Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Simon & Schuster (2020), Edition: 1st Edition, 320 pages
Description
Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:"The perfect summer read" (USA TODAY) begins with a shocking tragedy that results in three generations of the Adler family grappling with heartbreak, romance, and the weight of family secrets over the course of one summer. *A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice * One of USA TODAY's "Best Books of 2020" * One of Good Morning America's "25 Novels You'll Want to Read This Summer" * One of Parade's "26 Best Books to Read This Summer" Atlantic City, 1934. Every summer, Esther and Joseph Adler rent their house out to vacationers escaping to "America's Playground" and move into the small apartment above their bakery. Despite the cramped quarters, this is the apartment where they raised their two daughters, Fannie and Florence, and it always feels like home. Now, Florence has returned from college, determined to spend the summer training to swim the English Channel, and Fannie, pregnant again after recently losing a baby, is on bedrest for the duration of her pregnancy. After Joseph insists they take in a mysterious young woman whom he recently helped emigrate from Nazi Germany, the apartment is bursting at the seams. Esther only wants to keep her daughters close and safe but some matters are beyond her control: there's Fannie's risky pregnancy�not to mention her always-scheming husband, Isaac�and the fact that the handsome heir of a hotel notorious for its anti-Semitic policies, seems to be in love with Florence. When tragedy strikes, Esther makes the shocking decision to hide the truth�at least until Fannie's baby is born�and pulls the family into an elaborate web of secret-keeping and lies, bringing long-buried tensions to the surface that reveal how quickly the act of protecting those we love can turn into betrayal. "Readers of Emma Straub and Curtis Sittenfeld will devour this richly drawn debut family saga" (Library Journal) that's based on a true story and is a breathtaking portrayal of how the human spirit can endure�and even thrive�after tragedy.… (more)
Awards
National Jewish Book Award (Winner — Debut Fiction — 2020)
Virginia Literary Awards (Finalist — Fiction — 2021)
Language
User reviews
LibraryThing member Carolee888
This book makes me want to write a book! The author is great at describing Atlantic City, the real estate boom of swamp land in Florida and what a hospital was like in the 1930s. But made it more exciting for me was that she took something that happened to her great great aunt The author pulled
The characters are fascinating. I loved Gussie, Fannie's daughter, she added humor and perception and the view of a child of the serious events.
At the beginning, I had trouble keeping the characters, particularly the male characters. My solution was to note to myself, their position in the family and how I felt about then. The book alternates with chapters on the main characters except for Florence. We learn about her through her actions with others and do not have access to her inner thoughts and feelings.
I felt very sad for the mother, Esther. Her difficult decision was one that would have involved much personal agony for her. We never know what we do or decide to do unless we have to face the
same difficult situation. Could I have done it? I have no idea.
Fannie, Florence's sister was easy to understand. Issac is easy to understand and easy to hate. Anna, the young woman from Germany was oddly enough the one that I identified the most. More of an outsider and desperate to save her parents back home, I can understand why she seemed calculating to others of her family.
After I figured out which characters were which, I was fine going through chapters after chapter and feeling the story advance. Now I want to read everything that Rachel Beanland has written.
I received an Advanced copy of this book from the Publisher Ifrom the Publisher as a win from from FirstReads but that in no way made a difference in my thoughts or feelings in this review.
I received an Advanced copy of this book from the Publisher as a win from FirstReads but that in no way made a difference in my thoughts or feelings in this review.
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together a family story from the family memories and a newspaper article about Florence. There is a very remarkable thing in this story and it did happen in real life. There is information about a striking event in my family history too so the author' s book is an inspiration to me.The characters are fascinating. I loved Gussie, Fannie's daughter, she added humor and perception and the view of a child of the serious events.
At the beginning, I had trouble keeping the characters, particularly the male characters. My solution was to note to myself, their position in the family and how I felt about then. The book alternates with chapters on the main characters except for Florence. We learn about her through her actions with others and do not have access to her inner thoughts and feelings.
I felt very sad for the mother, Esther. Her difficult decision was one that would have involved much personal agony for her. We never know what we do or decide to do unless we have to face the
same difficult situation. Could I have done it? I have no idea.
Fannie, Florence's sister was easy to understand. Issac is easy to understand and easy to hate. Anna, the young woman from Germany was oddly enough the one that I identified the most. More of an outsider and desperate to save her parents back home, I can understand why she seemed calculating to others of her family.
After I figured out which characters were which, I was fine going through chapters after chapter and feeling the story advance. Now I want to read everything that Rachel Beanland has written.
I received an Advanced copy of this book from the Publisher Ifrom the Publisher as a win from from FirstReads but that in no way made a difference in my thoughts or feelings in this review.
I received an Advanced copy of this book from the Publisher as a win from FirstReads but that in no way made a difference in my thoughts or feelings in this review.
