A review by sfbookgirl
The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Swimmers is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Written in the collective first person Julie Otsuka’s newest novel describes what happens when a crack is found at the bottom of a private, members-only pool and the repercussions it has for its swimmers. But this is not just a story about a pool. It’s also a story about one of its swimmers - a woman named Alice who is diagnosed with dementia. 
 
While reading The Swimmers, I felt the world around me go quiet. Otsuka’s writing style offers readers a beautiful, yet devastating story about what it means to lose someone, to grieve, and to reflect on the life we have been given. While short in length, the prose feels full. As a result, I found it best to read this one over a longer period of time to appreciate the beauty of its concise, heartbreaking narrative.
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