Swimming in the Dark – Tomasz Jedrowski
100-Word (or Less) Synopsis: [from the dustjacket] Set in early 1980s Poland against the violent decline of communism, a tender and passionate story of first love between two young men who eventually find themselves on opposite sides of the political divide.
Expectation: A coming-of-age story about overcoming outside forces to live your life fully.
Reality: Another historical fiction gay love story that felt a bit recursive.
Recommended For: As the dustjacket says, fans of Aciman, Greenwell and Hollinghurst will enjoy it.
Why I Read It: Several people recommended it after my constant praise for James Baldwin’s “Giovanni’s Room.”
My Take:
For the past year I’ve extolled the virtues of James Baldwin’s classic of gay literature, “Giovanni’s Room,” and almost uniformly since that time many #Bookstagrammers have suggested I read Tomasz Jedrowksi’s debut “Swimming in the Dark” as Baldwin’s novel plays a pivotal role.
By many accounts “Swimming” is a good, if not great novel. It’s gorgeously written with restrained tension that courses throughout. But there is also something that felt a bit plug and play for those of us that read a lot of high-brow gay fiction.
Outside of the setting — in this case 1980s communist Poland — many elements will feel familiar: Ludwik and his early crushes on classmates, the clandestine relationship with the closeted Janusz, the political and societal pressures forcing them apart.
I didn’t dislike the novel, but I wouldn’t list it above “Giovanni’s Room” — the catalyst for the burgeoning relationship between our two young lovers — or Ocean Vuong’s “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous,” Garth Greenwell’s “What Belongs to You,” or Philippe Besson’s “Lie With Me.” These are all stories with similar themes but with a more original voice, stronger character development and a cohesive structure.
The most interesting aspect, to me, was the setting. At various points it felt like a gay-themed “1984” as Ludwik watches Janusz slowly deny parts of himself in favor of rising in the Communist party. Propaganda and political spying also feature prominently in the plot, which prompted a deep dive into Poland’s post-World War II history.
Where some readers gravitate to the latest beach read or thriller, I’m a sucker for these historical fiction, star-crossed lover stories that rarely have happy endings. While “Swimming” didn’t knock it out of the park, it does signal that Jedrowski is an author to watch.
The audiobook is a fine format for reading. Will M. Watt gives a detached reminiscence to the narration, which makes sense once you realize Ludwik is telling his story after [mild spoiler] securing a passport to the United States where he can live freely. He brings an almost hopeful melancholy to our protagonist – not only for the lover he left behind but for his homeland, too.
Rating (story): 3.5/5 stars
Rating (narration): 3/5
Formats: Audiobook (library loan)
Dates read: July 1 - 5, 2021
Multi-tasking: Good to go. I mostly exercised and did yard work while listening.
