Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

Set to be a TV series starring Jodie Comer; 336 pages; Published by Faber & Faber 07/12/23; Dimensions: 14 x 1.7 x 20 cm

I was due a giggle and this was certainly the book to do this!

From the moment I first saw this cover on a table of recent releases in Waterstones I was instantly intrigued and had to get my hands on this very unusual looking book.

The cover shows what appears to be a Alsatian Wolf Dog or a breed of that ilk and a little Jack Russell, sticking its tongue out as if to lick or kiss, the other dog. Very bright colours are used on this cover, the most part of it being a warm ochre yellow. I really love how it has been put together. The title is in black and slightly embossed, and I just think it’s brilliant how the word big is certainly big it works beautifully.

I had no idea what I was in for with this book. It rather took me by surprise, as I feel it is quite unique, in this moment, against what is currently out and certainly nothing similar to it on the table at the time, when I first spotted it.

Of course, there are many books in this genre of a character, not conforming to the norms of society, being a little different, and doing things a little differently. In other words, in today’s terminology, one might say this book is about one slightly messed up woman doing crazy things. I believe this could be quite an eye-opener for some readers, reassuring to others but also much enjoyable reading.

I will say it is not for the faint hearted when it comes to graphic sexual details along with swear words, you have been warned.

I personally would find it unusual if this particular story didn’t contain swearwords and the sexual details as the book would lose some of its verisimilitude.

The text style is quite unique as we have lots of different layout from page to page from dialogue to separate paragraphs of text to speech bubble text style /social media messages. The whole book has lots of space and doesn’t feel at all heavy in the volume of the text and makes ideal holiday/travel read.

I started this during a short lunch time at university and first 20 pages covered in just under 15 minutes.

Then I was able to read the rest in one evening in bed. I was gasping and giggling a lot if the time but there is also mention of difficult subjects for some such a rape and physical harm, assisted suicide and trauma in general. Of course, we are all different and I myself having experienced certain aspects it personally didn’t affect me. I do naturally read over those lines quite quickly.

I found the ending a little abruptly slightly anticlimactic, but I enjoyed it nevertheless and if you are after something very current and certainly different then I highly recommend this.