Swimming Home by Deborah Levy

Swimming Home

Deborah Levy

A very short novel spanning a one week villa holiday of a British group in France. The setting is idyllic and the author's language sparkles like the sun on the sea. However, for this group, happiness is an unlikely outcome. A novel to be relished for the language and the style. Very highly recommended and was shortlisted for the 2012 Man Booker prize.

Extract
To have been so intimate with Kitty Finch had been a pleasure, a pain, a shock, an experiment, but most of all it had been a mistake. He asked her again to please, please, please drive him safely home to his wife and daughter.
'Yes', she said. Life is only worth living because we hope it will get better and we'll all get home safely.'
Parallels
  • Hate: A Romance by Tristan Garcia
  • Trespass by Rose Tremain
  • Repeat it Today With Tears by Anne Piele