Fight Night

By Miriam Toews

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2021 SCOTIABANK GILLER PRIZE
FINALIST FOR THE 2021 ATWOOD GIBSON WRITERS’ TRUST FICTION PRIZE

Named a Best Book of the Year by The Globe and Mail ● CBC ● USA Today ● NPR
A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice
An Amazon Editors’ Pick
An Indie Next Pick
An Apple Book of the Month
One of Indigo’s “Top 10 Best Canadian Fiction Books of 2021”

The beloved author of bestsellers Women Talking, All My Puny Sorrows, and A Complicated Kindness returns with a funny, smart, headlong rush of a novel full of wit, flawless writing, and a tribute to perseverance and love in an unusual family.
 
Fight Night is told in the unforgettable voice of Swiv, a nine-year-old living in Toronto with her pregnant mother, who is raising Swiv while caring for her own elderly, frail, yet extraordinarily lively mother. When Swiv is expelled from school, Grandma takes on the role of teacher and gives her the task of writing to Swiv's absent father about life in the household during the last trimester of the pregnancy. In turn, Swiv gives Grandma an assignment: to write a letter to "Gord," her unborn grandchild (and Swiv's soon-to-be brother or sister). "You’re a small thing," Grandma writes to Gord, "and you must learn to fight."

As Swiv records her thoughts and observations, Fight Night unspools the pain, love, laughter, and above all, will to live a good life across three generations of women in a close-knit family. But it is Swiv’s exasperating, wise and irrepressible Grandma who is at the heart of this novel: someone who knows intimately what it costs to survive in this world, yet has found a way—painfully, joyously, ferociously—to love and fight to the end, on her own terms.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Aug 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9780735282407

Miriam Toews

Miriam Toews is the author of the bestselling novels All My Puny Sorrows, Summer of My Amazing Luck, A Boy of Good Breeding, A Complicated Kindness, The Flying Troutmans, Irma Voth, Fight Night, and one work of nonfiction, Swing Low: A Life. She is winner of the Governor General's Award for Fiction, the Libris Award for Fiction Book of the Year, the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize, and the Writers' Trust Engel/Findley Award. She lives in Toronto.

Reviews for Fight Night

[maggieflo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is about a very tight knit family consisting of adolescent Swiv, Mom and Grandma (Elvira). They all live in grandma’s house. For unexplained reasons, Swiv is not in school is being educated in a very unconventional way by Mom and Grandma. Mom is an actress and is in her third trimester with unborn Gord while going to rehearsals for a play.There’s a lot of energy, past trauma, hugs,laughing,screaming and other emotions among the three women. Grandma is the centre of the story and she is a very outgoing Type A personality who makes friends easily and talks to everyone. Her background is very sad but this is where the title comes from…learning to fight for survival, happiness, goodness, strength, optimism and believing in the importance of family. Ok, not what I would call great writing or characters

[japaul22 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was the first time I've read a book by [[Miriam Toews]]. It seemed like a good time with the movie based on her book [Women Talking] in the media. Unfortunately, I didn't really like it. The premise is good. The book begins with three generations of women living together who are obviously in the midst of crisis. As the grandmother and granddaughter talk, it's slowly revealed that an aunt has committed suicide, the father has disappeared, the middle generation mother is pregnant and struggling, and for some reason the granddaughter is not in school though she's of the age to be. The grandmother has a sarcastic, irreverent sense of humor, which I would normally love. And I did like it at first. She's honest about aging and tries to impart her life experience to her granddaughter, Swiv, with a dose of reality and humor. But it started to wear on me. So many exclamation points in the writing - I didn't like the tone that was coming out in my head as I read. So I'll admit I skimmed the last 50 pages so I could move on to the next book.

[oldblack-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I laughed and I cried. Brilliant. I have loved Miriam Toews' work ever since the first book I read, but this is perhaps my favourite.

[streamsong_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

We meet the precocious and unrepentant Swiv, suspended from school for fighting. Although in the beginning she is a bit of a mystery, as the novel progresses, she is referred to a girl, often mistaken as a boy, and she calculates her age in months which makes her approximately nine years old. Her mother is an actress who returned from a European gig pregnant, leading to the departure of her father. Swiv’s mom doesn’t have much time for Swiv, leaving her to the care of her unquenchable but frail 80 plus year old grandmother.Swiv spends her time at home with her grandmother, accomplishing the unique homeschooling lessons her grandmother assigns as well as holding the family together with mundane tasks such as cleaning and gathering her grandmother’s constantly spilled pills off the kitchen floor.At first I though this book entirely strange and wondered why I continued reading it. But in the end, I was captured by the humor, strength and loyalty of these three generations of fiercely independent and feisty women.Families come in many shapes and sizes.For me, the original and fearless Swiv is reminiscent of Harper Lee's iconic character Scout, updated for a new generation.

