nb61's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
Boring, rambling, all over the place, poor attempt at historical fiction involving Chinese Cultural Revolution, One child police, emigration to America, isolation, birth defects, affects on marriage, disparate love stories, music.
rincey's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
brianreadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.5
mbincolor's review against another edition
4.0
The ending totally threw me and I haven’t made peace with it. Otherwise, a beautifully written book about connection, loss and trying to find yourself in all of it-big or small. Thanks to Goodreads for this title.
magsisreadingagain's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
4.0
hannahk78's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
becsmars's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yagirlvic's review
3.0
Honestly I didn’t really understand what was going on. Some nice moments but I was mostly just confused. A nice book, just hard to follow for me personally
brianaisgoingplaces's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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
5.0
This was a book that I had to take slow. Over the course of the novel, so much emotion bubbled through the characters and in turn to me. The novel takes place during China’s Cultural Revolution and beyond. While reading, I started to learn more about the time period and many of the things that came with it. It’s hard to imagine a total upheaval of life as you know it, and it was for many. Swimming Back to Trout River does a good job communicating the feelings of worry, fear, unrest, and pain that came along with it.
Throughout the book, we follow a cast of characters, each trying to make sense of their roles in the world and muddling through life in the ways they feel best. They make frustrating decisions and hurt other people, and those qualities are the ones that make them feel especially human. I couldn’t really say that I liked many of the characters in this book (maybe our main residents of Trout River, Junie, Grandma, and Grandpa), but for the most part, I grew to understand them.
I especially loved how this book was written. There were so many lines that actually made me stop and have to reflect, even going as far as having to turn the ideas over with others. The writing was really beautiful throughout, and I think that helped make the book all the more heartwrenching.
While I read the book, I had a sense of foreboding, and the book did not (but really did) disappoint. I get why the ending wrapped up the way it did, but I didn’t want to be sad, and I definitely cried oops.
I think I enjoyed this book infinitely because I read it as a buddy read, and because I read it after living in China for a year. It illuminated so many things for me, and I’m excited to take that knowledge and curiosity into my next year there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, and Death