Reviews

Swimming in the Dark by Tomasz Jedrowski

frozel's review against another edition

reflective sad

Not Rated. 

I remember loving this story when I first read it, but with time and fresh eyes, my take on it with this second read has been more muted. I'm uncertain of how much this response was due to the reading slump I've been in for the last 1 ½ months or the book's content itself. Since this is the case, I've decided to leave this second read, unrated. 

hannahleewhite's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

xguinevere_v's review

informative sad tense 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? No

4.5

ajax's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

3.75

eloiset's review against another edition

emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

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

4.75

brisingr's review

4.0

This was read for our Eastern European book club (and if you would like to diversify your reading alongside us, feel free to follow us: https://www.instagram.com/kultbookclub/

You truly have no idea how it is to see your culture and your world represented in books until it actually happens, and then it is such a relief. I really enjoyed this book: from its nods to our cultures and ways of living - so forcefully dictated by the communist system, so recognizable still, to the youthful love it follows, and the incredible writing style all throughout.

nereabg's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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? No

4.25

emilykennedy's review

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

mitskacir's review

3.0

This book didn't have as much political context as I was expected or wanted. It is primarily a love story, with the main character struggling with the political differences he has with his lover. I wasn't fully taken in by the romance - I never was truly invested in it, which is why Ludwik's dilemma at the end on whether or not to stay in Poland wasn't very wrenching for me. The reasons for his final choice are fully understandable, but there was not enough counter argument to make it feel like a sacrifice. There was also a lot of jealousy on Ludwik's part, which particularly disinterests me in love stories in general. I did listen to the audiobook, which may give me a different perception than if I'd read the physical text.

seventhevan's review against another edition

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

5.0