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josman's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Homophobia and Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Drug use and Suicidal thoughts
cyrus_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
domreadsb00ks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual content
chaos_and_chapters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Homophobia, Police brutality, Classism, Toxic relationship, and Outing
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
garynoplastie's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Drug use, Outing, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Police brutality, War, and Homophobia
Minor: Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture
thewordsdevourer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
swimming in the dark shows life struggles in socialist poland, which are made doubly more complicated by being gay, as our main character(s) are. it has complex characters who dont pander to stereotypes or expectations. i also rly enjoy the depiction of life in poland at that time, esp ludwik's mounting frustration and fury built up from seemingly minute things to larger issues - that passport bureau scene is tense and excellent - showing the whole big picture of it all. his positionality and views on ways of survival that differ from janusz make for a nuanced exploration of both their relationship and country as well. hate making comparisons, but this is indeed reminiscent of cmbyn, albeit w/ much higher stakes.
i only wish the main couple's happier times were longer/shown more; we see their struggles but not enough of the good moments that bring them tgt in the first place and hold them through tougher times. the book's middle part - almost a montage of all the shitty aspects of life - somehow isnt as memorable; like i know what happened but am unable for the life of me rmb the order they happened in.
nonetheless, this is a beautifully written book full of ambivalence that's able to weave simple words w/ striking metaphor and imagery into literary art; i underlined at least a couple phrases and sentences on almost every pg. ludwik's loves in this book - for/ janusz, for his own country, and for freedom - are complex, emotional, and heartbreaking - the last couple pgs gut-wrenching - and made me cry. this is def a book to read for beautiful writing and if one wants to feel both sad and angry.
Graphic: Homophobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Police brutality
Minor: Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Antisemitism