Reviews tagging 'Miscarriage'

The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

8 reviews

robinks's review against another edition

emotional sad slow-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? No

4.25

The tone of the first two chapters was so different from the remainder of the book that it was a little jarring. I was not expecting where the story went, but I appreciated the depth. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, and Dementia

Moderate: Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Confinement and War

avisreadsandreads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Medical content, Dementia, and Grief

Moderate: Child death, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide, Car accident, and War

bon_xx's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness and Dementia

Moderate: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Child death

itschelseaw's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.25

What happens to our lives when our routines are suddenly taken away? When what tethered you to a specific reality or life is gone? In The Swimmers some of the swimmers created a new routine while others floundered and couldn’t figure it out.
One such swimmer, Alice, has had her routines seemingly disrupted her entire life, starting with the internment camps in the USA during WWII. Her adult life is disrupted by the death of her mother, then the development of dementia, and the closure of the pool. These disruptions to her life tumble into each other, and the ending is tender and heartbreaking.
Watching my father slowly, then rapidly, die was incredibly difficult, and it only took the span of 1 year. I can’t imagine years upon years of visiting your parent and knowing that things won’t improve but holding out hope that they will. The little things they did and loved and talked about that become the things that ultimately haunt you.
Tender and touching, especially at the end.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia and Death of parent

Moderate: Miscarriage

tindin's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Medical content, and War

Minor: Racism, Xenophobia, and Abandonment

venetiana's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia

Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Terminal illness, Grief, and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Child death, Confinement, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, War, and Injury/Injury detail

alyssancoon's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.75

A beautiful book that I can not recommend enough! I ugly cried through the whole second half of the book.
For me, 5 stars is "would read again", and I don't think I could bring myself to read this book again, because it was very sad for me personally. But I would still recommend it to anyone.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Dementia, Grief, and Death of parent

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Miscarriage

jularcido's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness and Dementia

Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, and Xenophobia