Eine Prima Saison. Ein Roman über Die Wichtigsten Dinge Des Lebens

Danny Smiřický

by Josef Škvorecký, Marcela Euler (translator)

In the six tales of The Swell Season, Skvorecky traces the libidinous ardours of young Danny, a teenager growing up in the forties. These wonderful tales, full of wry humour and unexpected plot twists, seem to add up to a fond portrait of an innocent era - this is, however, wartime Czechoslovakia, and the fragile world of the adolescent falls under the shadow of the Nazi presence.

Genres: Czech Literature, Fiction, Classics, School, Mine, Short Stories, Literature

284 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Josef Škvorecký, CM was a Czech writer and publisher who spent much of his life in Canada. Škvorecký was awarded the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 1980. He and his wife were long-time supporters of Czech dissident writers before the fall of communism in that country. By turns humorous, wise, eloquent and humanistic, Škvorecký's fiction deals with several themes: the horrors of totalitarianism and repression, the expatriate experience, and the miracle of jazz.

Reviews

[Czarny Pies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember Talleyrand's famous Maxim: "He who did not live in the years before the Revolution cannot understand what the sweetness of living is. " Three generations of Central Europeans never knew the sweetness of life in their youth. In this remarkable book, Skvorecky tells us just how wonderful was the world that was lost.

The Swell Season is comprised of six joyous stories about Skvorecky and his friends during their last year in secondary school in a small city in Czechoslovakia. The characters in the novel are witty, intelligent and attractive. They flirt, have summer romances and remain loyal friends through it all.

On the last page, the German army arrives in town. The author does not tell us but we realize that the best years that any of these delightful young people will ever know have come to an end. Their country will be dissolved. The Jews among them will be liquidated and many others will die. The Russians will create a new, grim and frightening Czechoslovakia six years later but there will never be another swell season.

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

After seeing The Swell Season in concert and discovering that they had named their band after this book, I simply had to read it. It was an engaging little book, not life-changing by any means, but definitely charming. The protagonist, Danny, is adorable in his teenage tomfoolery and, somehow, inexplicably, despite his failure with each of the twenty-plus girls he presents as the loves of his life, manages to charm, simply through his unwillingness to give up. Danny might have his moments of insincerity, but in the end you see through the adolescent tomfoolery into the charming innocence behind him, which is presented in stark contrast to the looming events of World War II, and somehow the idea of the “swell season” begins to make sense.

[Greisa Rozīte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pirmā iepazīšanās ar šo grāmatu bija uz vecās labās klases sienas, kur tā bija plakāts. Ja godīgi, nezināju, ka tā ir grāmata līdz šim gadam - pazinu tikai kā ģeniālu grafiskā dizaina piemēru.

Ilustrācija uz grāmatas vāka, to izlasot, kļuva tikai ģeniālāka. Tiešām, tā ir teksts par dzīves vissvarīgākajām lietām - meitenēm un mūziku. Šīs abas uz vāka apspēlēja Zigmunds Lapsa, attainojot tenorsaksafonu, ar kuru brīvajā laikā ir aizņemts Danijs, un meitenes kājas, ar kurām viņš gribētu būt aizņemts.

Ak, viņš tiešām bija indivīds…

Neteiktu, ka grāmata veicināja pārdomas vai ko nozīmīgāku, bet reizēm tā arī vajag. Varbūt uzmetās neliela refleksija par pusaudžu vecuma naivumu, tieksmi uz sajūtu pārspīlējumu, maksimālismu, bet tas tikai, ja meklēju ko dižāku, un, tiešām, reizēm nevajag.

Pavasara romāniņš.

“Kas tas tur man sēž uz delnas?”
“Dvēsele.”
“Kas par dvēseli?”
“Mana. Taču pieder tev. Vari paturēt.”
“Lai notiek, bet kur lai es to lieku?”

[Laine Elizabete · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I wasn't smitten with this book, but I definitely grew to love it. On the surface, this might seem like a story about yet another skirt-chaser although in reality it reveals Danny's inner loneliness and his hunger for love. The writing style is quite interesting as well, because the author excellently showcases Danny's way of thinking by describing the surroundings through Danny's eyes. It's a playful book about the youth in the shadow of WWII, but still contains a meaningful search for what love is and how the definition differs from one person to another.

[Pavel Sibyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neoddolateľne zábavná kniha. Bral som ju na dovolenku s mierne skeptickým očakávaním, lebo jej hodnotenia múdrymi sčítanými ľuďmi boli rôznorodé. Ale keď mi po prvých stranách došlo, že je to vlastne počiatok veľkého príbehu Dannyho Smiřického, ktorý literárne vrcholí v skvelom románe Zbabělci, vedel som, že to bude fajn. A aj bolo. Dnešné mladšie čitateľstvo by Prima sezóna asi na viacerých stranách urážala, niečomu v knihe by možno ani nerozumeli, ale stále si myslím, že je to vtipná reflexia života tínedžerov milujúcich džez v časoch protektorátu Čechy a Morava. Práve tých niekoľko momentov, kde Škvorecký cez anekdotické príbehy popisuje, čo všetko obnášal život za nacistickej totality, posúva kniha niekam vyššie. Na záver som chcel dodať, že nerozumiem, ako je možné, že podľa knihy ešte nebol natočený film. Ale potom som zistil, že Kachyňa z nej spravil rovno seriál, v ktorom hrá Aňa Geislerová a hudbu zložil Hapka.

