A review by jedore
They Came Like Swallows by William Maxwell

emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

"For it was Elizabeth who had determined the shape that his life should take, from the very first moment he saw her. And she had altered that shape daily by the sound of her voice, and by her hair, and by her eyes, which were so large and dark. And by her wisdom and by her love."

I added this book to my To Be Read list more than 20 years ago...and read it at the absolutely perfect time. 

Written in 1937, it's the story of a middle-class American family—dad, mom and two young boys—impacted by the Spanish flu epidemic of 2018. The story begins just as World War I ends and is broken into three sections, each told by a different family member. I definitely connected most with the first section, which was narrated by the baby of the family. Apparently, the dynamics of being the youngest in a family are timeless. 

Albeit not a whole lot happens in this character-driven story, it was a quick read for me. Not deeply emotion, but touching. Very glad I read it post-Covid as it was completely relatable and interesting to see the parallels between the two pandemics. 
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