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Fight Night

by Miriam Toews

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5073148,709 (3.88)67
Fiction. Literature. From the bestselling author of Women Talking and All My Puny Sorrows, a compassionate, darkly humorous, and deeply wise new novel about three generations of women. "You're a small thing," Grandma writes, "and you must learn to fight." Swiv's Grandma, Elvira, has been fighting all her life. From her upbringing in a strict religious community, she has fought those who wanted to take away her joy, her independence, and her spirit. She has fought to make peace with her loved ones when they have chosen to leave her. And now, even as her health fails, Grandma is fighting for her family: for her daughter, partnerless and in the third term of a pregnancy; and for her granddaughter Swiv, a spirited nine-year-old who has been suspended from school. Cramped together in their Toronto home, on the precipice of extraordinary change, Grandma and Swiv undertake a vital new project, setting out to explain their lives in letters they will never send. Alternating between the exuberant, precocious voice of young Swiv and her irrepressible, tenacious Grandma, Fight Night is a love letter to mothers and grandmothers, and to all the women who are still fighting-painfully, ferociously- for a way to live on their own terms.… (more)
  1. 10
    The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (JenMDB)
    JenMDB: Strong grandmother
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» See also 67 mentions

Showing 1-5 of 31 (next | show all)
I loved this book. The characterizations leaped alive on the page. I could see the grandmother, the granddaughter and her mother. I want to read all of [a:Miriam Toews|8359|Miriam Toews|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1322022303p2/8359.jpg]'s novels. Peppered with priceless humorous bits, sadness and trauma, this little family carries on its days including a singular trip to Fresno, Raisin Capital of the World. ( )
  featherbooks | May 7, 2024 |
3.5 stars ( )
  mamalovesfour | Apr 26, 2024 |
9-year-old Swiv lives in Canada with her pregnant mother and her grandmother, who has a heart condition and is generally not in good health--but is a firecracker nonetheless. Swiv is expelled and spends most of her days with her grandmother, who is teaching her things. her mother works, deals with morning sickness, her dream of being an actress, and her relationship with Swiv's dad.

I found this novel sweet but also exhausting, as I really don't love books narrated by children. They always come off as very precocious to me, because no matter how hard an author tries no adult can truly write a child. Maybe if I read this on paper I would have enjoyed it more.

I am also left wondering--when Swiv and her grandmother travel to Fresno to visit her mom's first cousins and one says something about being able to live in a garage year-round in California--was this meant to be a joke? Or is it a fundamental misunderstanding of Fresno's weather? It was unclear to me on audio. ( )
  Dreesie | Mar 11, 2024 |
Heard and excerpt read o n This American Life, and had to find the book to read. I think it is one of those books funnier spoken aloud.
Desperately trying to catch up on books I've read in 2023, before it turns 2024. Don't think I'll make it. Full review (hopefully) to come later. ( )
  bookczuk | Dec 23, 2023 |
Fight Night by Miriam Toews is a delightful read following a nine-year-old Torontonian named Swiv. This young girl lives with her pregnant Mom and Grandma. All three of these women fight for their rights, in a variety of ways. This character study follows the three women, and we learn a lot about their background and how they view the world. Their character growth and journey in this book will make you smile, laugh, and most likely cry (like I did).

Miriam Toews is a master of the literary arts (in my opinion). This book moved me, grabbed me, pulled me in, and kept me there until the end. I will definitely be picking up more books from this marvellous author. Also, Canadian author alert! That made me so happy.

I highly recommend this book if you love Canadian authors, contemporary fiction, character studies, and easy reads. This book was such an easy read, and one I loved sinking back into. It truly is a gem!

Five out of five stars.

( )
  Briars_Reviews | Aug 4, 2023 |
Showing 1-5 of 31 (next | show all)
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Epigraph
An odd thing is that sadness does not necessarily become greater with age. -- John Steinbeck
Dedication
This books is dedicated to Sil and Augie and Viv and Ty, with all my love.
And to Bob and Don, forever cool.
First words
Dear Dad, How are you?
Quotations
She said when Mom was born the doctor was so useless at removing babies from women that Grandma had to say to him would you please get your hands out of me and let me do this myself.
When the phone rings, Grandma says oh, is that my De Sica? When she goes to his office she acts tough. She lies. So De Sica has to guess what’s wrong with her.
...they’re just tap tap tap all day on their cameras. She means phones.
Grandma said their are no winners or losers when it comes to bladder control.
She hated people who would talk to her and pretend that Grandpa and Momo hadn’t killed themselves...She understood that Grandpa and Momo had fought and fought. They were the smartest people Grandma knew...She needed to understand that they had no choice in their minds. They had fought and fought. They had their own fight. They had their own fires. It was their fight.
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(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
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Fiction. Literature. From the bestselling author of Women Talking and All My Puny Sorrows, a compassionate, darkly humorous, and deeply wise new novel about three generations of women. "You're a small thing," Grandma writes, "and you must learn to fight." Swiv's Grandma, Elvira, has been fighting all her life. From her upbringing in a strict religious community, she has fought those who wanted to take away her joy, her independence, and her spirit. She has fought to make peace with her loved ones when they have chosen to leave her. And now, even as her health fails, Grandma is fighting for her family: for her daughter, partnerless and in the third term of a pregnancy; and for her granddaughter Swiv, a spirited nine-year-old who has been suspended from school. Cramped together in their Toronto home, on the precipice of extraordinary change, Grandma and Swiv undertake a vital new project, setting out to explain their lives in letters they will never send. Alternating between the exuberant, precocious voice of young Swiv and her irrepressible, tenacious Grandma, Fight Night is a love letter to mothers and grandmothers, and to all the women who are still fighting-painfully, ferociously- for a way to live on their own terms.

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