'Swimming in the dark' is one of my fav books this year, so so good. I'm a sucker for historical fiction, especially when romance is a big part of the story as well. Trying to find some new recommendations of that sort of stories.
i’m american and when i explain to classmates or friends in the way that you did that i don’t enjoy current american romance, they look at me like i have 5 heads. i’ve talk to my dad about this multiple times (lol) but it really is just published fan fiction. it also feels very “will this go viral?” which completely ruins the experience. i believe that if you ultimately just want fame from your writing then it isn’t the best you can do because you’re trying to appeal to the masses instead of writing what you really want to
i was initially super worried at offending my american audience by saying this but i'm so relieved you agree!! it just feels like it's written to be marketed as a viral hit rather than actually caring for the substance within 😭 i've genuinely read better work posted on wattpad and AO3 lol
What I liked most about swimming in the dark was the way life in 1980's poland was portrayed. The anger towards the regime, the anxiety over 'being found out' when you're not 100% what society or the government want you to be, still trying to live a good life somehow, it all felt quite accurate from what my polish realtives and teachers have told me about their lives back then. After I finished swimming in the dark, I read giovanni's room since it was so important to the story and it's obvious that this book was a huge inspiration to Jedrowski. Both books have been some of my best reads this year.
i agree - i loved the novel for how complex it was and genuinely felt like the emotions of someone who was living there and then which made it feel so real!! i also bought giovanni's room off the back of this novel and i'm looking forward to reading it!
I couldn't agree more with your comments about the romance genre... what few books I've read have just been painful... I have read The Days Of Abandonment and remember loving it, until one tiny part that made me so mad that I hated the book after that... now I can't even remember what it was that upset me so much.... I think I need to re-read this one. I've been reading Shogun by James Clavell this month and really enjoying it
glad you also agree on the romance genre! and hmm - was it the part with the dog? at least it's a fairly short book so you'll be able to re-read it quick! (:
I have just finished Funny Story by Emily Henry. Although it was quite fun it wasn’t as exceptional as people made me believe Emily’s work would be. I think the bar for romcom is in hell! Also, writing romance stories based on popular tropes is making everything predictable and painfully bland.
that's exactly it !! too much of it is too trope focused (this being a clear attempt at enemies to lovers and the old 'rivarly' at college just seemed so silly) and it ends up unoriginal and boring!
my friends have said this also - hilariously people have told me beach read is probs her worst books which is ironic as it seems to be the most popular!
❤📚❤️ I love your varied taste in reads. Subscribed! I finished my summer read of Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens in July. I also read This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger and enjoyed it very much.
a certain smile is so good ! it was the first book I've read this year and i loved it. I agree with what you said about beach read and romcom books but if I were to recommend a book by Emily Henry it will defiantly be Book Lovers it's my fav from her ! Personally last month I started reading a Brillant friend by Elena ferrante and It put me through a reading slump I just can't get thought it I don't why :/ But right now I'm reading Take my hand by Dolen Perkins Valdez and so far I'm loving it ! anyways I loved ur video as always
haha it seems as though many people are saying book lovers is her better book which is ironic how beach read is more popular! and oh no, sad to hear you're in a book slump with my brilliant friend - it definitely is a slow burn but i think it's one that grows on you!
As an American who doesn’t read contemporary romance, are the ones written by non-American authors truly better/different? Wondering in case I should try some out. 😅
Somehow I don't think romance is your genre. I started reading romcoms during the Pandemic-just wanted to read something that I knew would end happily. Romcoms are not meant to be great literature - they are meant to make you feel good. Think of Romcom movies - they are never better than 2 stars but you know there is a HEA. I often wonder why good literature has to always be emotional and sad.
I do love rom com films though, but not sure why I can't get on board with rom com books? I know children's literature is the same - not deemed 'great' literature with happy endings - but I still love to read them (like harry potter, percy jackson, etc). Maybe it's more the predictability and lack of interesting plot that I get fed up with?
