The Swells

Briony is a travel writer who finds herself on a work assignment on board the Emerald Tranquillity; a luxurious cruise liner. The cruise begins normally enough, but as they head towards Japan, the crew stages an uprising and starts a class war against the wealthy passengers. Thrust into this new sit......more

It’s described as “darkly hilarious satire”, but I’d argue it’s more broadly farcical with its caricatures and over-the-top dialogue and situations. More wacky than sharp in its skewering of social conventions, it’s tonally akin to a Wes Anderson film or any of the Marx Brothers offerings. There are......more

The Swells by Will Aitken is a so-so satirical story of class warfare aboard a luxury cruise ship. In reality Briony is homeless and makes just enough to survive, but as a travel writer who cruises for free on luxury liners she must mirror the passengers behavior in order to fit in. The Emerald Tranq......more

I hate to give feedback that it's glowingly positive because I know how many people work so hard to bring books to market. That said, I simply did not like this book. I know it's meant to be a satire about class and capitalism, but it felt more like a satire about writing about rich people and class......more

What happens when the world turns upside down for the crew and passengers of a luxury cruise ship? That's the question posed in this satiric novel that wasn't as funny as I'd hoped but which has a. bite. Briony, a travel journalist, isn't sure where she belongs when the crew overthrows the captain w......more