The Swimmer

By: John Cheever

Narrated by: Meryl Streep, Ben Cheever, Peter Gallagher

Here is one of twelve magnificent stories, originally part of The John Cheever Audio Collection, in which John Cheever celebrates—with unequaled grace and tenderness—the deepest feelings we have.

As Cheever writes in his preface, ""These stories seem at times to be stories of a long-lost world when the city of New York was still filled with a river light, when you heard the Benny Goodman quartets from a radio in the corner stationery store, and when almost everybody wore a hat.""

Good premise and well executed

A pretty good little short audio. I have heard of Cheever before, but never thought to read (listen) any of his stuff until I ran across this one on sale. Glad I picked it up. The premise was very good and the story was well executed.

Ned is not running away from his problems. He’s swimming. In and out of the water, over hedges, thru cocktail parties, across the freeway and into the approaching storm. He just wants to get back to his family. One swimming pool at a time.

4 Audible Stars. I would be interested to read a longer work from this author.

One of Cheevers best stories

Amazing story focusing ones entire life compacted into a days journey. Cheever is a master story teller.

Swimming towards remembering

Almost a surreal book as Neddy leaves a pool party a transcends to remember a life that once was as he swims from one pool to another. There is the white privilege aspect of the story that didn’t exist when written. Looking back a literary tales I think how differently we see them today.

Swimming lessond

What made the experience of listening to The Swimmer the most enjoyable?

Listening during a melting heatwave I would have a dip with the swimmer each time.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Swimmer?

Definitely nearing the end when realization or some form of it came upon him.

Which scene was your favorite?

He gets home and it is not home anymore.has not been for a long time.

Who was the most memorable character of The Swimmer and why?

The main character the"swimmer" is an exceptional example of a man"s psychological devolution.

Any additional comments?

I met my own neighborhood and some of it's inhabitants in cheever" s story.faced some of my own ghosts.

Odd story of suburbia

Firstly, John Cheever may be a great writer but he reads his story flat flat flat. But we Can understand the words and it’s not a long thing, and truly mid-century strange, so if you hang in there you will have a real treat.