[Iwik Pásková · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poutavý a čtivý román, je plný humoru. To je přesně ono, co tuto knihu charakterizuje asi nejvíce.

Více v recenzi: http://www.iwikovaknihovna.cz/2019/04...

[Hanastrelska · Rating 4 out of 5]

libi se mi kostelec, popisy poprsi uz tolik ne

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A totally lovely read... The premise is, more or less, that Danny Skvorecky falls madly in love with/tries pretty ineffectually to seduce every girl in his hometown, and it all transpires in the shadow of Nazi presence in wartime Czechoslovakia. The book is actually more a collection of five of six stories about his (mis)adventures. Danny's a teen and he's fun-loving and bawdy and adores American jazz music. Reminds me of Milan Kundera (in that The Swell Season is fairly short, erotic, and light-hearted while somehow dealing with the horrors of totalitarianism & repression almost without you noticing) and would likely be a good read for anyone who is into Kundera's stuff. Also, they apparently were friends?! Literary power friends...

[Edijs Kirejevs · Rating 4 out of 5]

-Kas tur sēž man uz delnas?
-Dvēsele
-Kas par dvēseli?
-Mana. Taču tā pieder tev. Vari paturēt.
-Lai notiek. Bet kur lai es to lieku?

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smiržicka apsēstība ar meitenēm draudēja pārvērsties maniakālās tieksmēs, tomēr humoristiskais un naivais attaisnojumu saraksts pret Dievu, to Kungu lika man smaidīt arī sabiedriskajā transportā.
Apbrīnojami, ka jaunieši par spīti karam un viegli nojaušamām briesmām turpina dzīvot, muzicēt un vēl domāt par sava vecuma aktuālām un svarīgākajām lietām)

[Stepan Kalis · Rating 3 out of 5]

If only every story within this book contained enough twists and turns such as the delightful story of the Austrian visitors to Kostelec. I found myself genuinely hooked and excited to see where it would lead. However, it came to an abrupt end, as did all the other stories. Those carried the additional disadvantage of only beginning to feel interesting as they were coming to an end.

The Swell Season is an quick and amusing read, yet at the end of the day it feels as unfulfillling as any of Danny's fruitless pursuits.

[Klára · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Natala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Achjo, dala bych čtyři hvězdičky, kdyby na každý druhý stránce detailně nepopisoval poprsí

[korsuneva · Rating 4 out of 5]

“To, kas man prātā, skaļi nesaku,
es saku to, ko atcerēties vērts.”

Grāmata par jaunību, meitenēm un pēceksamēniem - tiešām dzīves svarīgākās lietas. Līdz pašam galam sajūtu tādu ļoti “Jelgavai 94” līdzīgu atmosfēru (re alternatīvais nosaukums - “Kosteleca 41”), taču brīžiem autors atgādina, ka šī grāmatā aprakstītie notikumi risinās Čēhijā Otrā pasaules kara laikā. Jaunieši prot izklaidēties pat tik briesmīgos laikos.

Danijs ir ļoti interesants tēls. No sieviešu puses, diezgan nepatīkams. Grāmatu lasot, aizmirsu, kas patiešām ir mīlestība. Viņš tur veselam baram tajā atzīstas. Bet Danija centieni iegūt gultā kādu “skuķi” ir aprakstīti tik humoristiskā veidā, ka es skaļi smējos trijos naktī, un tagad mana ģimene domā, ka esmu sajukusi prātā.

Bet nu ir šai grāmatai viena problēma. Josef Škvorecky grāmatas izdošanas laikā bija 50 gadu vecs vīrietis, bet nepilngadīgas meitenes apraksta tādā valodā, ka gribas vemt. Es saprotu, ka šie apraksti ir it kā no Danija acīm, bet dārgais Josef par “uzkalniņiem” un “ceļgaliem” varēja pieminēt retāk nekā piecreiz vienā lappusē (par ceļgaliem tas vispār ir cits stāsts, acīmredzot, Škvorecky kungam ir knee kink).

Man ar Dāniju vispār nav nekādu līdzīgu īpašību. Vienīgais tēls, kuram es varu just līdzi, ir Alena. Tas ir jaunākās māsas liktenis - vienmēr būtu nepietiekami vajadzīga.

Grāmatai ir savs šarms. Pretstātījums ar to laiku dievbījīgumu un seksuāli neapmierinātiem pusaudžiem ir novērojams arī tagad. Cik dīvaini tas neizklausītos, Dānija apsēstība ar meitenēm man atgādināja “Submission” galvenā varoņa seks draivu.

