Telling stories from a non-heteronormative perspective is one thing. But, unfolding them truthfully regarding your beliefs is yet another. For that reason, Sabak’s debut novel (a set of short stories) stands out as an irresistible fiction, which comes straight from the heart.

As Freud used to say, it all comes down to our childhoods. Sabak has probably heard it, as the first part of her novel revolves purely around it. Thus, she allows us to understand where her heroine(s) come from, by painting an interesting picture of the 1990s Polish country and its rural elegance. Most of her stories are simple, but, to quote a classic, everyone will find something for themselves. 

Anyhow, besides good intentions and a poignant self-reflexivity related to adolescence, Sabak somewhat finds space (sometimes between the lines, sometimes in her well-imitated dialogue) for an amusing distance toward the subject of her little stories. Grave humour tends to be a driving force for a couple of chapters, but even there it is only an excuse for depicting a sel-defencing attitude of her heroine(s). Behind every joke lies an open and not-so-healed wound. And, in Sabak’s fictional worlds, every scratch desires to be listened to and has a story to tell. 

Sabak’s expressivity in telling her various stories (which might also be treated as a one chronological tale) is never isolated, as it’s beyond any contemporary forms and expectations that we might have from such literary newcomers. It’s far more than that, just like the non-heteronormativity of her character(s) isn’t only a clever stylistic device that enabled her to look at some mundane motives from a rather refreshing perspective. “Trochę z zimna, trochę z radości” is just like life: one that belongs to Sabak (or her characters?) and is enchanted in the form of a book; here, something even more: an addictive debut novel. 

Maybe this is why we instantly believe Sabak when we read her novel. Here, she never exaggerates, and does not desire to change the meanings of the facts and the past they represent. After all, no one likes to be lied to about stuff like that. Sabak knows it by heart: she’s been here and seen things. And this is what her book is about – the truth.

3.5/5 stars

Author: Jan Tracz

Zdjęcie: Laura Bielak. Przedstawia autorkę książki Kingę Sabak