dogdad1972's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Toxic friendship, Suicide, and Violence
etbliss's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty
hngisreading's review
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Infidelity, Mental illness, Stalking, Animal cruelty, Blood, and Suicide attempt
meganashlee27's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Living with a friend in an ancient farmhouse that’s falling apart and inhabited by bees, squirrels, and other guests, Greta spends her days transcribing therapy sessions for a local sex therapist. After becoming intrigued by one of his clients, she recognizes her voice at a dog park. Their strange histories and trauma connect them. The problem? Big Swiss is married, and Greta gave her a fake name and didn’t tell her that she’s heard all her deep secrets in her therapy sessions.
This book reminds me of some obscure indie movies of the early 2000s. They were sometimes weird, sometimes brilliant, and if you found a good one you could pretentiously refer to it as your favorite movie. There’s a lot going on in this book. It was sometimes weird, or gross, or eccentric, or heartbreaking. But there were also moments of laughter and pure love that endeared you to the story even more. Some of my favorite parts were the off-handed comments that really had nothing to do with the plot, but instead described the hipsters of the town, the animals, or were even used in a self-deprecating way. Although I never really loved the premise around Greta listening in to the therapy sessions (even though it was her job), the individual characters (and animals) are what held me in.
I also saw that this has already been picked up by HBO, so I’m intrigued to see how that develops!
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Living with a friend in an ancient farmhouse that’s falling apart and inhabited by bees, squirrels, and other guests, Greta spends her days transcribing therapy sessions for a local sex therapist. After becoming intrigued by one of his clients, she recognizes her voice at a dog park. Their strange histories and trauma connect them. The problem? Big Swiss is married, and Greta gave her a fake name and didn’t tell her that she’s heard all her deep secrets in her therapy sessions.
This book reminds me of some obscure indie movies of the early 2000s. They were sometimes weird, sometimes brilliant, and if you found a good one you could pretentiously refer to it as your favorite movie. There’s a lot going on in this book. It was sometimes weird, or gross, or eccentric, or heartbreaking. But there were also moments of laughter and pure love that endeared you to the story even more. Some of my favorite parts were the off-handed comments that really had nothing to do with the plot, but instead described the hipsters of the town, the animals, or were even used in a self-deprecating way. Although I never really loved the premise around Greta listening in to the therapy sessions (even though it was her job), the individual characters (and animals) are what held me in.
I also saw that this has already been picked up by HBO, so I’m intrigued to see how that develops!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Suicide, and Sexual content
kendallreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Injury/injury detail, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Sexual content
Minor: Stalking
thevioletfoxbookshop's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In an old Dutch farmhouse full of bees and lead paint, Greta transcribes sessions between a sex coach and his patients. Greta becomes fascinated with one of the patients, whom she refers to as Big Swiss. When Greta and Big Swiss meet at the dog park, their lives become irreversibly entangled.
Big Swiss is the sort of strange and beautiful novel that you have to read to believe. It's utterly shocking, absolutely hysterical, and beautifully cynical. Honestly, it was unlike anything else I've ever read.
I laughed out loud on every other page, rolled my eyes at the pervasive hipster things Big Swiss pokes fun at, and thoroughly enjoyed the quirky atmosphere.
However funny and entertaining, though, know that Big Swiss is also an intimate and often disturbing portrait of mental illness, infidelity, and trauma. It's a close encounter with human damage and nothing is off limits. The characters' flaws are glaring and their desperate attempts to cope feel all too real.
Raging feminism, bunk psychology, and bisexuality all mix with ennui, infatuation, and humor in Jen Beagin's newest novel, Big Swiss. It's a book you won't want to leave and one your mind will probably still be puzzling over long after you've finished reading it.
And just in case you haven't already heard, Big Swiss is already in development to become a show on HBO (and the book isn't even out yet)! You know the rule - the book is always better, so read it first!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Addiction, Cursing, and Stalking
Minor: Self harm, Blood, and Cancer
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