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LibraryThing member kimkimkim
This is an interesting story about what a family will endure to protect and preserve itself. One thought that pervaded the pages was how much do we ever know about our relationships? How easily are we deluded? How often are we duped? Do we ever find a way to understand those we love through those
I wonder how I would have interpreted much of this story if I had little or no knowledge of the religion that defined the lives of the Adlers. Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy.
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that have loved them? When you only look forward for thirty years why are you surprised by the knockout punch the past throws? And at the end of the story I had to wonder what the future would hold. Forgiveness? Loss? Unrequited love? Surely understanding, love and compassion – please let there be that.I wonder how I would have interpreted much of this story if I had little or no knowledge of the religion that defined the lives of the Adlers. Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy.
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LibraryThing member michigantrumpet
1934 Atlantic City: Florence Adler drowns while training to swim across the English Channel. Her sister lies in a hospital bed in a high risk pregnancy, hoping to avoid a miscarriage. Should she be told? At what cost to her family? An intriguing examination of secrets, family, grief, and the
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lengths to which people might go to protect their loved ones. Show Less
LibraryThing member pdebolt
Florence Adler is a living character in this book for a short period of time at the beginning as World War II looms, but the memories of her impact the remainder of the book. When Florence dies in an unthinkable accident at the age of 20, her older sister, Flossie, is on bed rest in a hospital with
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a high-risk pregnancy. Her parents make a decision to keep Florence's death a secret from her for fear of jeopardizing the pregnancy. The characters are all well-drawn from Flossie's 8-year old daughter, Gussie, to her unfortunate choice of a husband, Issac. In the background are Anna, a German refugee, with ties to George Adler, the patient father of Florence and Flossie. Their mother, Esther, is less enthusiastic about Anna living with them when she uncovers the background of George's history with Addie's mother. Stuart, the only non-Jewish character, was Florence's swimming coach and soon develops a relationship with Anna. This novel is based on an actual event in the author's family, which makes it compelling. Show Less
LibraryThing member Hccpsk
Some books are quiet--simple plots, universal themes, characters that could live next-door--and sometimes that hits the reading spot. If you need a book like that, Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland fits the bill. In 1934 Atlantic City, seven-year-old Gussie is spending the summer with
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her grandparents and Aunt Florence while her mother is on bed rest with a high-risk pregnancy. Also in their small apartment is Anna, a young German Jew her grandfather helped emigrate to the US while they try to get Anna’s parents over, too. When tragedy strikes, this small unlikely group bands together to make it through the summer filled with family secrets, betrayals, and grief. Florence Adler Swims Forever won’t change your life, but it is an interesting look at the Jewish community in New Jersey prior to WWII, and what it means to be family. Show Less
LibraryThing member shazjhb
Excellent book. Very surprising
LibraryThing member BettyTaylor56
“Florence Adler Swims Forever” by Rachel Beanland (4 stars)
This book is great for a book club discussion. The setting is Atlantic City, just before World War II. At the beginning of the book, Florence drowns. Her parents decide to keep her death a secret from her sister Fannie who is in the
This decision will impact three generations of the Adler family. A story of tragedy, grief, heartache, deception, family secrets, and tension, it is sure to touch your heart. The author did a superb job of giving us a peek into the life of a Jewish American family dealing with anti-Semitism and the danger that lurks across the ocean as Hitler contrives to exterminate the European Jews.
The author also masterfully tells the story from the perspective of several different characters. I had no problem following any of the story and appreciated that I was able to know what each of those characters was thinking and feeling and what secrets they were hiding. It took a while for me to warm up to the characters, but once I did, I was able to embrace them and care about them. It was worth the wait. Fannie’s seven-year-old daughter Gussie is probably the most perceptive character in the book.
This book is great for a book club discussion. The setting is Atlantic City, just before World War II. At the beginning of the book, Florence drowns. Her parents decide to keep her death a secret from her sister Fannie who is in the
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hospital due to a high-risk pregnancy. While women today would be appalled by the nerve of Fannie’s parents making such a decision, their behavior was totally acceptable in that time period. This decision will impact three generations of the Adler family. A story of tragedy, grief, heartache, deception, family secrets, and tension, it is sure to touch your heart. The author did a superb job of giving us a peek into the life of a Jewish American family dealing with anti-Semitism and the danger that lurks across the ocean as Hitler contrives to exterminate the European Jews.
The author also masterfully tells the story from the perspective of several different characters. I had no problem following any of the story and appreciated that I was able to know what each of those characters was thinking and feeling and what secrets they were hiding. It took a while for me to warm up to the characters, but once I did, I was able to embrace them and care about them. It was worth the wait. Fannie’s seven-year-old daughter Gussie is probably the most perceptive character in the book.
