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audaciaray's review against another edition
4.0
Dark and beautiful, in a way that makes the bile rise.
adambwriter's review against another edition
4.0
Krakow Melt by Daniel Allen Cox
Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 4.0
YTD: 55
Plot/Story:
4 – Plot/Story is interesting/believable and impactful.
Krakow Melt is a bizarre rendering of the tension over the Gay Rights movement in Poland, 2005. This movement was one of the branches of the Solidarnosc which helped to bring down the Berlin Wall in 1989. The main character, Radek, is a homosexual artist with a particular connection with the power and seduction of fire. He has an affair with a woman, which is little based of sexual attraction (from either Radek or Dorota), but largely based on the desire for complete freedom, which is expressed through subversion of the “norms.” Since Radek is a gay man, the most subversive act he can enact is to become sexually involved with a woman. They both have a mutual appreciation for the regenerative powers of fire, as well – their stance is that the most courageous artists are the ones who create art which will be intentionally destroyed. In the end, Dorota turns out to be the truly courageous one, outlasting and out fighting Radek, with a cry of “he’s not afraid to have sex with me [a woman] so why would he be afraid of you [to the queer-hating thugs]” she seals Radek’s fate, without his consent. The depictions of the gay parade, where both the crowds and the police (who Radek describes as his heroes) turn on them – throwing feces, clubs, fists, and other detritus at the gay freedom marches, whose “war cry” is simply: do not be afraid of us. Also, the interwoven political realities and the impact that the death of Poland’s native Pope has on the people allows for a great sense of social import to the period, and gives the reader multiple insights into the happenings of this eastern European nation of which many readers may not be aware (this reader certainly learned a few things).
Read the full review at: http://www.roofbeamreader.net
Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 4.0
YTD: 55
Plot/Story:
4 – Plot/Story is interesting/believable and impactful.
Krakow Melt is a bizarre rendering of the tension over the Gay Rights movement in Poland, 2005. This movement was one of the branches of the Solidarnosc which helped to bring down the Berlin Wall in 1989. The main character, Radek, is a homosexual artist with a particular connection with the power and seduction of fire. He has an affair with a woman, which is little based of sexual attraction (from either Radek or Dorota), but largely based on the desire for complete freedom, which is expressed through subversion of the “norms.” Since Radek is a gay man, the most subversive act he can enact is to become sexually involved with a woman. They both have a mutual appreciation for the regenerative powers of fire, as well – their stance is that the most courageous artists are the ones who create art which will be intentionally destroyed. In the end, Dorota turns out to be the truly courageous one, outlasting and out fighting Radek, with a cry of “he’s not afraid to have sex with me [a woman] so why would he be afraid of you [to the queer-hating thugs]” she seals Radek’s fate, without his consent. The depictions of the gay parade, where both the crowds and the police (who Radek describes as his heroes) turn on them – throwing feces, clubs, fists, and other detritus at the gay freedom marches, whose “war cry” is simply: do not be afraid of us. Also, the interwoven political realities and the impact that the death of Poland’s native Pope has on the people allows for a great sense of social import to the period, and gives the reader multiple insights into the happenings of this eastern European nation of which many readers may not be aware (this reader certainly learned a few things).
Read the full review at: http://www.roofbeamreader.net
proffy's review against another edition
3.0
Radek, a gay artist who practices parkour, is fascinated by fire. His art primarily centers around building small scale models of cities which burned and then lighting them on fire. Living in Krakow, Poland, Radek struggles with the homophobia of his country. He meets Dorota, a literature student, and the two explore their city and protest its injustices.
The book is strange, make no mistake. The plot is relatively meandering without a clear central conflict to guide the action. The narrative itself is broken up by letters from Radek to Dorota and vice versa, as well as political and historical discussions. There is even some notes on elephant sex.
Despite the relatively disjointed nature, by the end, the reader has a picture of the time the book covers, and the reader has been confronted with some serious issues: homophobia, friendship, sex, and love, and the universality of destruction and rebirth.
One big annoyance to me was the character of Dorota. She seemed to be created more as a perfect companion for Radek than a personality in her own right. This becomes glaringly clear at the end of the book, which I won't spoil for you, but which caused me to do a bit of an eyeroll.
The book is strange, make no mistake. The plot is relatively meandering without a clear central conflict to guide the action. The narrative itself is broken up by letters from Radek to Dorota and vice versa, as well as political and historical discussions. There is even some notes on elephant sex.
Despite the relatively disjointed nature, by the end, the reader has a picture of the time the book covers, and the reader has been confronted with some serious issues: homophobia, friendship, sex, and love, and the universality of destruction and rebirth.
One big annoyance to me was the character of Dorota. She seemed to be created more as a perfect companion for Radek than a personality in her own right. This becomes glaringly clear at the end of the book, which I won't spoil for you, but which caused me to do a bit of an eyeroll.
mobilisinmobili's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic short novel by Daniel Allex Cox. Makes me want to go pyro.
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