I think I am giving up on this. It is awful.

I received Breathless as part of a Goodreads giveaway.

Lo and Lukas meet when she is six and he thirteen after a fire threatens their village. Their friendship-relationship (usually against the wishes of Lo's family) is the basis for the book, which occasionally provides fast-forwards to Lo's future travels and escapades.

Sward's prose is beautiful and lyrical, but I agree with the other reviewers that the structure of the book makes it hard to follow. I was constantly having to try and figure out when and where in the narrative I was, which took me out of the story. Also, the "friendship" between Lo and Lukas did make me uncomfortable at times, and while I think the characters were three-dimensional and interesting, I didn't always understand their characterizations or motivations. All in all, I think I was at a disadvantage not being familiar with the "culture" of 1970s-1980s Sweden, where the bulk of the novel takes place.

Still an interesting read, though, particularly for fans of coming-of-age novels. ( )