Reviews tagging 'War'

Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

14 reviews

kwichris's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I typically don't like reading books that center around romance. This book, however, managed to embed historical context and emotionally complex situations that added more to this story than a simple romance that cannot be. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I found myself relating to or finding understanding in the main character's reactions/feelings/thoughts regarding the situation they find themselves in - a love that they cannot express publicly, a country divided post-war, and uncertainty of their own future. For a first entry, the author has crafted quite a nice story, and I would recommend it to anyone that likes a little historical context and input that shapes the story.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Grief

Moderate: Classism, Alcohol, Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Outing, War, Sexual content, Drug use, and Antisemitism

Minor: Medical content, Adult/minor relationship, Vomit, Police brutality, and Genocide

abicaro17's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Wow. This book is amazing. A love story between two very different boys, tells the tale of political unrest and oppression coloring 1980s Poland. Told through second person letters, Ludwik tells the story of his upbringing, life in Communist Poland, and his complicated relationship with Janusz. The writing styles approaches dark subjects with an almost flowery language, making every bit a joy to read. Does it get a tad slow at times? Yeah. Does it absolutely ramp up towards the end? Yes! This is a short yet poignant tale of love and unrest is a worthwhile read! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cancer, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Homophobia, War, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Cursing, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Death of parent, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Violence

jayisreading's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Set in Communist Poland in the 1980s, I was incredibly moved by this tender and melancholic novel, which I’m pleasantly surprised to find out is Jedrowski’s first. Evoking the mood and energy of its inspiration, James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room, Swimming in the Dark sinks into Ludwick’s introspective world and his love for Janusz. I found the use of first- and second-person pronouns in this novel effective in crafting an incredible intimacy that exists between Ludwick (“I”) and Janusz (“you”) that is both aware of its charged sensuality and that it’s forbidden.

In addition to this relationship between two men, Jedrowski touches on what it means to live in Communist Poland. I felt this was somewhat underdeveloped, as it was semi-explored through the differing views that Ludwick and Janusz have of their country, especially while queer. It was also in Ludwig’s relationships with other characters (e.g., Ludwick’s landlady) that the reader learns about the state of the country during this time, ranging from healthcare to strict law enforcement. I think Jedrowski could have done more to flesh out the sociopolitical setting without it derailing too much from the main focus of this novel.

Aside from this minor complaint, though, I have nothing but praise for Ludwick and Janusz, who were the driving forces. This was also a beautiful homage (of sorts) to Giovanni’s Room, which made its way into the novel in a poignant way. All-in-all, this was a stunning debut from Jedrowski, and I truly look forward to his future works.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Death and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Drug use, Antisemitism, War, and Police brutality

megelizabeth's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

This is beautifully written, poignant, and utterly heart-shattering. I adored our main character, Ludwik, and absolutely ached for him throughout, and the relationships he has with some of the other characters completely broke me. This has so much to say about love, politics, poverty, family, and what the right way is to live or be, and it's definitely one that will stay with me. That being said, I think it would have had even more of an impact - and potentially been a 5* read - had it been a bit longer. It grapples with two very key central themes (the tragic love story and the brutal homophobia that goes along with this, and then the social commentary around Soviet socialism), and at times it felt to me a bit rushed and as if it would have really benefitted from being that bit longer and developing both strands more fully.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Police brutality, and Infidelity

Moderate: Death and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual harassment, War, Rape, and Drug use

readsbymoonlight's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content and Homophobia

Minor: Alcohol, Hate crime, War, Death of parent, and Drug use

mainon_'s review against another edition

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Infidelity, and Violence

Minor: Antisemitism, Drug use, and War

rieviolet's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I appreciated the setting because it focused on a time and place (Poland in the 1980s) that I am almost completely unfamiliar with and it was very interesting to be immersed in it, even if briefly.
I quite liked the narrator's voice and I think that the author was very good at handling Ludwik's emotional journey, the final chapters especially hit me right in the feels, harder than I thought they would.

However, there were some plot points that I found a little bit weird

for example, the drugged soup and the hallucinated stroll in the woods, okay I guess?!

.
Also, I think that at times the language was a tad overwritten and going a bit too heavy on metaphors and similes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Police brutality, Death of parent, Drug use, Outing, Classism, Sexism, and Grief

Minor: Child abuse, Rape, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Blood, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Violence

natashamountney's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and War

Minor: Death of parent and Police brutality

floatinthevoid's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

I really don't have any expectation, and i don't receive any unexpected impression either tbh. I think the writing style is beautiful and deliberate in the way that it unfolds a story. There are specks of thoughts that show the traits of the characters, they are scattered in the right place, which i think is very neat. Not to mention how tender and melancholic this love story is. It's just that i feel everything is too good in the flow? Well personally i like it more if something or any of the characters messed up a bit too much. Nonetheless, this book is well written. 

Also, I hope Ludwik is happy. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Police brutality, War, and Homophobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

gerzonvillegas's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Outing, Terminal illness, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, and Chronic illness

Minor: War, Animal death, Drug use, and Police brutality