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LibraryThing member shelleyraec
Rachel Beanland draws on her family history in Florence Adler Swims Forever, a tender, character-driven debut novel.
On a sunny morning in the summer of 1934, as Esther and Joseph Adler stroll along the Atlantic City Boardwalk and their granddaughter Gussie, and houseguest Anna wade in the shallows,
Florence Adler Swims Forever unfolds from multiple perspectives exploring the decisions made, and the changes wrought, in the wake of Florence’s untimely death. Esther and Joseph are devastated by the loss of their youngest daughter, but Esther in particular is worried about how the news will affect their oldest, and makes the decision that she not be told. Fannie, Gussie’s mother, is in hospital on bed rest waiting the birth of her third child, her second having been born too prematurely to survive, and is growing increasingly annoyed that her sister hasn’t visited. Freed from the daily care of his wife and daughter, and taking advantage of his distracted in-laws, Fannie’s husband Isaac grows more distant, chasing a foolish dream. Seven year old Gussie, sweet and precocious, has an innocent’s clear-eyed view of the changes in her world, but is bewildered by its nuances. Anna, a young German Jewish woman whom Joseph has sponsored to study in America on the strength of a long ago association with her mother, is somewhat uncomfortable to find herself in the midst of this family tragedy, especially when her own threatens. Stuart Williams is the outlier- a Gentile, a handsome lifeguard, swim coach, and reluctant heir to a Boardwalk hotelier. He thought himself in love with Florence, and in the aftermath of her death strikes up a friendship with Anna.
The novel examines several themes, including those of grief, love and family, but most significantly, the sacrifices parents will make to protect their children. Esther forgoes some of the traditional rituals of mourning of the Jewish faith, and attempts to represses her own devastating sense of loss to safeguard the health of her remaining daughter, as does Joseph. Joseph also willingly compromises his financial resources to protect Fannie from her husband’s weakness. Fannie meanwhile spends three months confined to her hospital bed in the hope that the child she carries will be born healthy. Anna’s parents, concerned by the political climate in Germany as Hitler ascends to power, insist she travel to America, and pull whatever strings they can to see her safely out of the country. Issac, in complete contrast, selfishly abandons Gussie in pursuit of his own dreams, and betrays the support offered by his own father. Stuart’s relationship with his father is a little more nuanced, though the man definitely has his faults, he does care about his son’s future.
Beanland grounds her story well in time and place, with vivid descriptions of the beach and boardwalk of Atlantic City, and the Adler’s baking empire. Fannie is obsessed with the Dionne quintuplets born earlier that year and battling for survival, in part because her late son, Hyram, spent some time in an incubator on display at the Boardwalk, just as they did. The author also touches on the anti-semitism rife not just in Europe as the Nazi party began to gain a foothold, but also in America.
With a measured pace, Florence Adler Swims Forever is a meditative, poignant, and engaging read, suited to a languid summer afternoon.
On a sunny morning in the summer of 1934, as Esther and Joseph Adler stroll along the Atlantic City Boardwalk and their granddaughter Gussie, and houseguest Anna wade in the shallows,
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their daughter, Florence dons her bright red bathing cap and heads into the ocean. A champion swimmer, twenty-year-old Florence is training to swim the English Channel in just a few weeks, so no one expects that an hour later, her lifeless body will be dragged from the water. Florence Adler Swims Forever unfolds from multiple perspectives exploring the decisions made, and the changes wrought, in the wake of Florence’s untimely death. Esther and Joseph are devastated by the loss of their youngest daughter, but Esther in particular is worried about how the news will affect their oldest, and makes the decision that she not be told. Fannie, Gussie’s mother, is in hospital on bed rest waiting the birth of her third child, her second having been born too prematurely to survive, and is growing increasingly annoyed that her sister hasn’t visited. Freed from the daily care of his wife and daughter, and taking advantage of his distracted in-laws, Fannie’s husband Isaac grows more distant, chasing a foolish dream. Seven year old Gussie, sweet and precocious, has an innocent’s clear-eyed view of the changes in her world, but is bewildered by its nuances. Anna, a young German Jewish woman whom Joseph has sponsored to study in America on the strength of a long ago association with her mother, is somewhat uncomfortable to find herself in the midst of this family tragedy, especially when her own threatens. Stuart Williams is the outlier- a Gentile, a handsome lifeguard, swim coach, and reluctant heir to a Boardwalk hotelier. He thought himself in love with Florence, and in the aftermath of her death strikes up a friendship with Anna.
