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Big Swiss

By: Jen Beagin
Narrated by: Carlotta Brentan, Joy Osmanski, Matt Pittenger, Rebecca Lowman, Stephen Graybill
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Summary

SOON TO BE A MAJOR HBO SERIES STARRING JODIE COMER

Greta liked knowing people's secrets. That wasn't a problem. Until she met Big Swiss.

Big Swiss. That's Greta's nickname for her - she is tall, and she is from Switzerland. Greta can see her now: dressed top to toe in white, that adorable gap between her two front teeth, her penetrating blue eyes. She's a head-turner: including the heads of infants and dogs.

Well that's how Greta imagines seeing her; they haven't actually ever met in person. Nor has Greta actually ever been to Switzerland.

Greta and Big Swiss are not in the same room, or even the same building. Greta is miles away, sitting at a desk in her own house, wearing only headphones, fingerless gloves, a kimono, and legwarmers, transcribing this disembodied voice.

What Greta doesn't know is that she's about to bump into Big Swiss in the local dog park. A new - and not entirely honest - relationship is going to be born.

A relationship that will transform both of their lives...

©2023 Jen Beagin (P)2023 Faber & Faber
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Critic reviews

"Big Swiss is a dark party; a hilarious romp through new age pop psychology, romantic obsession, sapphic acrobatics, dogs, and the desire to end it all... I delighted in this cynical, sexy, hopeless, hopeful, Hudson Valley jubilee. Come for the bees, stay for the donkeys!" (Melissa Broder)

"This book is such a tonic, it should be available on prescription. All hail the genius of Jen Beagin." (The Bookseller, 'Book of the Month')

"Juicy, salacious and compelling. Trauma shouldn't be this fun." (Sara Pascoe)

What listeners say about Big Swiss

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Really interesting concept

Interesting idea but at times felt like the book was a kid in school trying too hard to be edgy and cool. The use of language in parts though was truly beautiful and the languid narration felt a very good fit for the prose.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

compelling

I loved this. it was so different to anything else I had read. Really refreshing. intense in places and I longed to get back to it whenever I stopped, i didnt want it to end .

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Odd, but couldn’t put it down

Really don’t know how to summarise this book. I enjoyed the story, but also found it incredibly uncomfortable at points (which I think was the point). I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend, but I also enjoyed it. It was very odd

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Best book i’ve heard in a long time

Perfectly laid out , perfectly written , i enjoyed and devoured every single second and now i’m apprehensive to read another book because it won’t compare

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Beautiful

My native language is not English so I chose this book because the story seemed intriguing and it's not a difficult read.. Or listen. I loved the story with all its jumbles and twists and turns. The storyline is a bit grimm but the end felt right and calming. As some other reviewers already mentioned the story really starts at chapter 7, but I also enjoyed the first 6 chapters as they are a much needed introduction to the main character. A well written story not extraordinary, but a refreshing concept with strong female characters. Would recommend.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting read

First 2 parts of the book were good but the ending felt a bit anticlimactic

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant reading of a brilliant book

Such an excellent, strange and wonderful book. The narration does it justice- very glad I bought this audiobook as well as the hardback.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Absurd but brilliant in equal measure

I’ve never read a book with such a distinctive narrative voice. It was so funny, sharp and absurd in a way I’ve never read before. It reminded me in places of John Irving’s writing. When I heard it is being adapted by HBO with Jodie Comer, I was not surprised as the role of Big Swiss is perfect for her.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Hard work

Really wanted to love this book as it is such a different & interesting idea. Like other reviewers, nearly left it so many times. Sadly, got the most satisfaction from the achievement of listening to the end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

this was so very good, unexpectedly moving, deeply felt, and not at all predictable. engrossing.

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