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romadham's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
slow-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? No
3.75
Really enjoyed the relationship between Swiv and her grandmother. Swiv’s character as an 8 year old girl was very relatable - I.e., horrified by every adult around her and quite anxious because of the level of responsibility and maturity that is expected of her. She read mature but frankly, she is “mature for her age” (often said as a compliment but usually just a sign of growing up too soon and not being allowed to be a kid).
Two points of criticism - 1. The plane scene was way too much telling rather than showing. 2. I wish more attention was given to the emotional, social, physical consequences of Swiv being a primary caregiver for her grandmother.
Two points of criticism - 1. The plane scene was way too much telling rather than showing. 2. I wish more attention was given to the emotional, social, physical consequences of Swiv being a primary caregiver for her grandmother.
emmjemreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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? Yes
5.0
fallenxx's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lumenmews's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
caitlinking's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Bumped up because I understand that the writing is good but it just wasn’t for me.
Did start this as a physical book but couldn’t focus on it and really didn’t want to pick it back up whenever I put it down. So I tried out the audio which definitely helped and I enjoyed more.
Some really funny and profound bits in this but I just really didn’t connect to the characters in the way I hoped to.
Did start this as a physical book but couldn’t focus on it and really didn’t want to pick it back up whenever I put it down. So I tried out the audio which definitely helped and I enjoyed more.
Some really funny and profound bits in this but I just really didn’t connect to the characters in the way I hoped to.
astoldbysyd's review against another edition
4.0
some of my favorite parts of this book were the scenes between swiv and her mom. we are aware -- at first distantly, and then intimately -- of how much swiv's mom has suffered, the kind of headspace she's in (and fighting to get out of). everyone swiv meets tells her how strong her mom is.
there's one scene i'll be thinking about for a long time: swiv, on the phone with her mom, wraps it all up by saying i love you first, something she hasn't done since she was about two years old. her mom is so happy to hear it first for once, but swiv brushes off her excitement, like all kids do. but you know she's glad to have said it. to have given her mom that moment. in the midst of all the jokes and eccentricities, toews provides so many little bits of tenderness. it's all about love, after all! the fight to love, all through the night. the fight night :')
there's one scene i'll be thinking about for a long time: swiv, on the phone with her mom, wraps it all up by saying i love you first, something she hasn't done since she was about two years old. her mom is so happy to hear it first for once, but swiv brushes off her excitement, like all kids do. but you know she's glad to have said it. to have given her mom that moment. in the midst of all the jokes and eccentricities, toews provides so many little bits of tenderness. it's all about love, after all! the fight to love, all through the night. the fight night :')
jillybeanxo's review against another edition
5.0
“…which she talked to the doctor about and the doctor said it was probably just nerves and mom was pissed off about that because that’s how they dismiss all of what they think of as women’s vague shit and wanted to get another doctor who would be able to professionally tell mom she was dying but it’s impossible to find another doctor here so mom just has to live with being nervous and totally fine. Leave the drama on the stage, mom! I said. Grandma said, Yeah, honey, would it be so bad to find out you were normal?”
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Three generations of strong females in a witty family narrative
The scattershot approach to narrative took a little while to settle into, but I adored this very quickly. Narrated by a precocious 9 year old in a family of tough but quirky women, Swiv (it's never made clear what this is short for) observes her pregnant mother navigating her theatre job whilst keeping the family afloat. And her energetic but medicated grandmother ("Today she has the Triple Scoop Sundae. Gout, trigeminal neuralgia, angina. With a topping of arthritis") attempts to home school Swiv - excluded for fighting - in some fairly unconventional subjects.
"...Maths Class... If you've got a two thousand-piece puzzle of an Amish farm and you manage to add three pieces to the puzzle per day, how many more days will you need to stay alive to get it done?"
Swiv is certainly getting an education. Bright, probing and telling us about everything she sees and hears around her, we really are listening in to family conversations at the same time as understanding Swiv's thoughts on subjects that often go above her level of understanding. Swiv is writing all this to a father who left.
And so we share living space with these three ladies over the course of several weeks, as they interact, care for each other, and wait for the arrival of Gord, Swiv's gestating sibling.
It's absolutely hilarious, not just the family and interactions but Swiv's interpretations of them. And it builds to a climax both bittersweet and perfect, that left me wanting to return to Swiv's life later to see how they are doing.
Some marvellous writing here. Not the easiest of beach reads, but three wonderful female characters navigating the modern world with strength and humour. A recommendation.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
The scattershot approach to narrative took a little while to settle into, but I adored this very quickly. Narrated by a precocious 9 year old in a family of tough but quirky women, Swiv (it's never made clear what this is short for) observes her pregnant mother navigating her theatre job whilst keeping the family afloat. And her energetic but medicated grandmother ("Today she has the Triple Scoop Sundae. Gout, trigeminal neuralgia, angina. With a topping of arthritis") attempts to home school Swiv - excluded for fighting - in some fairly unconventional subjects.
"...Maths Class... If you've got a two thousand-piece puzzle of an Amish farm and you manage to add three pieces to the puzzle per day, how many more days will you need to stay alive to get it done?"
Swiv is certainly getting an education. Bright, probing and telling us about everything she sees and hears around her, we really are listening in to family conversations at the same time as understanding Swiv's thoughts on subjects that often go above her level of understanding. Swiv is writing all this to a father who left.
And so we share living space with these three ladies over the course of several weeks, as they interact, care for each other, and wait for the arrival of Gord, Swiv's gestating sibling.
It's absolutely hilarious, not just the family and interactions but Swiv's interpretations of them. And it builds to a climax both bittersweet and perfect, that left me wanting to return to Swiv's life later to see how they are doing.
Some marvellous writing here. Not the easiest of beach reads, but three wonderful female characters navigating the modern world with strength and humour. A recommendation.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.
bexhunt's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0