Rozložíš paměť
by Marek Torčík
Why read it
This critically acclaimed autobiographical coming-of-age novel captures the visceral ache of growing up queer in an austere Czech industrial town. Centering on a fragile young man navigating severe bullying, a strained bond with his factory-worker mother, and an unexpected romance with a Romany peer, it uses poetic, fractured recollection to examine whether dismantling the past can ultimately set someone free.
Where to get it
For listeners, digital audiobook editions and international releases can be checked on Audible, Storytel Netherlands, Kobo, and Google Play Audiobooks (note that an English audio narration may be limited compared to the original Czech recording). Ebook editions are widely available via Kobo, Bol.com, and Amazon.nl. Physical print copies—including the English translation 'Memory Burn' and the original text—can be ordered through Bol.com, Athenaeum Boekhandel, Waterstones Amsterdam, or requested via the Dutch public library network (de Bibliotheek / onlinebibliotheek.nl).
What to expect
Lyrical, raw, and deeply melancholic. The pace is introspective and associative rather than plot-driven, utilizing evocative second-person passages and shifting timeframes that require thoughtful attention. Content notes: contains depictions of homophobia, severe bullying, familial poverty, and alcoholism.
Want to change something?