Dwie powieści ruchu

Mateusz Górniak’s latest book is a duology of intertwined mini-novels, both focusing on the theme of motion. In the first – titled Chata, taka z drewna [A Cottage of the Wooden Kind] – we follow our unnamed Hero on his journey through adolescence and early adulthood. This narrative sprint through life allows the author to swiftly (though not superficially!) examine issues related to work, mental health, romantic relationships and the need to escape everyday life. The second mini-novel – Nomadka [The Nomad Girl] – represents the reverse of A Cottage of the Wooden Kind. This unhurried tale of a day in the life of the protagonist, who has not a penny to her name, gives off the warmth of the relationships it portrays, full of reciprocity and help, but also hidden trauma.

Górniak is the most distinct young voice of contemporary Polish prose. He is unafraid to write about the present day, simultaneously avoiding the temporary topics doomed to ephemerality. Drawing on the road novel tradition, the book Two Motion Novels explores by turns (both content- and composition-wise) acceleration and standstill. One can see the significance of cinematic influences in this work, present not only in direct references, but also through the inventive positioning of the narrative lens. This concern with multiple media does not result in pretentiousness, however. Górniak brilliantly captures the dynamic nature of speech and remains most interested in the everyday. As such, he avoids hermeticism, while his prose can be appreciated by critics and readers alike.