[squeakychu · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When I first picked up this book and browsed through it, I was confused by what I was reading, but as the novel started to clarify itself and make me laugh out loud, I could not put it down. This book is hilarious! It’s the story of Swiv, a young girl in Toronto, Canada, and her daily life with her pregnant Mom and her Grandma. I simply fell in love with Grandma! I spent lots of time during my read of this book writing down “Grandma said...” quotes. Her outlook on life as an older person with all of its complications was both familiar and refreshing. It always brought a smile to my face if not a true belly laugh. I think this is a really nice look at aging with a lovable individual with many of the characteristics defining an older person, but one who has a good but realistic outlook at life. I especially loved the bond between Grandma and her granddaughter Swiv. I never had the good fortune to know either of my own grandmothers but feel blessed to have grandchildren of my own. It’s a very special bond. I was fascinated by Grandma’s secret language and did some research to find out that it was Plautdietsch, a language spoken by Russian Mennonites. Some of the phrases were similar to German so I could figure it out a bit.One of the most interesting parts of reading this novel was concurrently reading biographical information about its author, Miriam Toews, who put much of her real life experience and emotional baggage into her fiction. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to reading other works by this author.

[castlelass · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Story of three generations of women living together in Toronto. It is narrated by eight-year-old Swiv as a letter to her absent father. Her mother is pregnant and her eccentric and ebullient grandmother, Elvira, is in poor health. They have had mental illness and suicide in the family, and the fear of descending into depression seems to lurk below the surface, especially for Swiv’s mother. This is a character-driven story. The relationship between Swiv and her grandmother is especially poignant and one of the highlights of the book. They take a trip together and have several “adventures.” Elvira seems to experience occasional manic episodes and Swiv deals with all this the best she can. I think the young narrator comes across as a little too knowledgeable for her age. It is a story about the “circle of life.” It will appeal to those who like quiet character-driven stories with serious topics lurking beneath the surface.

[booklove2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A kooky, spirited book.  I think Toews has had a lot of sadness and hardship in her life, so she can really bring that humor to balance the sadness when she needs to.  The book follows Swiv, a nine year old (and interestingly the nickname of a character in 'All My Puny Sorrows' as well), Swiv's mom and Swiv's grandma Elvira.  All being quite the characters.  Swiv tries to take care of her family, full of fighters, as they contend with the histories of mental illness among other family members (much like 'All My Puny Sorrows').  I adore the humor of Toews. I loved all the references, all appropriate to a nine year old (Boxcar Children, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, The Incredible Journey).  'All My Puny Sorrows' and 'Fight Night' could also be read as a pair, side by side.  It's interesting the themes and characters are so similar between both books, yet somehow the books seem so different in the long run, possibly because this one is from the perspective of a nine year old writing to her MIA father.  I would set this on the shelf beside 'In Concrete' by Anne Garréta.

[gypsysmom_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I haven't always liked Miriam Toews books. A Complicated Kindness ended up being too complicated for me. I liked the quirky humour of The Flying Troutmans but none of that humour was evident in Women Talking which was important but disturbing. With Fight Night I think Ms Toews has gotten then balance between humour and important issues just right. Nine year old Swiv narrates the book which is an extended letter to her absent father. Swiv, her mother, who is in the third trimester (or as Swiv likes to say third try, mister) of a late in life pregnancy, and her grandmother live together in a house in Toronto. Swiv has been suspended from school for fighting so she and Grandma spend a lot of time together. Grandma isn't in the best of health. She takes many pills each day, many of which end up on the floor for Swiv to pick up. She has hearing aids and is always dropping the batteries for them on the floor as well. Swiv's mother, Mooshie, is an actress and is in rehearsals every day. She comes home exhausted and is often angry and/or depressed. Swiv's aunt and her grandfather committed suicide and Swiv is always worried her mother is going to repeat their fate. We never do learn where Swiv's father is. Maybe he is off on a bender as there are quite a few references to him drinking. Or maybe he is in rehab. It's not clear if Mooshie and Grandma knows where he is. If they do they certainly aren't telling Swiv. Cementing these three together is great love.They also want the baby, whom they all call Gord even though they don't know the sex of the baby, to come into a welcoming world. Each of them write a letter to Gord. Grandma's tells the baby "You're a small thing and you must learn to fight." Grandma and Mooshie and Swiv are all fighters. The reader just knows that Gord will be allright.There's quite a bit of autobiographical detail in this book. For instance, Toews lives in Toronto in a multi-generational home that includes her mother. She also had a sister and a father who committed suicide. I'm sure writing is a form of therapy for her but she also shows how mental health issues can affect a whole family. Society tends to want to ignore or shun people with mental health issues but we should be treating them and their close ones.

[overgaard-2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

funniest book she's written - could have read another hour of it - easily!

