Good horror fiction should have an appropriately dark atmosphere that keeps you in suspense all the time and pushes the story forward. In Jakub Bielawski's book, we get just such an atmosphere.
Two teenagers
It is the beginning of the 21st century. Inhabitants of a small town in the Owl Mountains exist more than take advantage of the opportunities offered by the new millennium. There are places in it from which they think it’s better to stay away. It was in such circumstances of nature that our two heroines had to live, seemingly different in almost every aspect. Kaja is a loner type, dresses in black, can be aggressive and vulgar. Her true face and deeply hidden emotions can only be observed when she draws. She lives with her grandmother, who basically gives her a free hand, because she says that young people have to go crazy and have no intention of getting in the way of the girl. The second heroine, Nina, has her own group of friends and wealthy parents. It seems that nothing more is needed for her to be happy. However, these are only appearances. One day the girls’ paths cross and the protagonists find a thread of understanding with each other. They will not, however, lead a peaceful life due to more and more frequent incidents and the appearance of moths with the symbol of a skull on the wings.
The atmosphere of a small town
From the very beginning of the novel, the author consistently shows us the gloomy and depressing reality of life in a small town. The book begins with a description of people traveling in old, barely running buses. Even in such a seemingly insignificant scene, it was possible to present this atmosphere. Descriptions of nature also give this province of Lower Silesia an aura of mystery. Jakub Bielawski thickens the climate very systematically and makes the reader feel more and more discomfort, which eventually turns into fear. We can find here several nostalgia themes for readers raised in the 90s, i.e. the need to use calling cards or a once popular Polish instant messenger.
Definitely not all readers will like the language in the novel, especially the statements of Nina and Kai. They use very primitive and vulgar phrases. I consider this procedure a huge advantage of the novel, because it gives it authenticity. We feel that we are dealing with a true image of the youth. The most important theme in the book is the relationship between the two girls, who, on their own, will have to face both the evil lurking in the Owl Mountains, and the adult lives that demand both protagonists. The author has very neatly interweaved the story of homosexuality, which is rare in Polish literature. His presence in the novel encourages discussions not only on this subject. Jakub Bielawski draws attention to serious problems related to the maturation of young people, that nobody really wants to talk about. Moving on topics that are still taboo for many is very necessary in my opinion and perhaps it will encourage someone to be more open.
Summary
The Moth turned out to be one of the best horror novels I have read. The dense atmosphere of a gloomy and small town keeps you in suspense and rewards the patient reader. Authentic heroes and the relationships between them cause an even greater desire to plunge into this mysterious and terrible place. At the moment, this book is my greatest discovery this year and I can’t wait to see what Jakub Bielawski will create next time. The moth is one of the books showing that Polish horror literature is doing very well and is able to compete with the greatest tiers of the genre.
