Let’s Read: The Swimmers
Tour + Group Session
Location: Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg
Admission: 7 euros for the guided tour (the Let’s Read discussion is free)
Language: English
Registration: anmeldung@daz.org
In July, our Let’s Read! session will take place at a very special location: In cooperation with the Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg, we invite you to an event that brings literature to the museum.
We will begin with a guided tour of the exhibition “Frei schwimmen” (“Free Swimming”), which explores the cultural and historical significance of swimming and public pools in society. Afterwards, we will discuss Julie Otsuka’s novel The Swimmers right there at the museum.
In The Swimmers, Julie Otsuka tells the moving story of Alice, a woman slowly losing her memory to dementia, and her daughter, who struggles to care for her and reach her as she slips away. When a mysterious crack appears at the bottom of Alice’s local pool, her daily routine of swimming laps and the sense of belonging among fellow swimmers is disrupted. Alice is left to confront memories of her childhood in a Japanese internment camp. Otsuka crafts a sensitive portrait of memory, loss, and the fragile narratives that shape who we are.
We look forward to a thoughtful discussion in this unique setting, exploring the connections between the exhibition and the novel.
Please note: There is an admission for the guided tour at the museum; however, participation of the tour is optional. The group meeting afterwards is free.
In cooperation with: Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg