Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Swimming Home by Deborah Levy

14 reviews

_m_a_r_a's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

This was a struggle to get through. None of the characters were likeable and there were also so many that I struggled to follow who was who for most of the story. I found the writing felt like it was trying to be too clever and then just felt a bit messy.

There is a plot twist at the end and things pick up pace but it’s also frustrating that the focus completely switches focus to probably the most unlikeable character after investing so much time in the plight of Kitty. But maybe that’s the point.

At times I thought it was interesting how the perspective the story was being told shifted between characters but overall it might’ve been stronger if being told through Nina’s eyes.

Why did there have to be two older men pining for younger women?? Boring!
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jesps's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Although it was a very good read from beginning to end it feels like it promised me more in the beginning than what it turned out to be. I was waiting for a big resolve, but everything kind of panned out as it was first signalled.
Nevertheless very well written.
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mj_86's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-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

2.5

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rainbowarpaint's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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roxyc's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad medium-paced

4.5

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cecereads__'s review against another edition

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4.25

Deborah Levy does subtlety really well. She’s quite the master of it imo, and she especially knows how to do it mixed with the unexpected which is a contradiction in a way but that’s what’s accomplished. The way the story weaves things and personalities and “destinies” together in a cryptic but clear way makes for a very interesting read. The story takes place during a week of summer vacation so physically (location) we stay somewhat still, but mentally in terms of growth is where all the change and chain-reactions happen.
I almost wanted to know more and explore the characters and their connection further but it wasn’t what the story was about or what the story was “meant” to give it’s reader - but I didn’t feel like it was missing, if that makes sense, I knew that it was supposed to be the way it is where we simply know most characters in the periphery (as much as you would know someone during the span of a week).
I found the last chapter - 17 years after the week in France -  quite intriguing as it was the most subtle and unexpected in a way. As if the week wasn’t that big a deal or that life-altering even though it was; the ambivalence of it while speaking as if it was any other “random” week from the past as in “oh yeah, by the way…” - idk. But that’s just my initial take on it
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elmo_isoutside's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

4.0

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katiiekhaos's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Read for a University class.
This book feels simultaneously like a book I would typically enjoy because of the themes/context, and also a book I wouldn’t normally pick up. I think it’s well written and the characters are fleshed out, and also very flawed; with some often very questionable motives and desires. The ending was shocking but I hadn’t grown as attached to the characters (except Nina) so I didn’t have much of an emotional response to it.
Having to write an essay about this book did make me appreciate how much skill Levy put into this book, there is so many subtle foreshadowing scenes that come together so perfectly at the end. 
Overall for me this was a good book but not amazing. 
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angharadmiller's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious sad tense fast-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

4.5

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hollsbookshelf's review against another edition

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reflective sad medium-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

3.5

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