input: [0] checkbox [#] position 3 [cover] cover [title] title Swimming Home [author] author Levy, Deborah [isbn] isbn 0571299601 [isbn13] isbn13 9780571299607 [asin] asin [num pages] num pages 157 pp [avg rating] avg rating 3.21 [num ratings] num ratings 5,169 [date pub] date pub Oct 06, 2011 [date pub (ed.)] date pub edition Sep 10, 2012 [rating] Michael's rating 5 of 5 stars [my rating] my rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars add to shelves [notes] notes Notes are private! [recommender] recommender none [comments] comments 3 [votes] votes 16 [read count] # times read 1 [date started] date started not set [date read] date read Oct 17, 2012 [date added] date added Oct 12, 2012 [date purchased] date purchased [owned] owned [purchase location] purchase location [condition] condition [format] format Paperback [29] actions view (with text) [review] 
output: review A group of tourists holidaying in the French Riviera arrive at their summer villa only to find something floating in the swimming pool. One of them th A group of tourists holidaying in the French Riviera arrive at their summer villa only to find something floating in the swimming pool. One of them thinks it’s a bear, but it turns out to be a very naked stranger. The woman Kitty, having nowhere else to go, joins the group and ends up being a big disruption to the group in this deeply psychology dark novel. Ok, I’ll admit that the main reason I decided to read this book was because it was short listed for the Man Booker award but let’s face it, after reading what the book was about, I thought it was my type of book. These characters are rich and the addition of a very explosive character made for a fascinating read. At times during the book I felt reminded of that 90’s psychological thriller Wild Things; there was so many unanswered questions that really helped drive this story along. Sure, it is not as twisted as that movie but the psychological aspects are there; at times there are even shades of noir coming through. Deborah Levy does so much with such a small book; the joy of reading the book is seeing what she doesn’t say. In this aspect I think I would compare her to someone like Kafka, where what she says has so much depth and meaning that it’s really what makes this book so great. Womanising and depression maybe the catalyst but my joy came from the dark and witty elements found throughout this writing. I’ve not read any of the other books shortlisted for this year Man Booker but I’m hoping this book wins; it has so much in it and I think winning this award would give it the exposure that this book deserves. I’m sure there are many elements of this book I might have missed but I enjoyed the book so much that I’ve already started reading through it again. A literary highlight for my reading journey this year; Swimming Home is well worth picking up. This review originally appeared on my blog; http://literary-exploration.com/2012/... ...more