This book was told in an interesting fashion. One chapter in real time and the next written in letter form to one of the characters. It's done very effectively and brings the story to you piece by piece.
Swimming Lessons is a multi-layered family history chronicled by Ingrid in letters she wrote in the past and are now buried in various books. In present time it is the story of Gil, her husband, who is slowly dying of pancreatic cancer. Their two daughters, Flora and Nan, are with Gil in his last pain-ridden days and all are speculating about the possible reappearance of Ingrid after she disappeared without notice many years earlier. Gil is an author and hoarder of the books which he continues to collect in the hope of uncovering all of Ingrid's letters to him. Gil's womanizing is well known, and includes a relationship with Ingrid's dearest friend that produces a son, who later becomes known to Flora and Ingrid. Their marriage is complicated and passionate, and the plot slowly evolves to merge the past with the present to reveal the extent of the family dysfunction.
Told in alternating chapters by (1) Flora in the present as she and her sister Nan are caring for their father Gil in his final days suffering from pancreatic cancer and (2) Ingrid, Gil's wife, in the form of letters as she traces the story of their marriage. Ingrid disappeared 12 years earlier and is presumed drowned in the ocean by their home. This is the story of a family - their passions, love and losses and how they hurt each other. It is the story of Gil and Ingrid but is also the relationship Nan and Flora have with each of them, their perceptions and misperceptions. Ingrid's letters were put in the pages of books and finding them would answer all of Flora's questions about the past (she was not quite 10 when her mother disappeared). The books are hoarded all over the family home where Gil, an author, was also a collector of books. I kept thinking Flora would find the books and get her questions answered but that does not happen. But you can tell Gil found them and then was grieving not just for the loss of his wife but also for the affairs and his neglectful treatment of her. At the end Flora still has unanswered questions but she seems to accept her mother is gone and is ready to move on with her life. But, of course, did her mother really die? Dysfunctional family but with lots of emotions - grief, anger, sadness, guilt, neglect, love. Well written and a story well told.
