bookishgirl4321's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
christinecasey's review against another edition
3.0
What an odd book. Not in a bad way. Its just unlike any book I’ve ever read.
This is really two books. The first half focuses on swimmers at an underground pool. The way the author uses multiple main characters, or a collective protagonist, is interesting. You don’t learn a lot about any one individual, but through multiple perspectives you begin to understand why swimming, and the pool, is so important. One day a crack appears in the pool, and the swimmers have to deal with this disruption in their routine.
This is one of those books that I want to follow up by reading more reviews to see what bigger picture I’m missing, because the first half definitely feels like an allegory.
The second half focuses on one of the swimmers, Alice, who suffers from a memory disease. The book description would lead you to believe that she revisits memories of her time in a Japanese American incarceration camp. However, those memories are just a very brief piece. The book explores Alice’s life and her relationship with her daughter who continues to visit in a memory care facility.
This second half made me cry. If you’ve lost anyone to Alzheimer’s, or are even just sensitive to family getting older, have your tissues.
This is really two books. The first half focuses on swimmers at an underground pool. The way the author uses multiple main characters, or a collective protagonist, is interesting. You don’t learn a lot about any one individual, but through multiple perspectives you begin to understand why swimming, and the pool, is so important. One day a crack appears in the pool, and the swimmers have to deal with this disruption in their routine.
This is one of those books that I want to follow up by reading more reviews to see what bigger picture I’m missing, because the first half definitely feels like an allegory.
The second half focuses on one of the swimmers, Alice, who suffers from a memory disease. The book description would lead you to believe that she revisits memories of her time in a Japanese American incarceration camp. However, those memories are just a very brief piece. The book explores Alice’s life and her relationship with her daughter who continues to visit in a memory care facility.
This second half made me cry. If you’ve lost anyone to Alzheimer’s, or are even just sensitive to family getting older, have your tissues.
noahconman's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
mhorne's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
ferris_mx's review against another edition
5.0
Lovely elegiac writing. Each chapter is a different perspective, often with a different voice, telling a beautiful and clear story.
bbboeken's review against another edition
3.0
My rating does not do this book justice. This book is wonderfully written, not too eccentric or experimental, but just challenging enough. It is, however, not the kind of book I set out to read. Hence the rating is just a personal appreciation, heavily coloured by my reading expectations, and not at all by the real value of this book. Because this book is good.
If you are reading this because you expect a book about a swimming pool or swimmers, this book is just like it was for me: not for you. If you are the kind of person who appreciates a delicate story about dementia and what the disease does to a person and the people around them, then you will be amazed and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
If you are reading this because you expect a book about a swimming pool or swimmers, this book is just like it was for me: not for you. If you are the kind of person who appreciates a delicate story about dementia and what the disease does to a person and the people around them, then you will be amazed and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
katebirdie's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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
5.0
jordyn_lightyear's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
_sarah_reads_'s review against another edition
3.0
I'd like to give this 3.5 stars...it was funny at times but mostly touching. Possibly tough to read if you or someone you care for needs memory care. Good on audio.
amandaatkinson06's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.25