Today I would like to recommend you a next book of the author of, f.e."Milaczek", "Szkoła żon" / "School of Wives" or "Opowieść niewiernej" / "The story of unfaithful woman. Ladies and Gents, here it is - "Zamek z piasku" / "Sand castle"[2013] by Magdalena Witkiewicz.
Magdalena Witkiewicz is a Polish writer and graduate of, f.e. the University of Gdańsk. She wrote and published eight books for adults: Milaczek [2008; second edition 2013], Panny Roztropne [2009; second edition 2013], Opowieść niewiernej [2011], Ballada o ciotce Matyldzie [2013], Szkoła żon [2013], Zamek z piasku" / "Sand castle" [2013], "Szczęście pachnące wanilią" / "Happiness smells like vanilla"and also for children: Lilka i spółka [2013]. Her book Szkoła żon / School of Wives was published in Vietnam and the title of this book is "TRƯỜNG HỌC CHO CÁC BÀ VỢ" [2014].You can find more information about writer on her official page or on her official page on FB.
Also you can find more posts about her on my blog here.
About what this book is:
People who read any book by Ms Witkiewicz, already know that some of her books aren't easy and sweet. The same is with this one.
"Zamek z piasku" / "Sand castle" isn't the next easy, happy book with pure love, eternal friendship and happy life from beginning to end.
At first I have to ask you one thing, what is more important in the life? Love? True friendship? Family? Children? Freedom? Desire? Nice and happy life? The past, the present time, the future or maybe here and now?
The same questions we can find it on every page of this book, problems which we can find in the real life.
Is it possible to have a perfect life, even if every next day gives us the next bad things, problems, the next plans and dreams too big and important for our possibilities, even if we want it so hard? It depends from us, our souls, our expectations from the life and how strong love is.
This book, "Zamek z piasku" / "Sand castle" is the story of two people, a young marriage, who are together from school times, for who this love was the first and true, the one and only. And who could see nobody apart from themselves. This happy, ideal life was supposed to last always, to the end, but as we all know, there's always something what can destroy everything, every amazing moment.
The story is about Weronika [Veronica] and her husband Marek [Mark] and their problems with having children and just about true emotions and also about the question "what would be if...?". During the whole book we can feel the same as characters - solitude, lost in the world, misunderstanding, desire of love, approval, warmth.
Every next chapter gives us the next things to think about what is right or wrong, what's more important. And question - what would I do if I was her or him? Would I let my married stop existing? Would I want to get love from somebody else than my husband, wife?
From the first to the last page we aren't sure what will happen with Veronica, Mark and with their life. Will they have a child, will they be together after all these things between one day and another, after all these things what happened between, after all these words wrote between Veronica and Jakub [Jacob], her new friend and after a few weeks also her lover...?
I won't tell you any answer for any of these questions. I won't even give you any clue. As you know, or not, it's always better to read it, the book, than hear from the other person what will happen with the story in the end. But I can tell you that in the end everybody will be happy, even Veronica's friend Dominika [Dominica]. Yes, the end of the book will surprise you but in positive meaning of course. Ok, I can tell you one thing, the last chapter is full of happiness and hope for only good days in the future life.
Why you should read it:
Good question. I think that if you like books with life's story, this one is for you. It will good also for these who likes to feel emotions, and cry a bit in the end.
This book is about life, real life, about looking for happiness and love, about mistakes, sins, forgiving and finally about true love. Also the book is about the fact that we don't have to be perfect in everything but we should follow our dreams and that our lives aren't so great and perfect as everyone think and that's why we have to work every day to make it better and better and our love stronger and more beautiful.
Even after hard and bad times, happiness and good moments always come to us. And that we always have to believe in ourself, no matter what. Yes, these words are the best motto of this book.
The best is the fact that this book is also for women and for...men. And no matter what age you have - you can read it because the story in this book is without any borders.
Things to look out for:
For sure Magdalena Witkiewicz is one of the best Polish writer who writes so good about life and
emotions. Yes, emotions are in this books everywhere, on every page. You should check feelings and problems in the normal life, but also relations between people, no matter if they are friends or lovers, their problems and... that true love is always possible and so strong and beautiful, but we have to want it. Really want to be happy.
Also the idea with fragments of songs is really nice. Why? Because every fragment shows you a bit about what will be on next pages and also you can feel the mood of these words.
Where / when you should read this:
To be honest, "Zamek z piasku" / "Sand castle", isn't a long book because it has about 280 pages. You can read it anywhere you want, but because this book is a bit hard and emotional it's good to read in alone to have time to think about the story. I'm sure that you are able to read it in one evening or if you reading a bit more slowly, during the weekend.
Quote from the book:
These two quotes aren't only quotes. I think these words are the best way to describe the whole book and about all problems inside. I took them from the last chapter - epilogue.
Today I know one thing. Creating of relations it like building sand castle. Incessantly it is necessary to care so that the castle doesn't come down...
Love and feelings between two people are fragile. Just like a sand castle. When you turn away your head, sea wave will flood it. Only a sea water or salty tears will stay.
And small surprise - music!
As the bonus on the last pages of the book you can find the song wrote by Magdalena Witkiewicz and Michalina Malczewska, especially for this book.
Also on YouTube channel of Magdalena Witkiewicz you can find small playlist of a few songs from the book here. I put the whole playlist with all songs used inside of this book and you can find it on my YouTube channel here.
tracklist of songs:
Karolina Kozak : Razem zestarzejmy się
Seweryn Krajewski : Kołysanka dla okruszka
Wiener Philharmonic : Bolero [Maurice Ravel]
Krystyna Janda : Na zakręcie
Stare Dobre Małżeństwo : Blues Dla Małej
Edyta Bartosiewicz : Nie znamy się
Jerzy Połomski : Kodeks
Oddział Zamknięty : Obudź się
Hey : Zazdrość
Anna Jantar & Zbigniew Hołdys: Ktoś między nami
Edyta Górniak : Nie proszę o więcej
Dvorak : Symphony No. 9 "From the New World" II (part 1)
Edyta Bartosiewicz : Ostatni
Maryla Rodowicz : Do cholery
Bajm : Miłość nie umiera
Myslovitz : My
Michalina Malczewska : Zamek z piasku
*
↑ A book cover of "Zamek z piasku" / "Sand castle"
