The Loves of Faustyna

by Nina Fitzpatrick

When a cloud in the shape of human buttocks appears over Krakow in 1967 and lingers over the city, residents believe the world is coming to an end. For demure, bookish psychology student Faustyna, this is unthinkable - because if the world ends she will die a virgin. Within hours she is off to the Europa Hotel to bare her own shapely bottom during a tryst she arranges with a Russian dignitary, beginning a riotous sexual odyssey that takes her up and down the social scale and across the political spectrum of Communist Poland in its dying decade. In the years that follow, Faustyna finds herself playing many roles - housewife, lover, mother, and psychologist - in a country that has gone mad. Baffled and perplexed, she finds that the only way to survive is to throw herself into the great collective insanity. But through the triumphs and tribulations she is always, hilariously, Faustyna.

Genres: Fiction, Sexuality, Irish Literature

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I should have been a tubercular teenager in a gauze dress with nothing better to do than weep, make love and play Vivaldi.

[Rdumitriu · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book. funny thought provoking . it's like a beautiful but unique painting

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fitzpatrick's writing is SO good here! A lot of great one-liners, probably even more than I know since my hold of Polish politics is pretty loose.

It's incredibly interesting to me that this reads like something that had been translated (it hasn't) - it has that detached quality of translations of the time (ie: 1980s and 1990s) that aimed to stay faithful to words, not feelings. Now, that's not to say we don't understand Faustyna's feelings - just that there's a weird disconnect that keeps her at arm's length. She has a guardedness and coldness that increases that space so it's clear it's her personality (not a translation.)

I thought this was pretty enlightening and it did bring back memories of the Cold War era and Poland's struggles but at the same time it felt fairly "current event"-ish. Perhaps it's that aspect that made this book all the more poignant during my reading.

[Eszter · Rating 3 out of 5]

before reading this book, i hadn't known enough about poland in the 1960's through the 1990's to be able to place the references to names and dates and events and locations with which this politically-minded novel is rife. also, i was not sure that i wanted to read yet another book that turned out to follow across several decades the life of a depressed character who becomes a bad parent. there is something in the rhythm of fitzpatrick's writing, however, that is irresistible. what's more, faustyna herself has a way of crawling into one's heart, even though she is fairly irritating most of the time.

[Laura Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining, easy read with a touch of humour with a twist of political intrigue. I have to admit that I was a expecting a bit more of a romance novel based on the back cover blurb, however Faustayna's loves were not merely for men.

I purchased this book ~10 years ago from a bargain bin and hadn't read it before it was condemned to a storage container in my parent's old buildings as I moved to university, work, overseas. Re-discovered it whilst searching for childhood books to pass on to my little sister :) I deem it a happy rediscovery.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Faustyna's life is forever changed by the appearance of an Airborne Buttocks Event. That's all I remember; it's been years since I read this.