Amazon.fr :Commentaires en ligne: Swimming in the Dark: ‘One of the most astonishing contemporary gay novels we have ever read … A masterpiece’

Commenté en France 🇫🇷 le 17 décembre 2021

The story line is well described and the characters are credible. The interesting part is the fact that the story takes place beyond the iron curtain, in a country where stigma of homosexualilty is even higher because of its very religious culture.

L'histoire est bien décrite et les personnages sont crédibles. La chose intéressante est le fait que cela a lieu d'hier le rideau de fer, dans un pays où la stigmatisation de l'homosexualité est même plus haute à cause de sa culture très religieuse.

Utile

J E Cable

A really special book

Commenté au Royaume-Uni 🇬🇧 le 1 mai 2023

Achat vérifié

Oh my, what a book. I felt that tingle almost straight away, the one only a really special book gives you. The writing is so beautiful, so emotional, so descriptive, and because no word is wasted, falls on the right side of not being up itself.
Set mainly in Poland in 1980, the country’s inequalities between the few who ‘know someone’ and the many who don’t are drawn in bright colours and the drabbest of greys. The unrest that will eventually lead to an elected government ten years later is in its infancy, and this forms the backdrop to this exceptional love story. In this world at this time, homosexuality must be hidden. A reason for shame.
Ludwik and Janusz, both newly graduated from university, meet at a work camp and through a borrowed book discover their shared sexuality. They embark on a tense yet tender affair the author makes seem both dreamlike and real, but back in Warsaw, Ludwik faces difficult choices.

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Eclectic Reader

“Nothing Ever Gets Better Here”

Commenté aux États-Unis 🇺🇸 le 26 février 2021

Achat vérifié

In his debut novel, SWIMMING IN THE DARK (2020) author Tomasz Jedowski (born in 1985 in the Federal Republic of Germany) writes of first love set during the political turmoil of Poland in the early 1980s as Communist leaders began an increasing desperate and despotic attempt to hold on to power. The political setting of the novel plays an important role in the events surrounding the lives of the novel’s two main characters: twenty-two-year-old Ludwik Glowacki and a fellow student, Janusz. The two first meet as university students at a summer agricultural camp and although gay and closeted, pretty much inexperienced, and more than a bit cautious, Ludwick immediately is attracted to the masculine Janusz who Ludwik sees as “a prophecy I was unable to read.”

Jedowski adopts an interesting and telling narrative technique for SWIMMING IN THE DARK. Ludwik is the book’s first-person narrator throughout and the novel is written as a letter to Janusz describing Ludwik’s life before meeting Janusz and, more importantly, detailing their lives after they meet. As early as the second page of the novel Jedowski lets readers know the relationship between the two central characters is, for one reason or another, doomed as he has Ludwik write, “I don’t know whether I ever want you to read this, but I know that I need to write it. Because you’ve been on my mind for too long. Ever since the day, twelve months ago, when I got on a plane and flew through the thick layers of cloud across the ocean. A year since I saw you, a year that has felt like limbo…”

As stated earlier, politics plays an important role in the novel as Ludwik finds himself growing more and more incensed over state of affairs thrust upon the Polish people by the regime of Edward Gierek. Ludwik desires greater freedom, not less, and is curious about the West where “it seems like everything is better… more beautiful. More free.” When he tries to imagine his life “in the future, in a year or so,” he can’t see anything. Janusz, however, labels Ludwik a “dreamer” and is quite content with the Communist system. He believes “there are so many chances” in Poland and “the Party cares about us,” convinced he will “figure things out” and find a way to work the system to his advantage.

Along with the politics of 1980s Poland, James Baldwin’s novel, GIOVANNI’S ROOM (1956) plays an important role in SWIMMING IN THE DARK. Unpublished in Poland at the time but a work the scholarly and inquisitive Ludwik has heard of, the youth obtains an underground copy of the book and immediately identifies with the characters and the same-sex relationships of which Baldwin daringly (for the times) writes. When Janusz asks to borrow the book and Ludwik hesitantly agrees to loan it to him, the novel helps bring the two young males together even though Baldwin’s theme of the need for freedom affects Ludwik in ways it does not Janusz.

