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valentijn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This by far by favourite book of literature that I have ever read. It is beautifully dark exploration of life under an oppressive regime in where all expression is judged, equalised and unified. It is one of the few books that contain quotes that I find so beautifully worded that I wanted to write them down to use them in daily conversations.
Our story follows an arrogant young university student that tries to impress a girl with his intellect. When she does not recipacte his interest, he becomes upsets and tries to shock her. When the authorities see the letter, he is faces severe consequences of his speech and has to leave university. The book then tells of his life afterwards as a political outcast, a struggle to find himself after being ousted from his community identity, the relationship between folk stories & modernity and how to find your place after being abandoned.
It goes pretty dark places at times, so don't read it if you're sensitive to stories involving (sexual) abuse. The connection to "cancel" culture, it should be said, seems to me overstated and an attempt to force a modern narrative onto a story where it does not fit and does not benefit from it.
Our story follows an arrogant young university student that tries to impress a girl with his intellect. When she does not recipacte his interest, he becomes upsets and tries to shock her. When the authorities see the letter, he is faces severe consequences of his speech and has to leave university. The book then tells of his life afterwards as a political outcast, a struggle to find himself after being ousted from his community identity, the relationship between folk stories & modernity and how to find your place after being abandoned.
It goes pretty dark places at times, so don't read it if you're sensitive to stories involving (sexual) abuse. The connection to "cancel" culture, it should be said, seems to me overstated and an attempt to force a modern narrative onto a story where it does not fit and does not benefit from it.
Graphic: Rape and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Suicide
maxmflick's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Rape and Suicide attempt
ludmireads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Sexism, Emotional abuse, Death, Gaslighting, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
tovejansson's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.0
A beautiful book, would be a lot better if Kundera didn’t hate women so much
Graphic: Rape, Suicide attempt, and Misogyny
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