The Swallows: A Novel

stupid boring and drag and drags. It's Not funny it DOESNT gave dark humor. as a female I find it idiotic .and a bunch of dumb females who then turn into kamikaze uber feminists kee by a MSN hating no talent "teacher" .beyond dumb. akways blaming guys when they're so dumb letting guys deceive them So tired if the whole idiotic me too movement .will never ever waste a minute on lutz..

Starting over at a new job is difficult enough without the added stress of a questionable discharge from your past position and the knowledge that you only received this second chance due to family connections. In The Swallows, by Lisa Lutz, Alex Witt is an unconventional teacher who is far from enthusiastic when she agrees to take over the creative writing classes at Stonebridge Academy. Lutz tells the sordid story of a private school with a history rife with cover-ups and a long tradition of misconduct by both faculty and students. The novel’s rotating first-person narrators include Witt and Finn Ford, two teachers at the Academy; and Gemma and Norman, two students involved in the shattering exposure of the school’s secrets. When a database ranking the female students on their sexual prowess is discovered, a plot of revenge evolves into a full-blown gender war that ends in tragedy. The men in the story are depicted primarily as callous chauvinists or impotent followers, while the women personify forces of repressed rage and simmering resentment. Occasionally exaggerated and obvious, The Swallows nonetheless remains a timely story that reflects some current headlines in this #MeToo era. It is a tale about how social media and technology can help disseminate rumors and exacerbate prejudicial views under the protection of anonymity. Lutz explores potential consequences for those seeking to preserve misogynistic traditions when their victims are compelled to fight back as their voices remain unheard. A departure from her more light-hearted Spellman Series, this new novel will garner plenty of attention from Lutz’s fans who may (or may not be) pleased by this more serious release. Good for: Fans of Lisa Lutz (Spellman series and The Passenger); suspense tales with academic settings; strong female protagonists; contemporary themes; #MeToo topics You may like this book if you liked: The Secret History, Donna Tartt; A Separate Peace, John Knowles; Little Tales of Misogyny, Patricia Highsmith; The Secret Place, Tana French; Misogyny: the New Activism, Gail Ukockis Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Swallows: A Novel is a disturbing tale of the trials and tribulations of the students residing at an eastern prep school. Stonebridge Academy in Lowland, Vermont has all the bells and whistles required of a preparatory high school/boarding school, stately brick and climbing ivy, miles of walking paths and trees. The scholastic achievement has faltered over the years, and the majority of graduates will qualify for the same college acceptances as those students applying from a normal public high school. Problems of a sexual nature seem to have escalated over the last few years, reaching an explosive point just before Christmas break, 2009. Though many girls are included in the ranks of those abused, shame keeps them silent and isolated. It takes Ms. Witt's new role as an instructor of Creative Writing to bring a sense of unity to the girls and shine a spotlight on the systematic abuse perpetrated by a small group of upperclassmen who congregate online in the Darkroom, and keep score on the subfile Dulcinea. This is one of those novels that suck you right in and don't let go till the last page. The characters, both good and bad, are exceptional, the sense of time and place (2009, 2010) is precise and the storyline is compelling. This is a novel I am happy to recommend to friends and family. I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Lisa Lutz, and Ballantine Books. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work.