A review by reclusivebookslug
Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

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

4.5

I read this in one sitting and couldn't breathe through my nose by the end because of how much I'd been crying. I can tell this is a book that will stick in my mind for a long time.

 
The romance between Ludwik and Janusz doesn't feel particularly romantic. Even in their most intimate moments, I didn't get the sense they both really knew and accepted each other. I can't help but attribute this dynamic to the fact that they are in a controlling society where they cannot be open about their true selves. Two gay men finding each other and having some semblance of a relationship would create a strong bond, but the chances of it being a healthy relationship between two compatible and mutually supportive people seem slim. That's the real tragedy of this book for me -- the way forces out of an individual's control can sabotage love, both extant and possible.
 
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