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. ( )

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. ( )

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.

( )

Hoooooooo! As grandmother Elvira would breathlessly exclaim.
Difficult to describe this book, other than to say that it is written in the first person, very loud and fast; it is full on, and is inordinately amusing. Very different from what I normally read, but allowing myself to go with the flow provided a blast of a read.
The story is narrated by Swiv, who is nine and has been suspended from school for being too argumentative. Swiv lives in Canada in an apartment with her mother (an actress) and grandmother, Elvira (a Russian emigré), who is the source of much of the book’s amusement and entertainment.
Although Elvira is an over the top character, she reminds me of my mother (!), so Toews is just amplifying the characteristics of an older person who has a reduced sensitivity to social embarrassment, will talk to anyone, and lives life.
Highly recommended. ( )

What an amazing, odd, loveable, weird book. Toews creates amazing characters in Swiv, her grandma, her pregnant mother. The dialogue between Swiv and her grandma is poignant , hilarious , meaningful . The love between these two runs throughout the novel . We follow the story through the thought process of a little girl who experiences situations she’s really too young for. It’s both quite sad and totally hilarious .
A great read! ( )