Night Swimmers

In September, I read a lot of ecru-colored books with waves on the cover. It‘s a vibe.

My favorites this month were Night Swimmers and Sleep (and Tuck, of course, but that‘s old news). I continued my HMRC (Her Majesty‘s Royal Coven) obsession and saw it through to the bitter (or sweet? No spoilers here!) end.

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Clare-Dragonfly Did you know there is a graphic novel adaptation of Tuck Everlasting??? Grammar Girl just did an interview with the artist. 2w

monalyisha @Clare-Dragonfly Yes! We just bought a copy for our collection at the library. The colors are lovely! 2w

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monalyisha

Night Swimmers | Roisin Maguire

pick

A man grieving the death of his infant daughter & the dissolution of his marriage rents a seaside cottage in Northern Ireland — just for a week, to give his wife some space until she can stand to look at him again. Then, COVID hits. A week becomes much longer. He goes nowhere, which turns out to be exactly what he needs.

Eventually, his 8 year-old son joins him. And nowhere is exactly what Luca — deaf, misunderstood, & lonely — needs, too.👇🏻

monalyisha 1/4: Evan learns the pattern of village life from observing his gruff, hermitic landlady, Grace. A tragedy in her past has caused her to withdraw but her intimate knowledge of the landscape and her small, accepting village give her life shape. The unlikely duo saves each other in ways both grand and obscure. (edited) 3w

monalyisha 2/4: What Evan needs is reflection and release. What Grace needs is to have someone trust her implicitly, and to fully appreciate her wild independence, capability, and strength. This novel is full of deep pain, as well as gradual and continual healing. There are such restorative moments of stillness and quiet. The bird, the fishing line, the cake; the midnight swims in the silver light of the moon. 3w

monalyisha 3/4: I know others found the possibility of romance between Grace and Evan unbelievable and were pushing against it. I was rooting for it. The text conversations between Luca & Grace, on the other hand, I found a bit cringe (albeit sweet). And I needed to look past the townspeople ignoring Covid restrictions. IRL, I‘d be so angry and anxious. But I know that in a small, rural village, the response was more than likely a common & realistic one. (edited) 3w

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monalyisha 4/4: Maguire‘s writing and her sense of place are gorgeous, simple, and profound. I couldn‘t put this down. Thank you to @TheKidUpstairs for mailing me your copy! It found its home in my heart. 3w

CoffeeK8 This sounds really good! Stacking! 3w

Christine What a great review! Stacked. (edited) 3w

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monalyisha

Night Swimmers | Roisin Maguire

I have a new seagull friend. It‘s been hanging out with me for the better part of an hour, just a step away from the edge of my blanket. It slowly circled me and has now snuggled down and gotten cozy. Bud‘s got two different colored eyes.

Do you think it‘s a spirit bird with a message for me or is it sizing me up and I‘m actually in trouble?

…Only time will tell!

Ruthiella I think is wondering if you have a french fry 🍟 😜 4w

vlwelser I love being bundled up and reading on an empty beach. 4w

AnnCrystal Light-handed meaning: healing, renewal, and balance (varies by culture) 🤩🤩🤩💝💝💝. 4w

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Graywacke He‘ll tell all for a snack. But he‘s so cute. This book title leaves REM in my head. 4w

IuliaC Such a beautiful photo! 4w

Suet624 I think that‘s lovely. Maybe he‘s lonely. If he were there just for food he wouldn‘t have stuck around. 4w

monalyisha @Graywacke Every single time I see it! 🎶 4w

monalyisha @Suet624 That‘s exactly what I thought. 🩵 4w

monalyisha @vlwelser It was so delightfully quiet. I could actually hear each tinkle of sea glass or shell as the woman foraging along the shoreline found something small and special to add to her bag. 4w

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TheKidUpstairs

Night Swimmers | Roisin Maguire

so-so

This one is tough to rate, I keep bouncing back and forth between pick and so-so. I loved much of this book, the sense of found family, finding community and healing after trauma, and the beautiful healing power of nature and the sea. But some things were just so frustrating, they take away from my enjoyment. And in the end the frustration wins out. I'll put further thoughts in the comments under spoiler warnings!

TheKidUpstairs First of all, while I loved Grace, it seemed like the author had a hard time drawing a portrait of a 50 year old woman. Honestly, I thought she was at least 75 for much of the book and was shocked when her age was mentioned. It feels like Maguire wrote a book with a much older character, and then altered it when she wanted to insert the love story between Grace and Evan (more on that in another comment).

cont'd in next comment 3mo

TheKidUpstairs cont'd from above comment...

