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smuds2's review against another edition
I just do not care about Ludviks story. There was maybe something interesting being said about the relationship between the public and private persona - and the extension of that idea to how everyone wears a mask in different conditions, either a mask chosen by themselves or a mask foisted on them by others. Or that you put a mask on everyone you meet and that's how you perceive them.
And how you can pull that even further to zoom out and say we have a perception on a whole people, in this case folk people, without truly understanding them. So like when the folk music guy tried to advance folk music to modern day, Ludvik was like "gross" because Ludviks perception of the appeal of folk music (aka his mask) did not correspond to the folk music guys mask/perception.
I guess. I don't know. I just didn't care about Ludviks story. Helena, interesting. Folk music guy. Interesting. Kolksta, interesting (skimmed his stuff). But I just don't care about a guy trying to get his rocks off by manipulating himself and women to get them to sleep with him.
And how you can pull that even further to zoom out and say we have a perception on a whole people, in this case folk people, without truly understanding them. So like when the folk music guy tried to advance folk music to modern day, Ludvik was like "gross" because Ludviks perception of the appeal of folk music (aka his mask) did not correspond to the folk music guys mask/perception.
I guess. I don't know. I just didn't care about Ludviks story. Helena, interesting. Folk music guy. Interesting. Kolksta, interesting (skimmed his stuff). But I just don't care about a guy trying to get his rocks off by manipulating himself and women to get them to sleep with him.
ithilienlady's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
clix1700's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book was written by a man who hates women
leyma_01's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dshowstack's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
judithtorjman's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-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
4.75
theeuphoriczat's review against another edition
4.0
It is best to go into this book knowing very little, so I will try as much as possible to give a scant description of the plot. We follow 4 POVs, with Ludvik the main character. When Ludvik send out what he considers a harmless joke to his girlfriend, he some finds himself ostracized from his school, his family and his friends. People he thought to be his friends and colleagues turned their back on him and soon he began to realise that his thoughtless Joke was a lot more and his actual life for at risk. He is expelled from school and sent to a military camp meant for people who the government were suspicious of. This is where he meets another girl Lucie, the relationship is too rapey (no he didn't rape her) and overly coercive.
As he continues to grow older, his resentment continues to grow and he devised a plan to get back at the people who lead the 'crusade' against him when he was in school. As we watch him use seduction and sex as a means of enslavement, not just of the other party but of himself, I got to realize that the real Joke, was actually Ludvik wasting his life away with his heart filled with resentment.
There are so many takes on religion and relationships and I think it is a really worthy read.
Some of my favourite quotes
"love was different nowadays, a support in battle rather than an escape from the world"
"Optimism is the opium of the people"
"love has a tendency to make a legend of itself"
"Turning points in the evolution of love are not always the result of dramatic events; they often stem from something that at first seems completely inconsequential."
"Responsibility was unthinkable without freedom"
"Modern man cheats. He tries to get around all the milestones on the road from birth to death"
"I loved life, and for the sake of its beauty I went to war"Fucik's Notes from the Gallows
"One's destiny is often complete long before death"
Trigger Warning
Youth
Religion
Ignorance
Jokes
Communism
Imperialism
Sexual assault
As he continues to grow older, his resentment continues to grow and he devised a plan to get back at the people who lead the 'crusade' against him when he was in school. As we watch him use seduction and sex as a means of enslavement, not just of the other party but of himself, I got to realize that the real Joke, was actually Ludvik wasting his life away with his heart filled with resentment.
There are so many takes on religion and relationships and I think it is a really worthy read.
Some of my favourite quotes
"love was different nowadays, a support in battle rather than an escape from the world"
"Optimism is the opium of the people"
"love has a tendency to make a legend of itself"
"Turning points in the evolution of love are not always the result of dramatic events; they often stem from something that at first seems completely inconsequential."
"Responsibility was unthinkable without freedom"
"Modern man cheats. He tries to get around all the milestones on the road from birth to death"
"I loved life, and for the sake of its beauty I went to war"Fucik's Notes from the Gallows
"One's destiny is often complete long before death"
Trigger Warning
Youth
Religion
Ignorance
Jokes
Communism
Imperialism
Sexual assault
kmisliterate's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Kundera is a truly beautiful writer, his use of language is enchanting. His characters are troubled and complex which lends a compelling nature to even his descriptions of their banal daily activities. This is 4 rather than 5 stars because I did find the meandering nature of the story at times a slog and the ending totally forgettable.