
She dives into the ocean and disappears beneath the waves.
Left on the beach are her parents and her niece and a German woman named Anna.
Who they don't tell about this tragedy is their other daughter, Fannie, who is pregnant and on hospital bedrest.
The secrets and lies insulate her but eventually cocoon the entire family.
The story flowed, despite the complexity of the lie and how it affected the various characters.
It drew the reader into an intimate family drama which was actually based on the life and tragic death of the author's true great aunt. (Actually, great-great-aunt.)
It was a lovely story, skillfully told.
But...
It had cracks that just made it hard to connect to the characters.
So, sometimes I felt close to them, and sometimes, not.
Maybe, that is how families are? 3.5 stars.