A glittering, energetic novel about three women-each experiencing an awakening in the gloriously conflicted and sexy city of Buenos Aires. read full description
reviews
Aug 24, 2011
Heather
rated it: 
In this tense and erotically charged new novel from Maxine Swann, three very different women experience life in Buenos Aires, Argentina amid a backdrop of tropical torpor and haute society. When Daisy, an American divorcee, escapes to Argentina after a medical scare, she’s at first withdrawn and alienated from her new surroundings and their inhabitants. When one day she’s discovered by Leonarda, a young Argentine woman with a strange sprightly outlook that hides a deep streak of masochism, Daisy
More...
Jul 29, 2011
Cameling
rated it: 
Contemporary Buenos Aires exudes a sultry welcome to all. Her exotic charms entice all who visit and destroys the souls of those who aren't careful.
Daisy, a divorced American, flees to Buenos Aires, grant in hand,ostensibly to research and write about their waterworks, an area in which she is unqualified. Throwing off her conservative cloak, she is fascinated by Leonarda, a young Argentinian sprite with a yearning to tear the establishment. Isolde, a beautiful Austrian, leaps into the More...
Daisy, a divorced American, flees to Buenos Aires, grant in hand,ostensibly to research and write about their waterworks, an area in which she is unqualified. Throwing off her conservative cloak, she is fascinated by Leonarda, a young Argentinian sprite with a yearning to tear the establishment. Isolde, a beautiful Austrian, leaps into the More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jul 09, 2011
Jaylia3
rated it:
I had never read anything set in Argentina which is what drew me to this book initially and in the beginning I was completely fascinated with the background and caught up in the story. First person narrator Daisy has gotten a grant to study the public waterworks of Buenos Aires--a field she knows nothing about--as a way to move on after her divorce and I felt like I had jumped into that adventure with her for a wild, try anything kind of ride. I loved the way the author laced the narration with
More...
Jun 27, 2011
Tara
rated it: 
First of all, where's the plot in this?? I didn't read much of a plot... To me, it was all a bunch of weird women living in Buenos Aires visiting their weird friends and banging their very weird lovers.
First of all, the narrator... She should have a stronger voice, but instead she just seemed to be following her friends around, letting them make her decisions for her.. Despite the fact she was narrating the story, her character was weak. She's also a moocher.. she's getting a free tr More...
First of all, the narrator... She should have a stronger voice, but instead she just seemed to be following her friends around, letting them make her decisions for her.. Despite the fact she was narrating the story, her character was weak. She's also a moocher.. she's getting a free tr More...
4 comments
like
(5 people liked it)
Aug 21, 2011
Meg - A Bookish Affair
rated it:
This book is a book about coming into one's own and leaving inhibitions behind. Daisy comes to Buenos Aires to get away from it all. A chance to study the city's water system lands her a free pass into the city. At first, she feels sort of at sea in the country until she meets Leonarda, the most interesting character of all in this book. Leonarda stands for everything that Daisy wants to be: intelligent, carefree, and wild. Leonarda helps Daisy cast off some of the trappings of her old life and
More...
Aug 27, 2011
Emily
rated it:
The Foreigners is slight novel in which the lives of three women -- a newly divorced and emotionally distraught American, a neurotic and desperate Austrian seeking upward social mobility, and an unpredictable and electrically sensual Argentine -- collide in different paths to self discovery in the beautiful, intoxicating, and despicable city of Buenos Aires.
I really enjoyed how Swann divides the novel into three sections, punctuated by scenes full of metaphor involving water and descr More...
I really enjoyed how Swann divides the novel into three sections, punctuated by scenes full of metaphor involving water and descr More...
Sep 04, 2011
Agnes
rated it:
I received The Foreigners through the Goodread First Reads program and after reading the first chapter, I really wasn't sure that I'd make it through to the end. The writing was extremely laconic, to the point of abruptness. Short sentences. Telling you a few things. Sort of strung together. Abrupt, like I said.
Surprisingly though, the writing style grew on me and I eventually found myself somewhat fond of it. I don't think this was a result of the writing changing at all, but rather More...
Surprisingly though, the writing style grew on me and I eventually found myself somewhat fond of it. I don't think this was a result of the writing changing at all, but rather More...
Sep 02, 2011
Amy
rated it:
The Foreigners by Maxine Swann
Date Published: August 2011
ISBN: 978-1594488306
Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover
Pages: 272
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Publisher’s Book Summary: A glittering, energetic novel about three women-each experiencing an awakening in the gloriously conflicted and sexy city of Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires is a city of Parisian affections and national anxiety, of amorous young lovers, seedy More...
Date Published: August 2011
ISBN: 978-1594488306
Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover
Pages: 272
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 3.0 out of 5
Publisher’s Book Summary: A glittering, energetic novel about three women-each experiencing an awakening in the gloriously conflicted and sexy city of Buenos Aires.
