The Lullaby of Polish Girls: Small Tampa Bookstore Reading by Author
Walking up the steps of the quaint and cozy yellow bookstore, Inkwood Books has a homelike feel. Tuesday (August 13) evening brought a respectable crowd including some local celebrities. The occasion? Dagmara Dominczyk appeared at the Tampa treasure to read and sign her debut novel The Lullaby of Polish Girls. The tale takes its reader on a journey from Brooklyn, New York to Kielce, Poland and back following three young girls becoming women through friendship, love, and tragedy.
Dominczyk moved from Kielce, Poland to New York City with her parents at the ripe age of seven. Because of her father’s involvement with the Solidarity movement, he was imprisoned for a year and later deported. Dominczyk was granted her wish to return to Poland as a pre-teen for three days with her uncle. After the visit, Dominczyk vowed to return each summer to stay with her Grandmother and see the friends that she met during her first short trip. She made good on the promise until she was in her early twenties. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon University, she became an actress with credits such as Rock Star, The Count of Monte Cristo, and countless TV roles.
Her most important role is as a wife and mother. She has two young sons with her husband, Patrick Wilson. In talking to her audience, she explained that raising her children while her husband works has given her the freedom to work on her writing, which she began doing at ten years old. Dominczyk expressed her love of books while explaining that her childhood in Brooklyn included spending a lot of time in the library across the street from the housing projects she lived in. It is there that she began to take command of the English language. It was there that her passion for written work manifested.
Although Lullaby is a work of fiction, the character, Anna Baran, is closely tied to Dominczyk’s life. Anna too immigrated to Brooklyn at the age of seven due to her father’s involvement with the Solidarity movement and later deportation. The story follows Anna’s friendship with two other female characters, Kamila and Justyna. Without giving too much of the story away, I will say that the novel is beautifully written with a bit of the Polish language splashed in throughout.
Although the story jumps around from past to present, New York to Poland to Michigan, ending in Poland; it’s fairly easy to follow. The use of Polish words is well explained throughout the novel, so no need for Rosetta Stone. After hearing Dominczyk (dramatically) read a few passages, the passion in her voice stayed with me throughout my reading of book.
From the beautifully crafted sentences to the use of language (warning: it’s riddled with swear words, but that’s actually right up my alley), I enjoyed it. The three girls, very different from one another, share a special bond. They all have their issues; they’re real. At times, their individual lives leave them separated from each other, sometimes for years as often happens to friendships. In the end, they are brought back together and it is as if nothing has changed although everything has changed.
After the reading, Dominczyk put her red pen to work signing copies for her fans and taking photos. Inkwood is a great local business to support. They host readings and signings with authors often. Their upcoming events are posted on their website. In the meantime, go there and buy this book and others. I bought three!