Reviews: "Loneliness in the network." The novel of the popular Polish writer Janusz Leon Vishnevsky

Today, communication on the Internet is an integral part of the life of any person. However, in 2001 it was still exotic for many. In that year, the famous Polish novelist Janusz Wisniewski published his work on virtual communication between a man and a woman - "Loneliness in the network."

A little about the author

Unlike many other writers, this author for the first 40 years of his life was engaged in exact sciences and very successfully. He is a master of physics and economics, a doctor of informatics and a professor of chemistry.

His career as a writer Janusz Wisniewski began with a book on chemistry in English: Recent Advances in Chemical Information II. After 5 years he published another scientific work - The Beilstein System: Strategies for Effective Searching.

In fiction, his debut was the novel "Loneliness in the network." The book glorified Vishnevsky almost all over the CIS.

Having become famous for his artistic novel, his creator switched to writing. Beginning in 2001, he annually publishes novels and stories. For this author there are no prohibited topics or plots. His heroes are men and women, faced with various burdens of life and seeking their way to happiness.

This is the disappointed in love Martha Goebbels; And a woman before the onset of menopause; And the girl Matilda, who invented herself as a fictional friend, to reconcile herself with her illness; and many others.

As for his personal life, the writer has two daughters: John and Ada. With their mother, Vishnevsky has been divorced for many years. At the moment he lives in Germany, but often comes to his homeland in Poland.

In his native town of Torun, the writer has his own star on the local Alley of Glory.

The history of writing and the structure of the novel

The idea to write a similar book arose in Vishnevsky in the late eighties, but then he did not have enough time and inspiration.

In the late nineties, the writer divorced his wife and this event greatly influenced him. To cope with the experiences, the author undertook to write the work "Loneliness in the network." The novel helped the writer to throw out the accumulated emotions and restore composure, and besides, he opened to the whole world the amazing talent of Vishnevsky.

Two years after its publication in Poland, the book was translated into Russian, Czech, Croatian and Vietnamese, and in 2006 - into Ukrainian and Lithuanian.

Structurally consists of 10 chapters and epilogue "Loneliness in the network." The author in each chapter tells in turn about the events taking place in the life of each of the two main characters, in addition, the content of their letters to each other is given. Typically, the writer calls acting characters: He and She. Although in the course of the story it turns out that His name is Yakub, and the heroine remains anonymous.

The novel "Loneliness in the network": content

It all begins with the fact that the main character mixed up the train schedule and, staying at the train station in Berlin, accidentally saved the life of a stranger who wanted to rush under the train. The next day he receives a letter by e-mail from an unknown person. In it, the woman tells in the most intimate details about her unhappy love for someone LJ, with whom she had an affair several years ago. It turns out that the stranger chose on the Internet at random, a person with similar initials (JL) and decided to speak out to him, not being afraid that he could somehow harm her. This frankness and pain struck Yakub himself, and he entered into correspondence.

At first they communicated on general topics, but later their relationship became more and more intimate, and they began to reveal each other their secret secrets, and also send gifts by mail. The time has passed, and the stranger with Yakub realized that they just need to meet. Because of the plane crash, to which, fortunately, the protagonist was late, his lover found him dead. These experiences and the "resurrection" of Yakub further brought the man and the woman closer together, and they spent a magical night together.

After some time, the heroine discovered that she was expecting a child, but she did not know from whom. After all, the father of her child can be a husband, and Yakub. When it turned out that this is her husband's son, the woman broke with her pen-friend, but very hard she survived the break. When she had a baby, she, contrary to the wishes of her husband and relatives, called him Yakub.

The very same hero for several months wrote a beloved letter, but received no answer. Realizing that she will not return, the man visited the graves of his relatives and went to the train station in Berlin to commit suicide.

"Loneliness in the network. Triptych »(S @ motnosc w sieci., Tryptyk)

Most readers found such a sad ending romantic and quite natural. Vishnevsky himself admitted in several interviews that he originally planned to finish the novel in a different way. Therefore, in 2 years he published S @ motnosc w sieci. Tryptyk.

This edition contained additional chapters, authors' comments and feedback. "Loneliness in the network. Triptych "is also supplemented with a post-epilogue, in which the author presents the novel in a different way.

So, Yakub, having ordered a taxi to the station, meets in a taxi the same man who accidentally saved himself from suicide a year ago. The rescued tells how his fate changed: he found his beloved woman and is now happy. After listening to him, Yakub refuses his plan and returns to the hotel.

It is worth noting that this ending gives completeness to the novel "Loneliness in the network." The end, in which the hero is rescued by a stranger whom he once helped - looks like a karma that rewards Yakub for his noble deed and inspires hope for happiness in the future.