Buenos Aires is a city of Parisian affections and national anxiety, of amorous young lovers, seedy More...
Oct 12, 2011
JoLynn
rated it:
The Foreigners by Maxine Swann
There are three main characters in this novel set in Buenos Aires :
Daisy, an American, who has just gone through an upsetting divorce;
Isolde, Austrian, an increasingly desperate social climber;
Leonarda, a native of Argentina, who seems to crave adventure and excitement at any cost.
First of all, the descriptions of life and society in Buenos Aires were quite absorbing. The narrative and detail in this part of the book was lucid More...
There are three main characters in this novel set in Buenos Aires :
Daisy, an American, who has just gone through an upsetting divorce;
Isolde, Austrian, an increasingly desperate social climber;
Leonarda, a native of Argentina, who seems to crave adventure and excitement at any cost.
First of all, the descriptions of life and society in Buenos Aires were quite absorbing. The narrative and detail in this part of the book was lucid More...
Jan 03, 2012
Ty
rated it:
First, I really didn't like the main character, Daisy, that much. I didn't really like Leo or understand what she was doing and all the games that went on between her and Daisy. I liked Isolde and would have much rather enjoyed her story in more depth. I also wanted to learn more about other minor characters like Gabriel, who led an interesting life. I enjoyed the descriptions of Buenos Aires and about society there.
Aug 22, 2011
As disappointing as Maxine Swann can be, and as annoying as I already find the tag line for this story, I simply know too much about Buenis Aires to field off a new novel about it! I truly doubt she'll get to say anytthing new or fascinatingly insightful (her many essays on the topic appear quite bland, an outrageous word in the context of mad as a hatter Argentina!) but I'll still read it. And hope.
Feb 07, 2012
Clare
rated it: 
For a book with such an interesting premise (expats in Buenos Aires), this one was interminably boring. I think a lot of it had to do with the author's disaffected, Hemingway-esque writing style. (An expat writer who idolizes Hemingway...how novel.) There was also the inexplicable way she shifted between first and third person for her two main characters, and the way boring digressions on, say, plant species or water treatment practices would suddenly crop up in the narrative. (I guess these had
More...
Aug 26, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
I lived in BA. I have been to that Women's Club meeting and heard that discussion verbatim. She describes expat life and BA very accurately, down to and including the shallow and distasteful aspects. Reminds me of why I never really fit in there (although it is a lovely city and a very interesting place to visit).
Aug 26, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
I have barely started reading this book...I am about 60 pages in and loving it! The story so far is realizing a dream that I have had since I was a child. That of starting a completely new life in a new country. Once I have finished reading it I will leave a much more complete review.
Jan 21, 2012
Danie
rated it:
This is the story about three women in Argentina. It's an odd little book that at times found myself enjoying, and others asking myself why I was reading it. I found the most interesting aspect of the book the details given t the setting, and the information about the local waterworks that was a central theme.
Dec 02, 2011
Suz
rated it:
Story of American Daisy and Scandinavian Isolde who escape to Buenos Aires, discovering themselves as well as the people and the culture. I can't say I would recommend this novel but enjoyed the descriptions of B.A. Daisy's relationship with crazy Leonarda was too much.
Oct 20, 2011
Kay
rated it:
Slim volume about three young foreign women in Buenos Aires and how they settle into the culture. An unexpected delight. Sex and beautiful descriptions of the city but the story is pretty thin. Not for everyone.
Dec 01, 2011
Joey
rated it:
I only finished this book because I was intrigued by the Buenos Aires setting (Abby and Chris are living there). And some of that was fun but the characters completely lack character and it is a very unremarkable story.
Nov 12, 2011
Heather
rated it:
It was pretty good for a book with no plot.
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 15, 2011
Sara
rated it:
I won this by goodreads and maxine swann, thank you to you both.
I expected it to be different. The story was okay to me.It bothered me that the characters just did a bunch of random actions that i felt were annoying. At the end it felt there wasn't a conclusion. It just ended without me really getting anything.I guess i expected this story to be so different and the outcome dissapointed me.
I expected it to be different. The story was okay to me.It bothered me that the characters just did a bunch of random actions that i felt were annoying. At the end it felt there wasn't a conclusion. It just ended without me really getting anything.I guess i expected this story to be so different and the outcome dissapointed me.
Aug 12, 2011
Got an uncorrected proof, read about a third of it, and abandoned it. The narrator is pretty bland, and also unlikeable. I really don't understand the friendship with Leonarda. Meh.
Nov 14, 2011
Anne
rated it:
Meh. I found the characters to be completely unsympathetic and boring, and the writing didn't wow me either.
Jan 07, 2012
Pamela
rated it:
This book was disjointed and just plain terrible. Can't believe I wasted time finishing it!!
Feb 21, 2012
Feb 21, 2012
Feb 19, 2012