[carltonc_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Hoooooooo! As grandmother Elvira would breathlessly exclaim.Difficult to describe this book, other than to say that it is written in the first person, very loud and fast; it is full on, and is inordinately amusing. Very different from what I normally read, but allowing myself to go with the flow provided a blast of a read.The story is narrated by Swiv, who is nine and has been suspended from school for being too argumentative. Swiv lives in Canada in an apartment with her mother (an actress) and grandmother, Elvira (a Russian emigré), who is the source of much of the book’s amusement and entertainment.Although Elvira is an over the top character, she reminds me of my mother (!), so Toews is just amplifying the characteristics of an older person who has a reduced sensitivity to social embarrassment, will talk to anyone, and lives life.Highly recommended.

[beth.clarke · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An excellent coming-of-age story about 3 generations of women. The youngest is the narrator. At times, she doesn't think like a 9-yr-old, but a funny novel with some great action.

[rmarcin-630843 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Delightful novel about Swiv, a precocious 9 year old, and the story of her life with her grandmother who is teaching Swiv to fight for what is right. It also tells the story of Swiv’s mother and her pregnancy with Gord, The nickname they gave the unborn child. I truly enjoyed this story, and hope that every family could experience the love like Swiv and her grandmother have for each other.

[brianinbuffalo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Told from the perspective of a young girl living in Toronto, "Fight Night" showcases an unusual family. Unfortunately, there just wasn't quite enough action in the narrative to keep me totally engaged. I also found some of the humor a bit strained. Having said that, Toews is a talented writer who offers revealing insights into the relationships between a nine-year-old girl, her mom and her grandmother.

[mdoris_6 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a great book! It is the story of family, a crazy loving family. Not mush happens other than the daily grind of family life told through the eyes of a 9 year old girl living with a zingy gramma and a busy pregnant mom. Dad is missing in action. The fun, the chaos the love are so well portrayed. I loved the language with so many expressions used part of my own. I feel some biographical info must have sifted into the story based on other of Toews' books I have read. The book was unique and moving and playful!

[beamis12 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was my monthly read with Angela and Esil, and I'm the outlier with my rating. The book is a letter that eight year old Swiv is writing her father. The father who disappeared from their lives. She lives with her grandmother, Elvira, who is a hoot. Nothing gets her down, everything is an adventure, and her mother, who is a stage actress. This is a funny book but after a while I felt the humor was too much, overkill. Also question whether a child as young as this could or should have had the responsibililitybwith which she was charged. Swiv is often stressed, anxious and that's not a normal nor necessary state for a child. She is treated as an adult and at times seemed more grown-up than the grown-ups. There is, however, a great deal of love in this little family as the ending portrays. ARC from Edelweiss

[jillrhudy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thanks to Macmillan Publishing for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review."Fight Night" is a letter to her absent father, by a child named Swiv, (mostly, there are also interpolated homework assignments). Swiv is being made to grow up way too fast in a household with no boundaries and too much information. This novel is first-person full-throttle stream of consciousness, about a family of three generations of females who are facing significant mental and emotional challenges in a family that has already seen two suicides. They are in a continual fight to live life on their own terms. Swiv has been expelled from school for fighting and has the full-time care of her grandmother, Elvira, who is quite a handful. Elvira is directing Swiv's very unorthodox education with classes such as Sudoku and Speed Cooking. Swiv's mother is a sometime actress who is frequently either having meltdowns or attending rehearsals while nine months pregnant with a baby they just call "Gord." Hold on tight for plenty of confusion, narrative distance, and outright hilarity as Swiv frantically tries to navigate her unhinged and unpredictable life.

[randymetcalfe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Swiv is not sure who is crazier, her mom or her grandma. Both have their ups and downs, though her mom’s downs are hard to navigate. Whereas her grandma is never far from laughter. But maybe her mom is crazy because she’s pregnant with Gord, who might be a boy or a girl but is definitely a Gord. And where is Swiv’s father in the midst of all this intergenerational womanly angst and excitement? He’s nowhere to be found. So Swiv has taken on the task of writing to him to tell him about what is going on.Miriam Toews has created a vibrant and memorable pre-adolescent with Swiv. What she lacks in knowledge (having been expelled from school), she more than makes up for in sheer bloody-mindedness. There is a strength in Swiv. And despite the emotional rollercoaster she takes everyone on, there is strength in Swiv’s mom. Everyone says so. And without a doubt their strength has its roots in Swiv’s grandma, who exhilarates in life, even though life is ridiculous.There is a lot to like in these three women. Though I’m not sure there is enough here to hold together a well-knit story. Or rather, there is so much baggage in tow that it’s hard for the characters in the present to move forward under their own steam. Does that make sense? Whatever. You’ll end up staying with the story because of Swiv and just let the pieces fall where they will.Very gently recommended.

[smits_52 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What an amazing, odd, loveable, weird book. Toews creates amazing characters in Swiv, her grandma, her pregnant mother. The dialogue between Swiv and her grandma is poignant , hilarious , meaningful . The love between these two runs throughout the novel . We follow the story through the thought process of a little girl who experiences situations she’s really too young for. It’s both quite sad and totally hilarious .A great read!