Swimmer by Bill Broady

Swimmer

Bill Broady

If you've ever been obsessive about anything, you might find this book uncomfortably close to the truth. A dense, bleak tragedy, told in words which feel more like a piece of music. Written by a man, yet one of the most feminist books I've ever read.

Extract
You threw yourself at the water as if it were the Canadian's throat: anger gave you a massive hang and carry, like coming off the topmost board. After the entry and glide you seemed to be fully halfway down before you started the stroke - great retributive arm-sweeps, like Godzilla levelling a city. You swam with an aggression you hadn't felt since you'd faced down that great wave off Worthing - you pulverized the water, smashed it. All style and smoothness were lost ... and you felt somehow ashamed, as if you'd abused the water's trust, as if it had been an evil length you'd just swum.
Parallels
  • The Girl with Brains in her Feet by Jo Hodges
  • Death in Venice by Thomas Mann
  • On the Water by H van den Brink
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Explicit sexual content