Rozložíš paměť
(You break down the memory) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
The hero of the novel recalls his adolescence in Přerov, Moravia, and his experiences as a queer boy growing up in a conservative industrial town, in a family that did not have much money. An environment that punishes difference emerges. Torčík literally dissects his memory. He talks about his mother, father, and grandfather, about bullying, alcoholism, and coming to terms with his sexuality. He breaks down not only his own memories, but also a kind of collective memory of the whole family into individual components.
Edited by: Gender Studies, o p.s. - Knihovna Jiřiny Šiklové
Comment:
This autofictional novel deviates from the typical themes of Czech literature and describes the life of a man born into a conservative family living on the margins of society. Torčík’s story shows that his otherness, specifically his homosexuality, is not a weakness, even though it led to his exclusion from the community and made him an outsider at school and in his family. However, he found himself through literature, which helped him find a way out. His story depicts the harsh reality that part of society turns a blind eye to and points to the toxicity created by a prejudiced environment that does not allow for otherness.