Screening

On the wave of popularity in 2006, based on the novel, the film of the same name was shot.
The creators of the picture corrected the plot and gave the lovers a happy ending, in which the heroine herself came to Yakub. By the way, in the movie adaptation she got the name Eva.

main characters

The main character in the work is a middle-aged Pole programmer named Yakub. He is intelligent, well educated and earns well. But, despite all the above advantages, this man is terribly lonely. Most of the people he loved died. Resigned to his loneliness, Yakub unexpectedly encounters in the network a kindred spirit. The stranger fascinates him, but he is terribly afraid to give away his feelings and lose it. For this reason, writing in a rush a lot of superfluous, as it seems to him, the programmer hacks the server so that his message does not reach the lover.

Despite the love for a pen-friend, her motives are not fully understood by the main character of the book "Loneliness in the Network". The plot of the novel makes it clear that Yakub is very self-centered, and the woman plays for him the role of an understanding listener, able to delve into his sufferings. For this reason, the hero simply does not understand the motives that prompted her to part with him. For months he tries to return her, and then decides to commit suicide. Many readers call Yakub too weak-willed because of his decision to die, and not start actively fighting for his beloved woman. Others call such behavior noble.

Even more controversy is the nameless heroine of the book "Loneliness in the network." Description of the nature and appearance of this woman is given literally at the very beginning of the book. She is no longer young, but still good-looking and like many men. The heroine is pretty smart and observant, but does not seek a career, although she could. At the very beginning of the novel, after attending the presentation, she notes that the new product, which plans to bring to the Polish market - will not be successful. However, the chief of the heroine is under the influence of the charm of a young Belgian who makes a presentation, and signs a contract unprofitable for shareholders.

The nameless woman has a husband, whom she loves in her own way, but over the years their violent passion has faded. In addition, the heroine dreams of becoming a mother, but her husband is against. Feeling that in a few years may become unable to give birth at all, a woman deceives her husband and stops drinking contraceptives. Soon she becomes pregnant, but a miscarriage occurs. The saddest thing is that the husband does not even notice this, and the unfortunate one has to go through his grief alone.

Writing to the first stranger on the Internet, the heroine dreams to speak out to him, but gradually becomes a listener of someone else's pain. Over time, a woman falls passionately in love with Yakub, but does not dare to admit it even to herself. Once in the position, she at heart desires that the child is from the loved one, but when fate makes a choice for her, she accepts and transfers all her feelings to her son.

Another heroine who read the novel seems to be a boredom seeker of adventures. So, on the one hand, she complains about the indifference of her husband, but when he, in a fit of passion, engaged in sex with her, a woman complains to a friend that her husband raped her. Because of boredom, she falls in love with the unfortunate Yakub, but later throws, like a weary toy. Guided by these views, some readers leave the main heroine is not flattering reviews.

"Loneliness in the network" contains references to other characters, which can be conditionally attributed to the main characters. First and foremost, this is Yakub's favorite woman - Natalia. She was born deaf and dumb, but thanks to the care of her parents she grew up to be a gentle and intelligent woman. With the protagonist they fell in love with each other at first sight and soon became the happiest in the world. However, later the girl died under the wheels of an excavator, and Yakub almost went insane because of this.

Despite her death, Natalia is always with her beloved, her image takes his mind and heart. At the same time the hero is not ready to tell anyone about what happened. Only a pen-friend, he risks telling about his deceased beloved. The reaction of a woman to this story serves as a kind of sign that she is his soul mate.

An important role in the plot is played by the husband of the unnamed heroine of the novel "Loneliness in the Network". The book contains not so many references to it, although it also quite strongly influences the actions of an unnamed woman. But only, unlike Natalia (which seems to inspire Yakub), the husband of the main character is more like a stone around his neck. According to the woman herself, her husband has never changed, he is caring and reliable.

At the beginning of family life, the couple had a wild passion, but over the years it faded. My husband spends most of his time working, he does not like some of her friends and does not want children, dreaming to live for themselves. He has long perceived his wife as part of the furniture, although he loves her faithfully. This hero is ambiguous: he causes contempt and pity overnight.

Minor characters

In the novel of Janusz Vishnevsky there is a huge number of episodic characters. Because of this, many critics leave in their reviews on the work "Loneliness in the network" reviews of the book as being too long.

Frankly, there is a certain amount of truth in this. After all, for example, without a story about a priest and a nun, the novel "Loneliness in the Network" would be a little lost. Briefly about the fate of these people, Yakubu was told in a psychiatric hospital where he was after Natalia's death. So Father Andrzej fell in love with a nun. At first they just corresponded, and then they began to kiss and sleep together.

When the church authorities found out about this, the lovers were separated. Experiencing the incident, the nun committed suicide. And the priest, having learned about it, cursed God and went mad.

Also, the story of Yakub's friend drug addict Jim, although this character is no less interesting in itself than Father Andrzej, plays no special role either.

But the former lover of the main character - the Polish scientist with the initials LJ - in the plot plays a rather important role, because it was because of him that the heroine wrote exactly Yakubu. A woman characterizes him as a caring man, who really knows how to listen; And also as an excellent lover, who knows how to excite not only the body, but also the soul.

