Big Swiss
Cover of Big Swiss: A Novel
AuthorJen Beagin
Audio read byRebecca Lowman (Narrator), Carlotta Brentan (Narrator), Stephen Graybill (Narrator), Joy Osmanski (Narrator), Matt Pittenger (Narrator
IllustratorAnna Weyant
Cover artistJaya Miceli
LanguageEnglish
GenreLiterary Fiction
Published2023
PublisherSimon & Schuster
Publication date
February, 2023
Media typeBook
Pages336
ISBN978-1982153083

Big Swiss is the third novel by American author Jen Beagin. It was published on February 7, 2023 by Simon & Schuster.[1]

Premise

The novel follows Greta, a 45-year-old woman who has recently moved to Hudson, New York. Residing in a centuries-old dilapidated farmhouse with her friend Sabine, Greta finds work transcribing therapy sessions for a local sex therapist named Om. At night, Greta secretly writes letters to her mother, who died by suicide when Greta was a teenager.

One of Om's clients, whom Greta refers to as "Big Swiss" for her height and Swiss origins, is a 28-year-old gynecologist who has never had an orgasm. Though she was beaten nearly to death years ago, Big Swiss refuses to define herself by her trauma, which fascinates Greta. While at the dog park one day, Greta meets Big Swiss, whose real name is Flavia, and introduces herself under a fake name. The two decide to become "dog park friends," a relationship which quickly turns sexual despite Flavia being married.

Adaptation

Big Swiss has been picked up for a limited television series on HBO. In March 2022, it was announced that Jodie Comer will star in and produce a limited series adaptation of Jen Beagin’s novel Big Swiss for HBO. The project will be produced by A24 and Adam McKay's Hyperobject Industries.[2]

Cover art

The book cover was designed by Jaya Miceli and features a painting by Anna Weyant of a woman falling down a flight of stairs.[3] The painting, titled Falling Woman, sold for US$1.62 million at Sotheby’s in New York.[4]

Reception

Big Swiss was positively received by critics, with Bindu Bansinath of The Cut calling it a "refreshingly anti-trauma-plot novel."[5] Kirkus Reviews called Greta a "wonderfully off-kilter protagonist" and praised Beagin for her "artfully eccentric" writing style.[6] Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Bethanne Patrick wrote that Big Swiss is a "timeless comedy" and "one of the funniest books of the last few years."[7] It was chosen as one of "The 100 Must-Read Books of 2023" by Time magazine.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Beagin, Jen (2023). Big Swiss. Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-1982153083.
  2. ↑ White, Peter (2022-03-16). "Jodie Comer To Star In Series Adaptation Of Jen Beagin's Sex Therapy Novel 'Big Swiss' For HBO From A24 & Adam McKay's Hyperobject Industries". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  3. ↑ "The 11 Best Book Covers of February". Literary Hub. 2023-02-27. Retrieved 2023-03-01.
  4. ↑ Villa, Alex Greenberger,Angelica; Greenberger, Alex; Villa, Angelica (2022-05-20). "Women Steal the Show at Sotheby's $283.4 M. Contemporary Art Sales". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2023-03-01.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. ↑ Bansinath, Bindu (2023-02-13). "A Refreshingly Anti-Trauma-Plot Novel". The Cut. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  6. ↑ BIG SWISS | Kirkus Reviews.
  7. ↑ Patrick, Bethanne (2023-02-02). "Jen Beagin's novel 'Big Swiss' is a hot Hollywood property. It's also a timeless comedy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  8. ↑ "'Big Swiss' Is One of the 100 Must-Read Books of 2023". Time. 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
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