Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

13 reviews

columba_livia's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

kaywhiteley's review against another edition

emotional 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

Gorgeous writing. I love queer yearning. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Death of parent

Minor: Antisemitism and Suicidal thoughts

abicaro17's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Cancer, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Homophobia, War, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Cursing, Death, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Racism, Toxic friendship, Drug use, Death of parent, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, and Violence

maess's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

Moderate: Outing, Alcohol, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Homophobia, Pregnancy, and Toxic relationship

risemini's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Sexual content, Death of parent, Death, Homophobia, Outing, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

zsuzsireads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

A gripping, gorgeously lyrical story of gay love set against the backdrop of revolution in 1980s Poland. Hard-hitting and impossible to put down. I wish I could give the main character a big hug. The writing was filled to the brim with metaphors and imagery, which made for a beautiful prose (though it did verge on over-the-top at times). I also found some of the plot a bit hard to believe but maybe that's just my own cynicism. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Violence, and Xenophobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

rieviolet's review against another edition

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? Yes

4.0

I appreciated the setting because it focused on a time and place (Poland in the 1980s) that I am almost completely unfamiliar with and it was very interesting to be immersed in it, even if briefly.
I quite liked the narrator's voice and I think that the author was very good at handling Ludwik's emotional journey, the final chapters especially hit me right in the feels, harder than I thought they would.

However, there were some plot points that I found a little bit weird

for example, the drugged soup and the hallucinated stroll in the woods, okay I guess?!

.
Also, I think that at times the language was a tad overwritten and going a bit too heavy on metaphors and similes.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Antisemitism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Police brutality, Death of parent, Drug use, Outing, Classism, Sexism, and Grief

Minor: Child abuse, Rape, War, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Blood, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Violence

katiejones's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

floatinthevoid's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.25

I really don't have any expectation, and i don't receive any unexpected impression either tbh. I think the writing style is beautiful and deliberate in the way that it unfolds a story. There are specks of thoughts that show the traits of the characters, they are scattered in the right place, which i think is very neat. Not to mention how tender and melancholic this love story is. It's just that i feel everything is too good in the flow? Well personally i like it more if something or any of the characters messed up a bit too much. Nonetheless, this book is well written. 

Also, I hope Ludwik is happy. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Police brutality, War, and Homophobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

leoni_plu's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Wunderschöner Schreibstil, herzzerreißend

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts