Reviews

De zwemmers by Julie Otsuka

and_then_what_happens's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Beautiful

sebastianrutter's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

launab's review against another edition

5.0

I think I connected to the book on a few different levels…

First of all, I enjoy the writing style.

Second, as a swimmer who has spent SO much time in a pool, I found the first part of the novel very relatable.

Finally and sadly, I have experience with memory care facilities and dementia, and in that respect the final parts of the book were also deeply relatable.

teresadawn's review against another edition

4.0

This is a novel in 2 parts. The first is about the swimmers in an underground pool and their need to swim. The second half focuses on one of the swimmers, Alice, who has dementia and the harsh reality of this disease as it progresses. This is an uniquely written and powerful novel.

giulsloves's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective fast-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? Yes

4.25

firedew's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia

marcosbedbooks's review against another edition

3.0

Some thoughts
- I was disappointed by the swimming pool plotline because I feel like the ending did not land.
- The writing in this book is VERY repetitive and was a slog to get through.
- I think there were supposed to be connections between all of the three main stories in this book but I feel like the swimming pool plotline failed to connect with the dementia plotline that well.
- The last chapter I actually really enjoyed and while I did like the other chapters I think the repetitive writing really made it hard for me to truly like this book.

kathrinelar's review against another edition

5.0

Læste den på en dag. Elsker hendes måde at skrive på, jeg kunne ikke lægge den ned igen 

smithy361's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

I expected the story to include more of the swimmers in the heart of the story than it did. Much of the plot focused on a single individual whose cognitive function is decreasing.

savvystory's review against another edition

5.0

I read this book in one day. It’s short at only 175 pages, but it packs a punch. I’ll never forget this book. It does my favorite thing a story can do: capture how insignificant and yet immense a life is, especially a parent’s. The portrait of the mother’s dementia is direct, emotional, but never sentimental. I’ll be calling my grandmas more often after this one.

It also captures the magic of swimming as a hobby perfectly.