Ļoti ilgi nevarēju atcerēties, kur es šo grāmatas dizainu biju redzējusi. Likās ļoti pazīstams. Beigu beigās saprotu, ka šīs grāmatas plakāts karājās vai nu sk. Zirnītes vai franču valodas kabinetā.

Man šī grāmata patika, iesaku!

[karin kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

- - Čteno z povinnosti do školy - -

Nah. Příběh nic moc. Jen 5 povídek o tom, jak se Danny, místní Kostelecký sukničkář, snaží dostat holky do postele, ale pokaždé mu to něco zkazí... (Pak mi ho začalo být i celkem líto.)
Velká výhoda je, že se to hodně rychle čte. Ale ta nespisovnost někdy to čtení zase zpomalí. (Někdy jsem si ty nespisovné výrazy musela říct nahlas, jak to zní.) Jinak mi to celkově nic nedalo. Řekla bych, že je to spíš čtení pro puberťáky. (A měla jsem i pocit, že je to z pera puberťáka.)

Druhá povídka, která by měla být trochu mysteriózní, ale řekla bych, že moderního čtenáře začne za chvíli nudit a otravovat, protože mu dojde, o co tam jde.
Třetí povídka je taková, že jsem se o postavy začala i trochu bát (kvůli době a následkům za chování), co by se jim mohlo stát, ale samozřejmě to dopadlo dobře.

[Joce Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favourite books. It's such a lot of fun, while being simultaneously tinged by melancholy and loneliness. I laughed out loud reading this.

I highly recommend it as a fun, summery read - but also as one to hunker down with on a wintry afternoon. To be savoured.

[Adéla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tahle kniha! Danny je úplný blbec, dějou se mu pořád samé nepříjemnosti, ale většinou si za ně může sám.
On chce každou holku z Kostelce, ale holky si to všechno řeknou. Možná, že by potřeboval nejen reparát z matiky, ale také ze sociálních vazeb na malém městě.

[Child of Winter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Vůbec, ale vůbec se mi to nelíbilo. Styl psaní autora mi nesedl, pointa příběhů mi asi ani nedošla, jediné o čem to bylo je to, že hlavní postavou je děvkař. Vadilo, jak všechny ženské postavy byly vykreslovány jako hloupé a asi s autorem nesdílíme smysl pro humor.

[Madara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tā brīnišķīgā vieglprātība, tā pilnīgi citādākā dzīves jēga (mīlēt un mēģināt pavedināt skuķus), tā vieglā valoda un džezs un blūzs...
Pirms sagrūst viss.

[kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

My love life is hella rocky but at least ive never dropped my crush off a cliff

Those last few pages were fantastic!!! +10 for jazz, -10000 for everything else

[aritchee mintea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ačkoli jsem ze začátku byla hodně odrazena dannyho charakterem, nakonec si mě získal. Možná to bylo jen lítostí nad jeho smůlou v lásce, nebo nakonec nebyl tak špatný.
Ze začátku jsem si musela zvykat na autorův styl psaní, ale po pár stránkách už se mi četlo hezky.
Asi bych si to přečetla znova, až mi bude těžko.

[Kārlis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good required reading book. There were many heartfelt, relatable, and humorous moments, and you couldn't not feel anything for the main guy, Danny. Loved the laughs, loved the romance and loved the cries.

[Book is always the answer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moc příjemné povídky a pokud bych tuhle sbírku měla v maturitním kánonu, chtěla bych z ní maturovat :)

[Bety · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nebyla to nejhorší povinná četba, ale občas to bylo fakt 💀💀💀💀

[Jana Chlebková · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knížka mě bavila, ale nechápu, proč je jejím jediným smyslem to, že hlavní postava je sukničkář.

[Agris Fakingsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

..viena sasodīti laba, meiteņu un smaida pilna, grāmata. atgādina par to, ka gribot visu, var nedabūt neko :)

[Barak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a tough one.

On the one hand there is this pathetic protagonist whose only excuse for being a single-minded stereotypical male skirt-chaser is the fact that he is an adolescent still. On the other hand, the writing itself is quite good, even in translation (I assume the original in Czech is even better).

So despite finding after a while the hero's trials and travesties to be tiring in the extreme, and his incessant schemes of trying to get laid somewhat uninteresting, I think the book as a whole is not too bad.

But perhaps I am biased due to the high marks it got here, or the fact that the author was an interesting person who won awards, or even because it was gifted to me by a Czech friend which the book was dedicated to by the author himself (curiously enough an English version of it).

[Jitka Prokop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myslela jsem si, že to bude knížka, ke které se budu vracet, pro zlepšení nálady. Místy jsem 'prskala' smíchy, i přes ten neblahý kontext, leccos jim přece prošlo. Až ten konec, ten mě zanechal v slzách.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young man's own private war to conquor girlfriends amidst a larger war in Europe - a good insight into the life and times in Eastern Europe and what it meant to be young then at the time of WWII

[Digna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lieliska! Dzīva, sulīga valoda un vēl tās muzikālās improvizācijas!