Jedowski writes in a lyrical fashion while exploring the budding romantic relationship between Ludwik and Janusz as well as describing the culture of Poland at the times. Food (from the simple to the elegant), music, and the many vast social discrepancies between the haves and the have-nots are clearly on display for the reader. What is curiously lacking in the book is real passion or at least explicit descriptions of Ludwik and Janusz’s physical interactions. Ludwik’s “letter” makes it clear that the love between the two is fervent and does involve love-making, but the narrative is quick to fade out as such intimacy is about to begin and Ludwik only returns to his account after the two have consummated their various sexual interactions. Readers may be struck by this approach and are likely to wonder if the author is consciously recreating Ludwik’s timidity, whether the author is subtly signaling the eventual fate of the two, or has other rationale in mind. As beautiful and engaging as Jedowski’s writing is, it is clearly not a weakness but a deliberate choice by the author not to include the usual modern-day, no-holds-barred approach toward modern male-male romanticism or eroticism.

As their lives become more and more complicated and more people become a part of their world and decisions have to be made, Jedowski keeps his novel true to life and engaging. As more challenge and danger becomes a part of the story along with some unexpected situations, so does a greater sense of melancholy and inevitability. In spite of this, there is, however, a sense of strength and determination in the final pages of SWIMMING IN THE DARK which runs counter to and overcomes any sense of sadness to the novel which is a tribute to the author’s vision for his creation. Following the novel’s end, in his Acknowledgements, Jedowski concedes writing SWIMMING IN THE DARK “was a seven-year journey.” Readers are likely to readily feel the intensive thought and labor Jedowski put into the book considering the fascinating finished product he produced and will look forward to future efforts by the author.

10 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

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Sean Kelley

Must read book!

Commenté aux États-Unis 🇺🇸 le 8 mai 2023

Achat vérifié

I recently read "Swimming in the Dark: A Novel" and was completely moved by this beautiful story. The author, Tomasz Jedrowski, transports the reader to 1980s Poland, where we follow the life of Ludwik, a young man who falls in love with his classmate Janusz. Despite the societal pressures and political turmoil of the time, their love persists, and the novel explores the complexities of their relationship.

Jedrowski's writing is so vivid and descriptive, I felt like I was right there with Ludwik as he navigated the challenges of being gay in a repressive society. The characters were so well-developed and their struggles were relatable and heart-wrenching. I found myself rooting for Ludwik and Janusz every step of the way.

Overall, "Swimming in the Dark" is a powerful and moving novel that will stay with me for a long time. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read.

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Rishabh Kumar

Poignant and Engrossing.

Commenté en Inde 🇮🇳 le 16 mars 2023

Achat vérifié

A heartbreaking tale of relationship between two young men amidst political turmoil in 1980s Poland. Beautifully told story with impeccable writing and lyrical prose. Easily one of my favourite books last year. 5/5

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Derek Halls

Enjoyable read, not always easy to relate to.

Commenté au Royaume-Uni 🇬🇧 le 2 mai 2023

Achat vérifié

I enjoyed reading this book and must say there were times I could feel the clash of differing worlds... I guess that's part of the book's charm. I would recommend this book but it doesn't remain 'high' in my mind!

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Paul Watford

A love story between two young men

Commenté au Royaume-Uni 🇬🇧 le 9 mai 2023

Achat vérifié

I have only just got the book can't wait to start it to see how young love begins .

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Robert Gooch

nostalgic

Commenté en Australie 🇦🇺 le 26 mars 2023

Achat vérifié

Beautifully written, I say nostalgic as it could have been written about my life. Very real, dealing with a closeted gay man and the honesty and acceptance of another. Also the harsh reality of living in a communist country. The audible narration was excellent.

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B. Tutt

Book as described

Commenté au Royaume-Uni 🇬🇧 le 17 mai 2023

Achat vérifié

Great transaction, book as described, well wrapped and arrived in pristine condition.

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Carlos Gil

Excelente

Commenté au Mexique 🇲🇽 le 18 avril 2023

Achat vérifié

Muy buen libro e historia. Lo terminé en dos sentadas, no lo poda dejar !

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5 étoiles		67%
4 étoiles		24%
3 étoiles		6%
2 étoiles		1%
1 étoile		1%

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