This read was simply heart-wrenchingly brilliant. Think CMBYN, but set in communist Poland during the early 1980s. The protagonist, Ludwik, and his development of 'self' in a surveillanced society in which he seeks 'freedom', is loveable. The writing is sublime and I found myself whizzing through this page just to know what happens next. The final pages did, indeed, have me in tears. Beautiful book that I would like more people to pay attention to. Chef's kiss!