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Learning to Swim
In this witty look at the pretensions of suburbia, Abigail’s safe, middle-class home life, is thrown into dramatic relief as her friendship with Frances’s family gives her a new outlook – where her family is polite and ordinary, the Radleys are colourful and captivating. But through them she discovers that all is not what it seems in her own conventional family.
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
1998
by Arrow Books
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Total feel good book for me. I was travelling and someone left this (completely dog earred and battered copy)in one of the hostels we stayed in. I remember as I finished it - it fell apart. I looked for it for ages at home but as I could not remember the author wasn't easy! Anyway, enjoyed the book - identified with the (slightly) nerdy main character and found her really funny. Plus reading it reminds me of my travels! Great book for me!
I really enjoyed reading this. I wasn't glued to the book wanting to know what would happen next; instead I read it slowly as though savouring a good wine.
Clare Chambers's writing reads so effortlessly, it's like you're reading something you wrote yourself, as she adds some thoughts about life that you'll probably identify with.
I found a lot of parallels with "In a good light", the 1st novel I read from this writer. It starts with a present situation and then goes back in time for most of the...more
Clare Chambers's writing reads so effortlessly, it's like you're reading something you wrote yourself, as she adds some thoughts about life that you'll probably identify with.
I found a lot of parallels with "In a good light", the 1st novel I read from this writer. It starts with a present situation and then goes back in time for most of the...more
Fab, fab, fab. Such a lovely, well written, witty story. And, so far, not available in the US. Order it from the UK. If you like Barbara Trapido or Kate Atkison, you'll like this. This is one of my all time favorite novels, and I can't say enough good things about it.
Check out the raves on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-Swim...
Check out the raves on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-Swim...
Nov 02, 2011
Shareen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
brit-lit,
coming-of-age
This would almost be a 4 for me. I liked the characters, the humor, the writing. I found the love interest of the book pretty unlikable though. The other thing, which bothers me more, is the title and story imply some kind of growth of spirit and boldness by the main character that I don't think ever really happened. Although I quite enjoyed the story, that lack left a bad taste in my mouth.
Clare’s gift for storytelling and her quirky but incredibly accessible style make her novels a sheer joy to read. She has a talent for creating characters who are not only lifelike and eccentric, but immensely believable, and who have stayed with me long after I closed the book. Learning to Swim is far more than a novel of first love. It’s a story about individuality, family secrets and contrasting upbringings, and I can’t recommend it enough.
I fell in love with this book! I adored the bohemian characters, the way the writer picks up on the minutiae of life and how she captures the painfully awkward teenage years. I think it help reading this when I was in my thirties, that way you can really empathise with how life turns out for some of the characters.
I really enjoyed the storytelling aspect of the book. It kept my attention and always had me wondering how it would all end......just seemed a little too rushed at the end to tie up the loose strings. I didn't feel there was a clear, proper resolution with the main characters. I'd give this a 3 1/2 stars.
Great book! I really enjoyed the story you could easily relate to one of the characters! Wonderful book!
The cover doesn't do this book justice! highly recommended for readers of Barbara Trapido and Kate Atkinson.
(amazon's recommendation)
Just a fantastically written coming of age book in England. LOVED IT!!!
I really enjoyed this book. Clare Chambers is excellent at character and story development. This was sent in England in the 70s and 80s and dealt with childhood and family relationships. Very well done.
An unusual story that kept me hooked until the end...
Mar 15, 2013
Jaye
marked it as to-read
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Clare Chambers was born on 1966 in in Croydon, Surrey, England, UK, daughter of English teachers. She attended a school in Croydon. At 16, she met Peter, her future husband, a teacher 14 years old than her. She read English at Oxford. The marriage moved to New Zealand, where she wrote her first novel. She now lives in Kent with her husband and young family. In 1999, her novel Learning to Swim won...more
More about Clare Chambers...
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