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ericfheiman's review against another edition
4.0
Portrait of the artist as a young man (who dies too young).
Life is Elsewhere might have received five stars if I had read this in my impressionable youth. Now, it reads as a cautionary tale of what might happen when culture is overpoliced in the name of so-called “decency.”
Life is Elsewhere might have received five stars if I had read this in my impressionable youth. Now, it reads as a cautionary tale of what might happen when culture is overpoliced in the name of so-called “decency.”
alexanderjamie's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Milan Kundera tackles themes of youth, love, the absolute, poetry, our imprisonment to our own perspectives, and maturity in this interesting take which I felt was quite slow in the first third but promptly picks up.
boginja_opste_prakse's review against another edition
4.0
ova knjiga je tako bolesna i edipovska, obozavam je
mrspresidio's review against another edition
slow-paced
0.25
One of the worst books I have ever read. Horrified that this was assigned to my daughter in high-school.
davidgilani's review against another edition
4.0
A very bizarre book - glad that I read this as part of a book club, as there was so much at the end to discuss. I also think that it's the type of book where I could probably read it again in a few years and hopefully would pick up SO much more than I did in my first visit to its pages.
The story is all about a young boy, Jaromil, growing up in Czechoslovakia at the time of the communist revolution. The book follows his life - but first starting from the perspective of his mother - and ending with the perspective of one of his lovers... and along the way also having the perspective of one of his alter egos / a character that he has created. The relationships between the characters are fascinating and sometimes awful. I think a book has done a very good job when you feel like you understand what's been happening, but have no idea what you actually think about it.
The story is all about a young boy, Jaromil, growing up in Czechoslovakia at the time of the communist revolution. The book follows his life - but first starting from the perspective of his mother - and ending with the perspective of one of his lovers... and along the way also having the perspective of one of his alter egos / a character that he has created. The relationships between the characters are fascinating and sometimes awful. I think a book has done a very good job when you feel like you understand what's been happening, but have no idea what you actually think about it.
wallaibillai's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
megbeach's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
i enjoyed this, but not as much as other kunderas. i thought jaromil was a really interesting character, in that he’s kinda pathetic, but also relatable and human. also love a bit of dysfunctional parent/child relations