The novel examines several themes, including those of grief, love and family, but most significantly, the sacrifices parents will make to protect their children. Esther forgoes some of the traditional rituals of mourning of the Jewish faith, and attempts to represses her own devastating sense of loss to safeguard the health of her remaining daughter, as does Joseph. Joseph also willingly compromises his financial resources to protect Fannie from her husband’s weakness. Fannie meanwhile spends three months confined to her hospital bed in the hope that the child she carries will be born healthy. Anna’s parents, concerned by the political climate in Germany as Hitler ascends to power, insist she travel to America, and pull whatever strings they can to see her safely out of the country. Issac, in complete contrast, selfishly abandons Gussie in pursuit of his own dreams, and betrays the support offered by his own father. Stuart’s relationship with his father is a little more nuanced, though the man definitely has his faults, he does care about his son’s future.
Beanland grounds her story well in time and place, with vivid descriptions of the beach and boardwalk of Atlantic City, and the Adler’s baking empire. Fannie is obsessed with the Dionne quintuplets born earlier that year and battling for survival, in part because her late son, Hyram, spent some time in an incubator on display at the Boardwalk, just as they did. The author also touches on the anti-semitism rife not just in Europe as the Nazi party began to gain a foothold, but also in America.
With a measured pace, Florence Adler Swims Forever is a meditative, poignant, and engaging read, suited to a languid summer afternoon.
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LibraryThing member rmarcin
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC of Florence Adler Swims Forever.
I enjoyed this novel which is based on a real person, although much of the family story is fictionalized. I appreciated the historical portions of this novel and focus on the events of the time: the rise of the
It is the summer of 1934 and Florence has her heart set on swimming the English Channel. Florence trains off Atlantic City NJ in the ocean. Her older sister, Fannie is in the hospital with a high-risk pregnancy. When Florence dies while on a training swim, her mother makes the decision not to tell Fannie until after the baby is born, as to not endanger the pregnancy. There is a secondary story discussing the plight of Jews trying to flee Europe, so the daughter of a former flame of Florence’s father is staying with the family for the summer, causing tension between Florence’s parents. Anna (immigrant) is worried about how to get her parents to the US. Anna and Florence’s swim coach, Stuart, start seeing each other. Finally, there is another story surrounding Fannie’s husband, Isaac, and his financial issues. Their daughter, Gussie, 9, is trying to understand all of the family dynamics.
This story relates the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones.
#FlorenceAdlerSwimsForever #NetGalley
I enjoyed this novel which is based on a real person, although much of the family story is fictionalized. I appreciated the historical portions of this novel and focus on the events of the time: the rise of the
Show More
Third Reich, the Great Depression, the birth of the Dionne quintuplets, concerns over intermarriage between religions.It is the summer of 1934 and Florence has her heart set on swimming the English Channel. Florence trains off Atlantic City NJ in the ocean. Her older sister, Fannie is in the hospital with a high-risk pregnancy. When Florence dies while on a training swim, her mother makes the decision not to tell Fannie until after the baby is born, as to not endanger the pregnancy. There is a secondary story discussing the plight of Jews trying to flee Europe, so the daughter of a former flame of Florence’s father is staying with the family for the summer, causing tension between Florence’s parents. Anna (immigrant) is worried about how to get her parents to the US. Anna and Florence’s swim coach, Stuart, start seeing each other. Finally, there is another story surrounding Fannie’s husband, Isaac, and his financial issues. Their daughter, Gussie, 9, is trying to understand all of the family dynamics.
This story relates the lengths people will go to protect their loved ones.
#FlorenceAdlerSwimsForever #NetGalley
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LibraryThing member terran
I liked the information conveyed in this book about the experiences of Jewish Americans in Atlantic City just prior to WWII. I wish there had actually been coverage of an English Channel swim, but that didn't happen. I really enjoyed the beginning, but midway through I pretty much knew how it was
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all going to turn out. Show Less
LibraryThing member Jacsun
Florence is one of the best swimmers in New Jersey with big dreams ahead of her. It takes place during WWII when this Jewish family stays in their own section of the neighborhood. When Florence went for a swim one day, she suddenly drowned. The book is about how her mother keeps it a secret with
The author captured my attention immediately with the characters in the family and how one situation can involve everyone to a large degree. This story was based on a real person which always makes history more interesting.
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her sister who is in the hospital with a pregnancy for fear of a miscarriage.The author captured my attention immediately with the characters in the family and how one situation can involve everyone to a large degree. This story was based on a real person which always makes history more interesting.
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LibraryThing member crazy4reading
This book was for our Library Book Club March meeting. I listened to the book while following along in the actual book. This book got my interest from the beginning. While I was listening to it, I actually went back to re-read something because I couldn't believe what I had just heard/read!
It was
It was
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nice to read a book in a setting that I am familiar with. This book is set in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Hearing and reading about the area in the 1930's was interesting. You have this Jewish family who has a business and two adult girls. Living their lives and tragedy hits the family. Show Less
ISBN
1982132469 / 9781982132460