44 pages 1 hour read

Jen Beagin

Big Swiss

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Chapters 6-11Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 6 Summary

Greta listens to a therapy session without headphones and transcribes “as if it were a podcast or a radio interview” (103). Sabine overhears it as well. A flock of vultures has become lost and perches in a tree near Sabine’s house.

In the session, Big Swiss is annoyed that Om, a sex therapist, doesn’t know what endometriosis is. She reports that she recently had sex with her husband Luke, but that sex remains physically painful for her. She tells Om about Luke’s hobby of watching other people play his favorite video game. Big Swiss talks about her husband’s discolored penis, his collection of prisoner’s shivs, and his desire to have sex with her when she’s menstruating. Om suggests that Big Swiss try masturbating with a vibrator.

Greta brings Piñon to the dog park, where another dog attacks him. The owner of the attacker does nothing, but another woman swoops in and breaks up the fight. She chats with Greta and Greta realizes that she’s speaking with Big Swiss. Big Swiss is even more beautiful in person than Greta had imagined. Greta introduces herself as Rebekah, and Big Swiss introducers herself as Flavia. They chat about work, and Greta tells her that she transcribes interviews for journalists.