Natalia's parents look respectful. So, her father, being a communist and holding a very high post, dared to admit that he was a homosexual and to leave his wife to another man. The abandoned wife did not forgive him. At the same time, she did not say a word about her father to her father, for, despite her resentment, she respected him for her honesty and courage.

In addition to the above characters, there are many more in the work "Loneliness in the network." Roman can safely be called an encyclopedia of unhappy destinies. Among the secondary heroes and a young prostitute from Romania, and a man who stole the brain of Einstein, and the best friend of the main character, hiding from her letters Yakub, so as not to torment her and many others.

The problems of the novel

As mentioned in the title, this book is devoted to the theme of human loneliness. However, the author exaggerates the colors. Some critics attribute this to his psychological state, at the time of writing the novel (Vishnevsky just survived the divorce). For some readers, it seems that the writer is persistently trying to squeeze out a tear from them, telling numerous stories with a sad ending. The problem of loneliness is presented in the novel is hyperbolized, but the indifference and cruelty of others are shown quite realistically.

According to some, the book should be called "Depression in the network," because the writer was superbly able to create exactly this atmosphere in his novel.

Among other problems raised by the writer in his work, the issue of honesty with himself and others is a red thread. The main heroine is unable to tell the truth to her husband in person, although on the net, with an unfamiliar man, is more than frank. The opposite of it is the father of Natalia, who confessed to homosexuality in those days when it was possible to get to prison for it. The fate of the priest is also indicative. At one time they did not have the heart to leave the church to be together. The final is sad - a woman ends up with herself, and Father Andrew curses God and leave the church, but it's too late.

"Loneliness in the network": reviews of the book

Immediately after the publication of this work caused a lot of conflicting reviews. Some were delighted with the depth of the experiences of the main characters, as well as the way a male writer could penetrate deeply into the subtleties of female psychology.

Others, on the contrary, left very negative reviews. "Loneliness in the network" actually divided the Polish society into two opposing camps, but no one remained indifferent - and this is a significant achievement.

Both opponents and fans of the novel are in agreement that some moments in the book are far from reality. For example, the fact that some miracle gynecologist was able to determine without any instruments the age of a six-week-old fetus with an accuracy of 4 days.

Quite doubtful, according to many believing readers, is the story of a priest and a nun. At the end of the 20th century, when the work of the work takes place, the influence of religion on society has become much smaller. Thus, it is unlikely that such passionately enamored heroes simply did not go into the world. After all, it turns out that they feared the church authorities more than God. Therefore, they could not rise against them, but against the Creator of the universe - without ceremony (suicide and renunciation).

Another drawback, noted by attentive readers, is the excessive sentimentality of the novel. However, this feature is typical for many Polish books. Take, for example, the legendary cycle "The Witcher". The second book of the series - "Sword of Destiny", is rather sad and drives into depression. A megapopular novel "The Witch Doctor", on which the film of the same name was shot, is an incredibly dull fiction, despite an interesting plot.

Quotes

Despite the conflicting reviews, "Loneliness in the network" is quoted even by those who did not like the novel. Most of all, readers remember the phrase about love and loneliness.

Also often found, taken from the book "Loneliness in the network", quotes of ironic nature.

• At the American University there may not be a library, but an automaton with Cola will be required.
• Weekend - these are two days in which there is no need to go to work.
• Men are so vain that they crave that even on the Internet with them only beautiful women get acquainted.
• Every night, fire only happens to firefighters.
• You know what? I dreamed that you hung yourself. I woke up with great joy.
• Jazz is the revenge of the Negroes by white for slavery.

Interesting facts

• Some of the characters in the novel had real prototypes. So, in Yakub it's easy to find out Janusz Wisniewski himself. With a woman who became the prototype of the main character, the writer met in the UK. And Jim is actually a drug addict from the United States.
• Those who are not very familiar with the Polish language, sometimes confuse the author's name of the novel, calling it not Janusz, but Jan Vishnevsky.
• "Loneliness in the network" contains many frank scenes described surprisingly naturalistic. In the novel Vishnevsky almost all the intimate characters are exposed to each other. Because of this, from time to time it seems that the book is excessively oversaturated by the "strawberry".
• Janusz Wisniewski "Loneliness in the network" wrote in 2001, when the fizzy drinks with caffeine (energy) started to appear in the CIS. One of the first to come to the Polish market was the Red Bull drink. In the novel, in addition to alcohol is not the specified brand, the heroine is constantly drinking this energy. Some readers suspect that the author was paid for hidden advertising. However, Vishnevsky himself did not comment on this fact.

Despite its advantages and disadvantages, today belongs to the category of cult novel "Loneliness in the network." Quotations from this work for fifteen years already have become winged phrases not only in Poland, but also abroad. Criticize or praise this novel - every reader decides for himself. In any case, this book will not leave anyone indifferent.