Swimming Studies (by Leanne Shapton)

It's been a minute! This is another one of the paper books sitting on my shelf - where it had been for probably 10 years - that I always meant to read but never got around to reading because I ignore paper books. Not in 2025, baby! 

This is a very loose, impressionistic memoir that combines stories of Shapton's childhood as a competitive swimmer with her adult life in various pools around the world. It includes amazing artwork and photography, including pages of bathing suits and information about where they are from, and abstract renderings of pools.  And the writing is just, so lovely.  Like this description of a sunset:  “I’m serenaded by sky blue and pink, an intense Tahitian Treat pink. Popsicle, Care Bear, little-girl colours. I’ve never seen sky like this. It’s optical glucose."

Optical glucose - I will never forget this metaphor, it hit me like an incredible line of poetry.  This book is from 2013 so not exactly breaking news, but it's really lovely and I recommend it! 

I reshelved it to keep (especially due to the artwork) but for my next paper book decluttering, I just gave away The Tale of Genji. I have no plans to read it, and if I do change my mind and read it, it can be on my Kindle.