natlren's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Between a lackluster ending, horrible characters, and extremely unnecessary microaggressions, Big Swiss felt like a train wreck. I don’t understand how this one has such glowing reviews, especially with the casual racism sprinkled throughout it. And yes, yes, I know that Greta is supposed to be unlikable, but again, the microaggressions in this book were entirely there for shock value. If you ask me, this is an easy skip.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Animal cruelty, and Violence
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Ableism
chirpyfrenchreader's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Mmmh. Could’ve been a yes but it’s a no.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Grief, Blood, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Addiction, Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
sopherdopher's review against another edition
this is the first book where I've felt misled by storygraph's content warnings! there is an EXTREMELY graphic and upsetting animal scene about
Spoiler
the main character's dog who's been shot and is near-death. He's convulsing and nonresponsive. He's eventually okay but the scene was horrible and I don't think that's conveyed in the current ratings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Addiction, Alcohol, and Racism
savvylit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
First of all, sorry to the Big Swiss fans out here but this book was just okay for me. Let me talk about what I liked: this book is often quite funny. I really appreciated each absurd detail - especially those about Greta & Sabine and their crumbling house full of bees. Additionally, everything about Om and his clientele is also incredibly funny. The fire breathing, the gong... Beagin has created an excellent satire of a specific brand of neohippy and the people that they attract.
What I didn't like is a little more complex. So: Greta is an unreliable and unlikeable messy narrator. Historically, I've been a fan of books with messy female protagonists. However, some of the language that Greta uses is pointlessly offensive. Within the first twenty pages, Greta makes an offhand comment where she says that the bees are "Japanesey." Later in the book, she says the r-slur as an insult. Even later, she refers to her face while crying as Chinese. All offhanded. Bi-erasure is also threaded throughout Big Swiss, unexamined. The central relationship in this book is wlw. Greta has recently broken up with a man and Flavia is currently married to a man. And yet, when Greta realizes how attached she is to Flavia and their relationship, she is determined to label herself and Flavia as gay. Even as Flavia disagrees with that choice.
Ultimately, I generally enjoy books with messy and complicated characters. However, I take issue with the use of hateful language to frame the unlikeability of a narrator. It was jarring to encounter in the text, especially when written in such a casual way. I believe that Greta could have been just as unlikeable without any of the offensive statements. @janandthings has a recent post on her profile where she puts it even better than I could: "when hateful commentary or behavior goes unchecked, that is not satire, that's hate speech."
What I didn't like is a little more complex. So: Greta is an unreliable and unlikeable messy narrator. Historically, I've been a fan of books with messy female protagonists. However, some of the language that Greta uses is pointlessly offensive. Within the first twenty pages, Greta makes an offhand comment where she says that the bees are "Japanesey." Later in the book, she says the r-slur as an insult. Even later, she refers to her face while crying as Chinese. All offhanded. Bi-erasure is also threaded throughout Big Swiss, unexamined. The central relationship in this book is wlw. Greta has recently broken up with a man and Flavia is currently married to a man. And yet, when Greta realizes how attached she is to Flavia and their relationship, she is determined to label herself and Flavia as gay. Even as Flavia disagrees with that choice.
Ultimately, I generally enjoy books with messy and complicated characters. However, I take issue with the use of hateful language to frame the unlikeability of a narrator. It was jarring to encounter in the text, especially when written in such a casual way. I believe that Greta could have been just as unlikeable without any of the offensive statements. @janandthings has a recent post on her profile where she puts it even better than I could: "when hateful commentary or behavior goes unchecked, that is not satire, that's hate speech."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Biphobia, Violence, Suicide, Fatphobia, and Racism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Drug use, and Stalking
tiff_reads_'s review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
readwithchar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
brianareads's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Racism
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