Reviews - The Joke | The StoryGraph

347 reviews for:

The Joke

Milan Kundera

3.89 AVERAGE

possum_jester's review against another edition

4.75

challenging reflective tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

catarina_fernandes's review against another edition

3.0

funny reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

marktwomey5's review against another edition

3.0

emotional funny reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

sammi_k's review

4.0

"...no great movement designed to change the world can bear sarcasm or mockery, because they are a rust that corrodes all it touches."

Have you ever told a joke, or said something sarcastic, and the recipient did not see the humor? Usually experiencing a few moments of awkwardness or saying "it's just a joke" are the solutions to the devastation and you move on. Now imagine if that ounce of sarcasm unexpectedly led to your exile and therefore stripping you of your ideal future. The repercussions then transform you into a human full of hatred and bitterness living in a world of unforgiveness.

"Can a man abandon everything he's stood for just because he's been insulted?"

[b:The Joke|26114|The Joke|Milan Kundera|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1448044837l/26114._SX50_.jpg|1457765] takes place in post-World War II Czechoslovakia. Similar to Kundera's novel [b:The Unbearable Lightness of Being|9717|The Unbearable Lightness of Being|Milan Kundera|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1265401884l/9717._SY75_.jpg|4489585], it is written from the perspectives of different characters whose timelines overlap. The protagonist, Ludvik Jahn, does not view forgiveness as an option following his expulsion from the Communist Party and therefore remains as the target, or sacrifice, of his joke regardless of his efforts to make a joke of others.

This is an amazing novel full of irony, historical teachings, and comedy. Kundera clearly has a talent for bringing characters together even after they have transformed and have been distant for some time. Near the end, there are very heavy moments that are alleviated with unbelievably unexpected humor. A novel has never made me laugh out loud until now.

forever_amber's review

4.0

Моето ревю - https://theblogforculture.wordpress.com/2017/07/02/%D1%88%D0%B5%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-zert-1967-%D0%BE%D1%82-%D0%BC%D1%9D%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D0%BA%D1%83%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B0/