Augusts

Reviews

"A story about gaslighting and emotional manipulation. We meet the main character Daniela, who has had some bad experiences of the month of August. There are family conflicts and psychological and physical violence, which she tries to cope with over time. We watch as she grows older and works through the trauma. The book also shows us that even though we sometimes try very hard to avoid this kind of thing, we may well not succeed."

Radio Wave Best Books of the Year tip by presenter Honza Dlouhý:

 

"All the more painful as it is hidden beneath the surface, psychological violence is the main theme of Jakub Stanjura’s first novel, Augusts, where we follow the main character Daniela, who together with her sister Jana, has been subjected to physical and psychological abuse at the hands of their mother since childhood. A confrontation with her family and sister does not resolve the issue. They deny what Daniela says has been happening in their home during August. Daniela meets Štěpán and believes in a brighter new beginning.

But how wrong can she be? (...)

The book is very readable, though the atmosphere is heavy to the point of being chilling, and written with great sensitivity and vigour. How much can childhood traumas mark us and determine our future? Lonely sad Augusts. When will we finally stop being afraid of loneliness?"

Mária Karl'aková, Full Moon

 

"Jakub Stanjura’s debut novel is distinctive on two counts. Not only does he sensitively manage to broach the subject of gaslighting, a creeping form of manipulation that can cause long-term depression in its victims and which psychologists classify among the most common forms of domestic abuse. Moreover, over almost two hundred pages, he skilfully builds up the tension, punctuating it with punchy, sometimes even poetic language."

Marek Torčík, Host

 

"Within this small space, the author skilfully elaborates on a number of serious topics, such as domestic violence, manipulation and the transmission of family trauma. (…)

Apart from the domestic violence itself, a significant motif in this story is the reaction to it, as with the exception of Daniela, all the other family members deny the brutality, preferring to pretend that it does not exist, or outright lying about it. (...)

Stanjura successfully shows that even though you might be quite capable of naming evil and identifying toxic behaviour patterns in others, that does not mean you can avoid such people in future. (…)

The strongest aspect of his text is the description of the protagonist’s gradual mental decline. The author perfectly captures the gradual, creeping restriction of freedom, the paralysing inability to distinguish truth from lies or fiction, and the power of manipulation. However, this manipulation is presented so confidently by all the characters except Daniela that the whole novel can also be read as the testimony of a deranged, delusional person who unjustifiably accuses those around her of all sorts of cruelties. (…)

However, this self-confident debut novel by Jakub Stanjura suggests that indifference and inability to act bring nothing of benefit. To put it simply, he argues that evil only breeds more evil."

Barbora Fremlová, Tvar

 

"Augusts, Jakub Stanjura’s debut novel, has been making the rounds on social media in recent weeks as a minor literary sensation. And no wonder – it is worth paying attention to not only because of the theme of gaslighting, but also because of the author’s mature style.

However, psychological manipulation, through which the manipulator tries to lead his victim to question his memories and common sense, is not the only thing Stanjura explores in the book. In the space of a few Augusts in Daniela’s life, he reveals how trauma inflicted by parents in childhood takes its toll on an adult, as well as how its untreated, open wounds can affect other relationships. He leaves a lot of things unsaid and plays with the reader so that, like Daniela, they end up having no idea what really happened and what didn’t."

Barbora Voříšková, Vogue

 

"In his powerful literary debut, copywriter Jakub Stanjura tackles the topic of gaslighting – when a loved one questions your experience and blames you for everything that happens to you. It is a very sophisticated form of manipulation that can drive the victim to the end of his tether. Thanks to his polished style, Stanjura’s story can be read in one sitting."

Veronika Scattergood, Harper’s Bazaar

 

"Jakub Stanjura’s literary debut Augusts reveals in quite an exceptional manner just how the relationship between a manipulator and his victim works. In an original way, Stanjura opens up the serious topic of gaslighting – a special form of manipulation that makes the victim doubt his own rationality, memory and overall perception of reality."

Barbora Maršíček, Host

 

"Daniela’s insecurity gets worse and worse, and the clearly constructed situations make it quite clear why this is so, as more and more levels of cruelty, humiliation and disorientation that this woman faces gradually come into focus. The narrative moves towards a clear goal, dragging the protagonist mercilessly behind it. It also shows the vicious circle she is involved in – just as she extricates herself from one drastic situation, she becomes involved in another. Augusts can thus serve well as a warning against this kind of behaviour, as a kind of summary of it and a pointer towards how this kind of manipulation can work."

Daniel Mukner, ČT Art

 

"The strong emotional experiences and Daniela’s loss of solid ground beneath her feet in particular are highlighted by the author by changing the rhythm and/or form of the text. For example, when he moves from the smooth flow of the narrative to almost poetic passages.

The text is also interspersed with excerpts from the book Daniela has been writing all along. These partly explain how some of Daniela’s reactions and behaviours come about. The text’s readability is particularly enhanced by the emphasis on the depiction of the plot – this is not dry and descriptive, with actions, plots and dialogue taking precedence over extensive analysis of emotions. Moreover, the time gaps between chapters allow for gaps in the plot. The reader doesn’t need the banal froth of everyday life; moreover, internal transformation of this kind in a relationship does not happen overnight. Hence over the course of seven years, Daniela grows both older and weaker. (….)

Both books highlight strong stories about women on a reader-friendly level and in readable language. Though at different stages in their lives, both Marie and Daniela deal with manipulation by the outside world that is subtle and oppressive.

And although the themes are rather challenging, both books are engrossing in their own way, as they also raise the question of boundaries – it may sound paradoxical in a strongly individualistic world, but both heroines (who certainly seem very real) are restricted by those around them from making their own free choices.

And as we read their stories, we may also become more aware of the need for solidarity. We need to learn this so that we can prevent similar stories from happening in the real world. Or at least talk about them openly."

Barbora Schneiderová, Deník N