Absorbing ... This merging of sitcoms, sadness and generational trauma is emblematic of how Chambers weaves irony and gut-punch emotion throughout this gorgeous debut. With the smart and curious Diamond at its vibrant center, Swift River has a real sense of humor. Absurdity and loss sit side by side in her mental gymnastics ... The book brims with gemlike sentences, striking imagery, metaphors and juxtapositions ... Shimmers and shines with acute observations and carefully crafted lines like these. It’s easy to get lost in the artistry and sheer volume of those mental images and similes; like poetry, they take time to process.
Chambers interweaves Diamond’s first-person narration with flashbacks to the events leading up to her father’s disappearance, Lena’s letters, and letters from Aunt Clara, the lone Black resident to remain in Swift River. Insightful, moving, and wryly funny, Chambers’ debut is sure to be a book-club favorite.
Despite a somewhat inelegant handling of Diamond’s weight, this novel’s assured plotting and emotional resonance should render it a breakout book. Call your book club: This symphonic debut is your next read.
