Reviews

Identity by Milan Kundera

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Rather than look at this book in terms of identity, love or passion as explored in this book (highly suggest you read it), I will focus more on what I call 'Momentary Forgetfulness'. A main focus in this book is recognition and not just of an individual but a situation/occurrence. The brevity of it and an important appreciation of what currently is. The story of Chantal and Jean-Marc is written in such a way that you almost feel involved in their moments, their loss of recognition and the almost unreal nature of their love. You begin to think, 'Just hold out a bit more', 'If he is unrecognizable maybe it is not him but at the same time think he has changed because she looked away'.

You float between the real and the unreal, just like Chantal, between the expectation of society and self accountability. Honestly I could go on and on. Really loved their conversations on friendship, love, acceptance, dreams and much more.

Here are two quotes from the book
"Dreams: they impose an unacceptable equivalence among the various periods of the same life, a levelling contemporaneity of everything a person has ever experienced; they discredit the present by denying it its privileged status"

"Friendship is indispensable to man for the proper function of his memory. Remembering our past, carrying it with us always, may be the necessary requirement for maintaining, as they say, the wholeness of the self"

I would highly suggest this book. I am starting to become a real fan of Milan Kundera writings

tahliaswid_'s review against another edition

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emotional inspiring mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

ending really pissed me off, but like everything else was perfect

ojreadsbooks's review

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emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

eli02's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-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

mrsbrewcrew's review

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2.0

A good read for provoking thought... I read a chapter or two & stewed on them. I spent days ruminating on the idea of friendship being to "provide a mirror so the other person can contemplate his image from the past". However, the ending of the book was somewhat anti-climatic, and uncreative compared to the rest of the story.