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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
You know how sometimes in poorly written books the protagonist lets out a breath they didn't realize they were holding? Well, after I finished reading this impeccably written book I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. It just has such a quiet intensity from start to finish that kept me literally holding my breath in anticipation.
What happens in Swimming in the Dark? I don't know, feels totally irrelevant. Because Jedrowski could write about any mundane detail and make it feel poignant. And the central storytelling POV - told directly from Ludwik to Janusz - allows the events of the story to feel distant, either tinged with nostalgia or jaded with heartbreak, while the emotions feel immediate, a direct confessional to a lover. And the prose is just gorgeous and manages to steer just shy of pretentiousness.
The whole reading experience for me was just a ball of urgent feeling and longing and love and melancholy.
What happens in Swimming in the Dark? I don't know, feels totally irrelevant. Because Jedrowski could write about any mundane detail and make it feel poignant. And the central storytelling POV - told directly from Ludwik to Janusz - allows the events of the story to feel distant, either tinged with nostalgia or jaded with heartbreak, while the emotions feel immediate, a direct confessional to a lover. And the prose is just gorgeous and manages to steer just shy of pretentiousness.
The whole reading experience for me was just a ball of urgent feeling and longing and love and melancholy.
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
My heart breaks for Ludwik, it reminds me to be thankful for the progress made. Although much more is needed, we cannot deny the fear and pain our community faced in the past.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Outing, Alcohol, Classism, Deportation
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Death of parent, War
Minor: Medical content
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
fast-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
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated