Táto izba sa nedá zjesť
(This room cannot be eaten) Book not yet available in English
Summary:
Controversial, raw, and stark, yet poetic, this text charts six years of an unequal relationship between Tereza, a twelve-year-old girl at the beginning of the story, and Ivan, a fifty-year-old art club instructor. Tereza is unaware that she has found herself trapped in an illicit relationship with a manipulator, because with Ivan she finally feels beautiful and admired. As she matures, she begins to reevaluate the whole situation, trying to escape the toxic cycle and gradually detaching herself from Ivan. But is it possible? The short, powerful chapters, which shock with their openness, resonate with us long after we finish reading.
Edited by: Gender Studies, o p.s. - Knihovna Jiřiny Šiklové
Comment:
Hochholczerová spares no one in her book. Not her parents, her “boyfriend,” or even herself—the main character. She points out the factors that contribute to the toxic environment of inequality and manipulation: a predatory teacher who abuses his power, the victim’s parents and friends, and her low self-esteem, which the predator exploited. She reminds us that these are not isolated cases, but a culture that downplays such behavior and trivializes its consequences. She candidly describes a personal story in which we see the serious and long-lasting consequences suffered by the victim and her own confusion in a situation where she is completely manipulated by someone who was supposed to protect her.