Holding Her Breath A Novel
Holding Her Breath A Novel by Eimear Ryan, published by Mariner Books in 2022, is a 256-page literary work that explores the life of Beth Crowe, a former competitive swimmer grappling with her family’s tragic past. As she begins university, Beth finds herself navigating the complexities of identity and ambition after her Olympic dreams are dashed. The narrative unfolds against an academic backdrop, where she forms a friendship with her English major roommate and becomes immersed in the literary world surrounding her late grandfather, a renowned Irish poet.
Throughout the novel, readers will follow Beth’s journey as she embarks on a quest to uncover the truth about her family’s history, particularly regarding her grandfather Benjamin and his widow, Lydia. This exploration leads her to a hidden archive and a connection with an older postdoctoral researcher, deepening her understanding of love, grief, and self-discovery. Holding Her Breath delves into themes of family life, friendship, and the coming-of-age experience, offering a nuanced portrayal of a young woman reclaiming her narrative amidst the shadows of her past.
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“A joy to read. … Emotional, clever, and humorous, Holding Her Breath will engross readers with its academic atmosphere and family drama.” — Booklist
A moving and “whip smart” (Sunday Telegraph) debut novel, following a former competitive swimmer and granddaughter of a famous Irish poet as she comes of age in the shadow of her family’s tragic past, perfect for fans of Sally Rooney, Lily King’s Writers & Lovers, and Elif Batuman’s The Idiot.
Recommended by Glamour * The Millions * Literary Hub * PopSugar
When Beth Crowe starts university, she is haunted by the ghost of her potential as a competitive swimmer. With her Olympic dreams shattered after a breakdown, she is suddenly free to create a fresh identity for herself outside of swimming. Striking up a friendship with her English major roommate, Beth soon finds herself among a literary crowd of people who adore the poetry of her grandfather, Benjamin Crowe, who died tragically before she was born. Beth’s mother and grandmother rarely talk about what happened to Benjamin, and Beth is unsettled to find that her classmates may know more about her own family history than she does.
As the year goes on, Beth embarks on a secret relationship with an older postdoctoral researcher–and on a quest to discover the truth about Benjamin and his widow, her beloved grandmother Lydia. The quest brings her into an archive that no scholar has ever seen, and to a person who knows things about her family that nobody else knows.
Holding Her Breath is a razor-sharp, moving, and seriously entertaining novel about complicated love stories, ambition, and grief–and a young woman coming fully into her powers.
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