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The Swallows: A Novel

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Availability: 13 left in stock
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Arrives Saturday, Jun 15
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Format: Paperback


Description

A teacher at a New England prep school ignites a gender war—with deadly consequences—in this dark and provocative novel by the bestselling author of The Passenger “Riveting . . . full of imagination and power.”—Caroline Kepnes, author of You and Providence NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NEW YORK • WINNER OF THE ALA’S ALEX AWARD When Alexandra Witt joins the faculty at Stonebridge Academy, she’s hoping to put a painful past behind her. Then one of her creative writing assignments generates some disturbing responses from students. Before long, Alex is immersed in an investigation of the students atop the school’s social hierarchy—and their connection to something called the Darkroom. She soon inspires the girls who’ve started to question the school’s “boys will be boys” attitude and incites a resistance. But just as the movement is gaining momentum, Alex attracts the attention of an unknown enemy who knows a little too much about her—and what brought her to Stonebridge in the first place. Meanwhile, Gemma, a defiant senior, has been plotting her attack for years, waiting for the right moment. Shy loner Norman hates his role in the Darkroom, but can’t find the courage to fight back until he makes an unlikely alliance. And then there’s Finn Ford, an English teacher with a shady reputation, who keeps one eye on his literary ambitions and one on Ms. Witt. As the school’s secrets begin to trickle out, a boys-versus-girls skirmish turns into an all-out war, with deeply personal—and potentially fatal—consequences for everyone involved. Lisa Lutz’s blistering, timely tale of revenge and disruption shows us what can happen when silence wins out over decency for too long—and why the scariest threat of all might be the idea that sooner or later, girls will be girls. Praise for The Swallows “The Swallows is fast-moving, darkly humorous and at times shockingly vicious. The battle of the sexes within its pages couldn’t be more compelling. . . . Lutz delivers a frantic, morbidly funny story.”—BookPage “A decade before the MeToo movement kicks off in full force, women are coming for the patriarchy in this big ol’ novel, ripe with idiosyncratic characterization and memorable scenes.”—Refinery29 Read more


Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ballantine Books (July 6, 2021)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 432 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1984818252


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 56


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.19 x 0.94 x 7.94 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #1,260,533 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #9,621 in Humorous Fiction #15,625 in Psychological Thrillers (Books) #48,571 in Suspense Thrillers


#9,621 in Humorous Fiction:


#15,625 in Psychological Thrillers (Books):


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If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Saturday, Jun 15

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Top Amazon Reviews

    • “Jonah wants to be with the kind of girl who was never an arsonist.”
Lisa Lutz’s snarky “The Swallows” has a nasty vibe that will keep you reading (and occasionally laughing). It’s set a decade ago in a second-rate prep school, and concerns what happens when some of the girls find out that the boys are rating them on their abilities to perform oral sex. The first person we meet is one of the teachers, Alex Witt who, upping the “bad teacher” meme to a new level altogether, begins with this: “Some teachers have a calling. I’m not one of them.” She soon becomes aware what the boys are up to and attempts to do something about it, to little avail--until, thanks in part to her efforts, some of the girls finally hatch a plan to take down the boys. The tale is told in first person from multiple points of view by multiple characters (faculty and staff, students and parents), and I do mean multiple. Maybe you’ll want to take notes to keep them all straight. Anyway, the novel moves along in incidents, in increments, in running gags, as the story moves from sassy social satire into Hitchcock country by the end. Lutz has accomplished what she set out to do fairly well (the tale is set back to the tag end of the 0’s, which is wise because in the age of #metoo it’s almost impossible to imagine the stuff related here could still go on), but there is a problem: all the characters write alike. Maybe you’ll find yourself going back to the beginning of the chapter you’re reading to see who’s doing the narratioin this time. You certainly can’t tell from the style. Then, too, some of the setpieces don’t go off as well as they might. Still, in all, take a chance on it. NOTES AND ASIDES: Oral sex/book title. Got it? Clutchers of pearls should seek something else. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2019 by Leslie Bialler
    • Wow, great, fun read!
Okay, I'll admit I was a fan from the Spellmans and wasnt sure about a standalone. but I just loved it. This book was creepy and sinister in places but it was also quite funny. Really liked the characters because they acted age appropriate. When that is missing in a story it really wrankles. But Lutz is spot on. I flew through the last 100 pages - the story roared like a race car! Wow! Super ending. I would say read the book description and know what you are getting into, but very highly recommended. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2022 by ThatCrazyBookGuy
    • For a younger crowd
As a senior citizen, I could not relate well to the characters. I have loved the Spellman series so gave this a try.
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2022 by PennName
    • Lisa Lutz delivers another page-turner!
I found the book to be un-put-down-able. Kept me up at night, reading like a crazed woman. Lutz delivers strongly defined characters with a variety of viewpoints of the action involved. She captures them all... young headstrong woman, young lost soul, older male jerk, younger male 'good guys' and more. I have some small quibbles about the plot, but only the very OCD among us would be bothered by them. The main thing is that it's a very good story --- scary in its own way! -- with very readable characters. Should appeal to the fans of the Spellman Files and The Passenger alike. In a way, it's a bit of both. 5 stars. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2019 by Avid Mystery Reader
    • Hard to put down.
Lyrical, witty, and dry as a bone, The Swallows is a powerful novel about ... sexism? Power and gender? Mundane exploitation exploded? It is a little story that shows the ripples and waves of gender and status quo or, rather, what happens when a “responsible adult” takes a job teaching English at a traditional boarding school. (Why is it always the English teacher? Because they teach looking and thinking to their students.) A really good read about a hard topic. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2020 by Scarletpen
    • Another Enthralling Novel by Lutz
I guess I'll be reading all her novels.This one particularly intrigued me because I've taught high school and know how brutal some teenagers can be. As with the other novel of Lutz's that I've read, Lutz does a superb job of creating realistic, conflicted characters. I love a good plot, but I would accept a poor plot or even no plot if there are well-developed characters to read about. Lutz delivers on her characters and her plots. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2020 by Barbara McQueen
    • Fun read, but manage expectations
I love Lutz! Her Spellman series is awesome. The Swallows is good up until the last couple chapters. The ending is rushed which is a shame sense she builds the story well. Good for light reading.
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2019 by Ana Hale
    • Dark dark dark
I think this book was very well written. But to be honest it gave me nightmares. It is a horror story about a horrifying boarding school. If you want nightmare definitely read this book!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2019 by mulkie

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