It seemed like inconsistent characterization to me. And I find it hard to believe on a search and rescue mission in a small coastal town, an able bodied 50 year old woman would be shunted to the side like an old lady. 3mo

TheKidUpstairs And the aforementioned romance/dalliance/whatever it is between Grace and Evan did not work for me at all. The first time Maguire hinted at it, I almost laughed. I REALLY felt like the book was setting up for a found family vibe, and then that? And then following through with it? It didn't feel earned to me at all. 3mo

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monalyisha Agh! I want to read this one so much and I‘m SO tempted to read your spoilers! I guess that just means I need to bump it up on my list so I can click “reveal.” 😅 3mo

Jas16 I totally agree about the romance aspect but it felt so tacked on to me that I pretty much ignored it and it didn‘t impact my appreciation of everything else. 3mo

BarbaraBB I hear you @monalyisha I feel the same! (edited) 3mo

TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha @BarbaraBB So far, I really seem to be the outlier on this one. Others either don't have the same issues I did, or like @Jas16 are better able to separate them from the good stuff. Maybe I'm just extra grumpy these days? 🤣 3mo

TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha @BarbaraBB if either of you want to read it without buying it, I'd be happy to send along my copy! 3mo

monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs I don‘t want to make you pay for shipping but I also wouldn‘t say no! 3mo

TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha no worries, I'll send it your way this week! 3mo

monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs Amazing! 🤩 I can Venmo you shipping if you want; just say the word! 3mo

BarbaraBB That is super kind but I am in Europe so that‘s quite expensive. @monalyisha is much closer! I will be looking out for a copy here 🤍 3mo

TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha it's on its way to you! Should be there in a week or so 👍😁 3mo

monalyisha @TheKidUpstairs Exciting!!! 3mo

monalyisha I was hoping to be a beach bum at some point this weekend and get a thematic shot of the book, which has indeed arrived…but I never made it there. Soon! And thank you! 😘 3mo

TheKidUpstairs @monalyisha you're welcome! Glad it arrived, and I hope you enjoy it. And that you get your beach bum day soon 😊 3mo

monalyisha I think the wobbliness of Grace‘s age had more to do with her outward presentation than it did anything else. She was perceived as older because she refused to participate in any of the accepted markers of youth & beauty. She‘d also “retired,” basically — from society, and from pursuing a future that held anyone else intimately in her orbit. She‘d given up pieces of herself that have a lot in common with what much older women give up on (or lose). 3w

monalyisha And I think she was shunted to the side not only because she was older but because she was the one who placed the call. I think she was too close to it. The media I‘ve consumed usually has the immediate family stay at home during a search, right? Or maybe I loved the book so much, I‘m willing to make every excuse necessary. 😜 3w

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Jas16

Night Swimmers | Roisin Maguire

pick

When COVID lockdown forces Evan to extend his coastal getaway it becomes the catalyst for him to stop drifting around mired in misery. He begins to relate to others, and starts to face the traumas that haunt him and look towards the future. His stay also impacts the town eccentric, Grace,who hates tourists but finds herself opening her life up to Evan. Grief, forgiveness, and hope run through this taut book. Touching without being sentimental.

charl08 I have this on the TBR, hope to pick up soon. 5mo

squirrelbrain Great review! I *nearly* bought this the other day - might have a look, see if I can get it on audio. 5mo

Jas16 @charl08 Looking forward to seeing what you think. 5mo

Jas16 @squirrelbrain I could write odes to all the books I nearly bought that linger in my mind. I think you would like this one though. 5mo

squirrelbrain 😜- I‘ll definitely look for this and give it a go! 5mo

45 likes5 comments

JacqMac

Night Swimmers | Roisin Maguire

Best read in May. I really loved this one.
#12BooksOf2024 @Andrew65

TheBookHippie Stacked 10mo

TrishB I loved this too 👍🏻 was gifted Bad Cree for my birthday- need to get to it! 10mo

Andrew65 A good choice. 10mo

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JacqMac

Night Swimmers | Roisin Maguire

pick

"...if you accept everything you perceive in the world around you to be a projection of your own mind, it's up to you to avoid making up enemies and difficulties and reasons for suffering. Stop making things bad when they're really not.'
You were right @TrishB I did need this one. lol It was really good.

JamieArc This sounds beautiful. 1y

TrishB So glad you enjoyed it 😁 1y

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TrishB

Night Swimmers | Roisin Maguire

pick

A lovely, poignant read. About the really crappy things that can happen in life, how you live with them, heal and try to move forward.
And nature and the sea- how it doesn‘t care and carries on regardless.
And the cover is gorgeous.

Cathythoughts Lovely review ❤️ Yes, gorgeous cover. 2y

BarbaraBB The cover is gorgeous indeed and your review is 👌🏽 2y

JacqMac I think I need this one. 2y

Anna40 Read the first pages, loved them. My library doesn‘t have a copy. Would you recommend buying? 2y

TrishB @JacqMac @Anna40 I think if you read the first few pages and liked you‘ll enjoy the rest of the book. You may need this one @JacqMac 😁 2y

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TrishB

Night Swimmers | Roisin Maguire