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chairmanbernanke's review against another edition
2.0
A story about concerns, solutions, and complications.
pgopiing's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.25
skconaghan's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Kundera weaves the oddest of tales with such morbid humour and unique satire, and it's teeming with sharp political criticisms and biting ironies. This one is for fans of Douglas Adams and Kurt Vonnegut who like a sly intellectual giggle.
A spa town given to licentiousness and governed by a regime that farcically maintains control by expressing shocked indignation at salacious behaviours is the comical setting for a number of intertwined relationships. Dramatic irony abounds.
So do the severely awkward relationships between men and women, the tensions and jealousies that destroy women at their hive's core, the crappy advice men give men about strained relationships, all the lies people tell one another in attempts to preserve what cannot be, and an exposé of irrational fears humanity harbours at the risk of engaging in romance.
In the midst of it all are the little blue pills that keep a population subdued and under the impression they are content. Not to be mistaken with the other blue pills. But of course, this mixup is a an accident waiting to happen.
A rose-lensed satirical study in misunderstood socialism, misapplied communism, several wonky interpretations of love and God, and the green-grass promise of capitalism that lingers on the fringes of a mildly disgruntled and fatally misdirected society.
At once tactless, vulgar, and blunt, darkly comical in its unfolding, and profoundly insightful in its criticisms. An easy study for First Year Twentieth-Century-Literature-in-Society academics.
A spa town given to licentiousness and governed by a regime that farcically maintains control by expressing shocked indignation at salacious behaviours is the comical setting for a number of intertwined relationships. Dramatic irony abounds.
So do the severely awkward relationships between men and women, the tensions and jealousies that destroy women at their hive's core, the crappy advice men give men about strained relationships, all the lies people tell one another in attempts to preserve what cannot be, and an exposé of irrational fears humanity harbours at the risk of engaging in romance.
In the midst of it all are the little blue pills that keep a population subdued and under the impression they are content. Not to be mistaken with the other blue pills. But of course, this mixup is a an accident waiting to happen.
A rose-lensed satirical study in misunderstood socialism, misapplied communism, several wonky interpretations of love and God, and the green-grass promise of capitalism that lingers on the fringes of a mildly disgruntled and fatally misdirected society.
At once tactless, vulgar, and blunt, darkly comical in its unfolding, and profoundly insightful in its criticisms. An easy study for First Year Twentieth-Century-Literature-in-Society academics.
aldwynreads's review
3.0
Everything seems to be in 3s in this book - the little stories, the way the sentences read, and the larger chapters - just like the sound of a waltz. How very very nice.
thebookthiefgirl's review against another edition
3.0
“(...) a sinceridade exige o autoconhecimento e o conhecimento de si próprio é fruto da idade “
“A escola não tardará a roubar -mo para lhe lavar o cérebro , enchendo -o de contraverdades que eu próprio combati em vão durante toda a minha vida.”
Estreia com Kundera , um livro que se lê muito fluidamente mas com o qual não me identifico. Uma trama divertida , até ligeiramente absurda , devido aos seus laivos de dramatismo. Para mim, o cerne do livro está em Jakub, que representa as ideias do próprio autor face à sua pátria e repressão da liberdade . Há também temas como a natalidade e o aborto.
Fiquei com curiosidade em conhecer mais a República Checa dos anos 50/60 num período pré e pós invasão soviética .
Uma bela valsa delineada por um autor que seria candidato ao Nobel e não o foi. A Valsa do Adeus ganhou , não obstante , o Prémio Mondello, em 1977.
“A escola não tardará a roubar -mo para lhe lavar o cérebro , enchendo -o de contraverdades que eu próprio combati em vão durante toda a minha vida.”
Estreia com Kundera , um livro que se lê muito fluidamente mas com o qual não me identifico. Uma trama divertida , até ligeiramente absurda , devido aos seus laivos de dramatismo. Para mim, o cerne do livro está em Jakub, que representa as ideias do próprio autor face à sua pátria e repressão da liberdade . Há também temas como a natalidade e o aborto.
Fiquei com curiosidade em conhecer mais a República Checa dos anos 50/60 num período pré e pós invasão soviética .
Uma bela valsa delineada por um autor que seria candidato ao Nobel e não o foi. A Valsa do Adeus ganhou , não obstante , o Prémio Mondello, em 1977.
kotabova's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rosalie_st's review against another edition
4.0
Kundera traite du mensonge et des cachoteries avec beaucoup de légèreté dans ce livre. Intéressant comme tout se rejoint à la fin. Ce livre me demandera sûrement une relecture pour une meilleure compréhension!
binstonbirchill's review
4.0
I found this to be both memorable and fun. But fun in a “Wow! That’s messed up” sort of way. Kundera weaves together the lives of eight characters over the course of five days in a very approachable manner while also dropping some philosophical tidbits along the way.
This is the first book I’ve read by Kundera and I can see how he was a must read a few decades ago but maybe not so much anymore, that relates to one or two cringy moments relating to women. That being said I think he writes female characters well overall.
This is the first book I’ve read by Kundera and I can see how he was a must read a few decades ago but maybe not so much anymore, that relates to one or two cringy moments relating to women. That being said I think he writes female characters well overall.
lee24's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
germancho's review
5.0
Es uno de sus libros más viscerales y crudos. Los personajes, como es costumbre, son divertidos y deprimentes, aunque las consecuencias de lo que hacen durante la historia son mucho más funestas que en otros libros. Es un libro que despierta emociones y opiniones (if you've been there). Y en suma, Kundera nos recuerda la "levedad" de los problema y dilemas más graves que pueda tener un ser humano. Más pistas no les doy, simplemente léanselo.