Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

Płynąc w ciemnościach by Tomasz Jedrowski

45 reviews

elnelson's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Outing

Moderate: Hate crime, Police brutality, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Classism

page_not_found's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Homophobia, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Death of parent, and Classism

Moderate: Blood, Police brutality, and Alcohol

Minor: Alcoholism, Racism, Pregnancy, War, and Deportation

nklimczak'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? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual content, and Outing

Moderate: Drug use, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, and Antisemitism

davschi's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, and War

raisinreads's review against another edition

reflective sad

3.75

well-written (he's just like me, obsessed with giovanni's room)

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use and Sexual content

mscoleman's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Drug use, Homophobia, and Sexual content

thatswhatshanread's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad 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? No

5.0

An encapsulating story of being queer in the 1980s under socialist rule. While I was expecting a heartfelt summer romance, I also learned a lot about Poland’s politics and demographics in the 70s and 80s, the religious and communist themes throughout the country in spite of the end of German control. 

This is a very moving tale of love within the forbidden and hidden, of innocence lost and found, of the duality of cruelty and kindness in humanity. 

The writing is beautiful, like poetry, flowing like streams of consciousness from our protagonist, Ludwik, intent on finding himself in the world. His inner turmoil over his attraction to the same sex, his struggles with opening up to someone, his freedom from the Party’s ideologies. His love for Janusz and his lust for a different life. My heart broke for him in his journey for happiness and truth. I desperately wanted to give him a hug.

A melancholy novel rich with history and emotional ups and downs. Simply excellent.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Outing, Gaslighting, and Classism

Moderate: Bullying, Confinement, Terminal illness, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Alcohol, and War

Minor: Pregnancy

notthatcosta's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

Overall I really liked this book; the pacing is excellent and the prose swept me up right away. The love story component felt fresh despite being very well trodden ground, particularly due to the political slant and the right/wrong of it feeling somewhat grey. 

I struggled with the protagonist at points, when he was particularly wallowing or dramatic without any sense of lightness or humour like those around him. However, there were moments of self awareness and growth in the narration that redeemed what occasionally veered into Brandon Taylor-esque melodrama.  

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Death, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, and War

danajoy's review against another edition

reflective sad

4.0

Beautifully written, gentlely melancholic and told in a striking second person.
I feel like I have to read Giovanni's Room now.

I love reading books set in places and time periods I don't know much about. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug use, Homophobia, Sexual content, Vomit, and War

ctwntn's review against another edition

emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual content

Minor: Homophobia