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Big Swiss

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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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About this listen

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 Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction

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)
All stars
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I loved this, kept me enthralled the whole way through, and I found myself laughing out loud at the witty writing.

Jean Beagin you will always be famous!

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The narrators voice is what kept me going. Otherwise the book was take it or leave it for me. Fine but not mind blowing

The narrator was great

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What is there not to like about this story - the quirky characters, the situation, the plethora of animals and insects. The writing is concise but loose if that is possible and it is all tremendously funny. Unlike one of the other reviewers I would hate to see it on screen. Something different could be made of the story, but the incomparable writing cannot be matched. Some words of praise for the narrators, too, who all add to the fun.

Brilliant

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really enjoyed this book, similar in vain to All Fours if you've enjoyed that. made me lol at times, very vividly written

weird and wonderful

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finally a story of two women who are 40+ years of age who don't have their life together. a strange story that will leave you hooked and wanting more

wonderfully wierd

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I can’t wait to see how Jodie Comer translates this to the screen! 5 stars all round

Captivating

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A brilliant, real, bold book. Thanks for a great read, I was hooked from the first minute.

Real and bold

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I found the narration of Big Swiss' character distracting. I was meant to find her sexy but it was difficult.
Compelling and addictive story though. Really well written

Addictive story

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This production did what very few audiobooks can do - a gripping and engaging performance that in no way compromised the nuanced writing. It was funny and sad and the characters were relatable even if you shared nothing in common. Definitely give this a spin!

Extraordinary

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The performance was good the story is ok but it’s fun to listen to I guess.

Meh but fun!

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