Scan barcode
johnnynolen's review
5.0
Truly one of the best works on the history, philosophy, and psychology of writing. Not an all encompassing how-to stretched and thinned over grammar and emotional evolution alike, but a pointed and almost lamenting exploration about the sunsetting art of exploring what it means to exist, combined with a tight and casual indictment of post modern media culture, of the no thought of received ideas. If I could give six stars I would.
frabanzi's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
3.0
Unfortunately this is my least liked out of his books I have read
ioana_cis's review
3.0
// Listened to it during Walking Month.
This book is a collection of essays and reflections on the art of the novel and the nature of fiction. It explores various aspects of the novel as a literary form, the role of the author in storytelling, and the relationship between characters and authors.
Kundera delves into the history of the novel, discusses the works of other famous novelists, and provides insights into his own approach to writing fiction. He is known for his thought-provoking and philosophical analyses of literature, and this book is no exception. Among the things he mentioned are:
- Character Autonomy: the idea that characters in a novel should have a degree of autonomy. He argues that characters should not simply serve as mouthpieces for the author's ideas but should have their own personalities, motivations, and behaviors that may surprise the author.
- Novel as a Thought Experiment: the novel as a unique medium for exploring philosophical and existential questions. He suggests that the novel allows writers to create hypothetical situations and experiment with different ideas and scenarios.
- The Novel's Immortality: the idea that novels have a timeless quality. Unlike other forms of writing, novels can endure for centuries, and their themes and characters can remain relevant across different historical periods.
- The Role of the Reader: the active role of the reader in interpreting a novel. The author believes that a novel is incomplete until it is read, and readers bring their own perspectives and experiences to the text, shaping its meaning.
- Literary Influence: the influence of other writers and literary traditions on a novelist's work. Kundera highlights how authors are in dialogue with the writers who came before them and how they can draw inspiration from diverse sources.
- Lightness vs. Weight: Kundera introduces the concept of "lightness" and "weight" in literature. "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" is one of his famous works that explores this theme. He considers the tension between the fleeting, ephemeral aspects of life and the profound, weighty questions that literature can address.
- Irony and Humor: Kundera often employs irony and humor in his novels, and he discusses the role of humor in fiction. He suggests that humor can be a powerful tool for addressing serious and complex subjects.
- Authorial Identity: the author's identity and the idea that writers may not be fully in control of their creations. He explores the relationship between authors and their characters and how characters can take on a life of their own.
// written with AI
This book is a collection of essays and reflections on the art of the novel and the nature of fiction. It explores various aspects of the novel as a literary form, the role of the author in storytelling, and the relationship between characters and authors.
Kundera delves into the history of the novel, discusses the works of other famous novelists, and provides insights into his own approach to writing fiction. He is known for his thought-provoking and philosophical analyses of literature, and this book is no exception. Among the things he mentioned are:
- Character Autonomy: the idea that characters in a novel should have a degree of autonomy. He argues that characters should not simply serve as mouthpieces for the author's ideas but should have their own personalities, motivations, and behaviors that may surprise the author.
- Novel as a Thought Experiment: the novel as a unique medium for exploring philosophical and existential questions. He suggests that the novel allows writers to create hypothetical situations and experiment with different ideas and scenarios.
- The Novel's Immortality: the idea that novels have a timeless quality. Unlike other forms of writing, novels can endure for centuries, and their themes and characters can remain relevant across different historical periods.
- The Role of the Reader: the active role of the reader in interpreting a novel. The author believes that a novel is incomplete until it is read, and readers bring their own perspectives and experiences to the text, shaping its meaning.
- Literary Influence: the influence of other writers and literary traditions on a novelist's work. Kundera highlights how authors are in dialogue with the writers who came before them and how they can draw inspiration from diverse sources.
- Lightness vs. Weight: Kundera introduces the concept of "lightness" and "weight" in literature. "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" is one of his famous works that explores this theme. He considers the tension between the fleeting, ephemeral aspects of life and the profound, weighty questions that literature can address.
- Irony and Humor: Kundera often employs irony and humor in his novels, and he discusses the role of humor in fiction. He suggests that humor can be a powerful tool for addressing serious and complex subjects.
- Authorial Identity: the author's identity and the idea that writers may not be fully in control of their creations. He explores the relationship between authors and their characters and how characters can take on a life of their own.
// written with AI
danthompson1877's review
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
"The art inspired by God’s laughter does not by nature serve ideological certitudes, it contradicts them. Like Penelope, it undoes each night the tapestry that the theologians, philosophers, and learned men have woven the day before"
zoolmcg's review
Was reading this for uni but only the first two essays really captivated me... If I was more versed on the novels and authors Kundera was speaking about, I probably would've liked it. I was about ten pages into the third essay and realised I had no clue what was going on, and it wasn't for lack of comprehension, but for zero base knowledge on the essay's subjects.
Like I said, first two essays were good, but I don't see the value in me spending more time on it.
Like I said, first two essays were good, but I don't see the value in me spending more time on it.