Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Swimming in the Dark

Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

10 reviews

nefariousbee's review against another edition

tense medium-paced

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

2.25

this is a difficult book for me to say something about.
first, I'm a gen Z Czech person. I didn't live thru socialism but my parents did. at first, I was happy that the Slav authors finally seemed to start leaving ww2 behind and we can focus on more recent historical events that prominently shared our societies.
the issue is tho. this doesn't feel like a Pole wrote it. there's that typical self-righteousness of a westerner, writing about the underprivileged. and I hate it, it makes my hairs stand up, makes me see red.
and I'm sure there were good intentions, I'm sure the woke westerners will be swooning. but it feels like we're being put in a terrarium to be studied and pitied. it feels like it's saying that everyone who stayed is a loser or a bootlicker. it makes the westerners believe they'd also leave, like our protagonist, they would stand tall and proud. it does nothing to comment on the system, to try to create some nuance, to even describe the ordinary lives of the people to try the reader to relate.
there's much to say and I don't care enough to write and edit it all. if you want a book about socialist Poland, find a polish author, preferably one that lived thru it.
and let me recommend you Operation Hyacinth on the topic of being gay in socialist Poland.

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kwichris's review against another edition

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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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abicaro17's review against another edition

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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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maess's review against another edition

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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? It's complicated

4.0

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samdalefox's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

I tend to stuggle with books written in second person. I haven't come across one yet where I feel it adds to the story in a meaningful way. Anyway, this is a solid coming of age queer story largely set in 1980s Poland, but references many points of 20th Century Polish political and cultural history. I'm sure someone with more knowledge of these events would pick up on much more than I did. The main themes I caught were the traditional questioning and stained acceptance of Ludwik's queerness, and the exploration of pros and cons living underneath socialism vs capitalism (shout out to the common experience of nepotism). I enjoyed the deliberate references to 'Giovanni's room', but that also reminded me of how much superior James Baldwin's work is compared to this novel unfortantely. Mostly I found the book rather meek.

Other community members' review's I largely agree with:

danielctr's review - "...I simply could not get myself to care very much about the main relationship between Ludwik and Janusz. Also I feel that the main focus of the book is quite unclear...."
randomheart's review - "...I think my main problem with this novel was that, other than the physical magnetic pull that Ludwik and Janusz had for one another, I didn't really see why they would fall in love with each other on a deeper level. I needed more depth and substance to their relationship. If I had been more invested in their relationship, the politics driving them apart would have hit me in a more substantial manner too. I really wanted to FEEL the angst and conflict between them, but it all just felt a little too anticlimactic to me in the end. Janusz kind of felt too mysterious to me throughout for me to fully connect with as well. I just needed more overall..."

Quotes:

"It felt as if the words and the thoughts of the narrator—despite their agony, despite their pain—healed some of my agony and my pain, simply by existing."

"You can't make people love you the way you want them to"

"Because you were right when you said that people can’t always give us what we want from them; that you can’t ask them to love you the way you want"

“No matter what happens in the world, however brutal or dystopian a thing, not all is lost if there are people out there risking themselves to document it. Little sparks cause fires, too.”

"We are just queuing for a possibility. Queuing for something. Maybe queuing for nothing." ...
"But it will pass, even the longest queue dissolves eventually"

"To my own surprise, I was unable to accept the shame he wanted me to feel. It was too familiar to be imposed. I had produced it for myself for such a long time that right then I found I had no space left for it anymore."

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readsbymoonlight's review

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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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ez_heath's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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? No

4.25

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peachidreams's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective relaxing 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? No

4.0

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bill369's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.75

I've heard many great comments on this book. Therefore, I've read it.

I understand the situation of both main characters. They each got their struggle and are trying to do their best. I like them both. I admire Ludwik for his critical mind. He fights for freedom while being aware of the consequences these actions may resolve in. Every action and conversation counts. On the other hand, I admire Janusz for his shrewdness. He knows who to be friends with to achieve advantages. He's aware of how to cheat the system. Their relationship is incredibly beautiful. I love all the aspects of it. Despite the rather tragic end, I suppose it's my favourite fictional couple to exist. The positive part was amazing. Their relationship woke so many of my emotions. I was joyful, shocked, angry and sad. Everything about it is perfect. I simply adore them. The other characters seem great too. I got nothing to complain about.

Two homosexuals in communist Poland. The historic depiction is fabulous. I've learned quite a few new facts while mainly focusing on the relationship. The book shows the need for connections and how the lives of „equal“ people differ. For instance, without connexions, there's a minimal chance of getting some more luxurious goods because of their constant shortage. More importantly, it shows the ubiquitous homophobia. Despite being illegal it would cause them a lot of trouble therefore they had to hide. As consequence, they felt like there was something wrong with them. They were told to feel that way. And I find that just horrible. It's so unfair people are looked down on just because of who they love. Not to forget, the always present fear of loneliness. The impossibility of thinking their love could work out. How could they believe in such a thing if they didn't know anyone for whom it did work out?

Page 11, powerful others.

Občas nad člověkem mají jiní lidé moc, ať se mu to líbí, nebo ne. Teď si to začínám uvědomovat. Z některých lidí, některých událostí prostě ztratíš hlavu. Jsou jako gilotina, rozseknou ti život na dvě půlky, živou a mrtvou, předtím a potom.

Page 39, the neverending fear of loneliness.
Nejvíce jsem se děsil toho, že skončím sám. Přesto si část mého já byla jistá, že přesně takhle skončím a že to je to nejhorší, co se může někomu přihodit.

Page 175, calm but on the werge of a breakdown the plus fear of loneliness.

Zvláštním způsobem jsem však zůstával klidný. Ten klid, říkám si, byl taky jistou formou šoku. Pokud bych něčemu dovolil uniknout ven, celého by mě to přemohlo. Jako tísnivá, zvětšující se, zívající propast tu byl vždypřítomný strach, hrůza z toho, že budu žít sám. Ještě dnes cítím chvění toho strachu, jeho ozvěnu mám pevně zakořeněnou v konečcích prstů a také v tom malém beztížném prostoru v mém podbříšku, jen několik centimetrů nad rozkrokem.

Page 197, we can't beg others to love us.

Protože jsi měl pravdu, když jsi říkál, že lidé nám vždy nemohou dát, co po nich chceme, že je nemůžeme žádat, aby nás milovali tak, jak chceme. Nikomu to nelze vyčítat. A nepříznivé okolnosti proti nám byly od samého počátku: neměli jsme žádný manuál, nikdo nám neukázal cestu. Neměli jsme jediný příklad šťastného páru, v němž byli dva chlapci. Jak jsme měli vědět, co dělat? Věřili jsme vůbec, že by nám štěstí mohlo vyjít?

Page 198, desire to be cared for.

Chci boršč a pirožky a teplý makový koláč a cítím tu obrovskou dutou prázdnotu uvnitř sebe, touhu po teplu. Ale vůbec to nebolí, spíš je to jako nějaký příslib.

Although the end of the book is sad and I did cry while I was reading the book I wasn't crying while reading this part in particular.

Master's work. I adore this book. I love it very dearly. I'm really glad I read it.

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garynoplastie's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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