The Swimmer

The John Cheever Audio Collection

By: John Cheever

Narrated by: John Cheever

Here is the preface to 12 magnificent stories, originally part of The John Cheever Audio Collection, in which John Cheever celebrates - with unequaled grace and tenderness - the deepest feelings we have.

As Cheever writes in his preface, "These stories seem at times to be stories of a long-lost world when the city of New York was still filled with a river light, when you heard the Benny Goodman quartets from a radio in the corner stationery store, and when almost everybody wore a hat."

Listen to more classic short stories in The John Cheever Audio Collection.©1978 John Cheever (P)2003 HarperCollins Publishers

Good premise and well executed

A pretty good little short audio. I have heard of Cheever before, but never thought to read (listen) any of his stuff until I ran across this one on sale. Glad I picked it up. The premise was very good and the story was well executed.

Ned is not running away from his problems. He’s swimming. In and out of the water, over hedges, thru cocktail parties, across the freeway and into the approaching storm. He just wants to get back to his family. One swimming pool at a time.

4 Audible Stars. I would be interested to read a longer work from this author.

One of Cheevers best stories

Amazing story focusing ones entire life compacted into a days journey. Cheever is a master story teller.

Time to Take Another Lap with the Swimmer

Would you consider the audio edition of The Swimmer to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the short story or seen the movie in more than 20 years. I became interested after reading rave reviews of the new Blu-ray edition. It includes this audible story. Well, I listened to it as I drove home. And, it was wonderful. John Cheever's reading is heartfelt and you feel like you are in the room with him. One of the best 20 minutes you can spend with a book. Try it again.

Swimming lessond

What made the experience of listening to The Swimmer the most enjoyable?

Listening during a melting heatwave I would have a dip with the swimmer each time.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Swimmer?

Definitely nearing the end when realization or some form of it came upon him.

Which scene was your favorite?

He gets home and it is not home anymore.has not been for a long time.

Who was the most memorable character of The Swimmer and why?

The main character the"swimmer" is an exceptional example of a man"s psychological devolution.

Any additional comments?

I met my own neighborhood and some of it's inhabitants in cheever" s story.faced some of my own ghosts.

This story created my favorite movie of all time

I loved the movie the swimmer. I wanted to read the short story to see what it was like. The movie was better because it was more detailed but if it weren't for the short story the movie wouldn't even exist. If you saw the movie you might be a little disappointed in the story as I was it was just l much shorter and had less detail had less detail. You have to keep in mind this was only a short story and the movie was a whole movie. If I had not seen the movie I probably would've liked the story better.

Odd story of suburbia

Firstly, John Cheever may be a great writer but he reads his story flat flat flat. But we Can understand the words and it’s not a long thing, and truly mid-century strange, so if you hang in there you will have a real treat.

Brutally dated

I didn't enjoy this at all and I enjoy most things. Very outdated unless I just wasn't into it.