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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
*3.75 stars*
Such a thought-provoking and book, with some very complex and intriguing themes and excellent narrative devices. Unfortunately, my view of the book was pretty clouded thanks to the feminist lens I inevitably put on when reading. Kundera's portrayal of women is *interesting* to say the least, and it's slightly difficult to support the Jokes protagonist when he sees women as just sexual objects or a means to an end. Additionally, none of the characters were really likeable which may have been a deliberate decision on Kunderas part, but when you have to read 300 pages about self-pitying, vengeful and sometimes stupid individuals, you do lose a bit of your will to live.
For me, the book was definitely made by the themes and narrative structure as opposed to the characters and their storylines. The explorations of injustice, an extremely communist government and the importance tradition were highly engaging while the nonlinear, multi-perspective format of the novel added some much appreciated flavour.
Such a thought-provoking and book, with some very complex and intriguing themes and excellent narrative devices. Unfortunately, my view of the book was pretty clouded thanks to the feminist lens I inevitably put on when reading. Kundera's portrayal of women is *interesting* to say the least, and it's slightly difficult to support the Jokes protagonist when he sees women as just sexual objects or a means to an end. Additionally, none of the characters were really likeable which may have been a deliberate decision on Kunderas part, but when you have to read 300 pages about self-pitying, vengeful and sometimes stupid individuals, you do lose a bit of your will to live.
For me, the book was definitely made by the themes and narrative structure as opposed to the characters and their storylines. The explorations of injustice, an extremely communist government and the importance tradition were highly engaging while the nonlinear, multi-perspective format of the novel added some much appreciated flavour.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
This book is probably great if you have a good understanding of and interest in Czech politics and history. I do not. It was wasted on me.
Zero stars. Nothing but a bitter, rambling maze of old men's sentiments, sexual regrets, and repulsive fantasies. Women are sideline characters playing whores if not misplaced inspirations to their male lovers. Useless book. Intertwined themes of Communist repression, cultural desperation, et cetera could have salvaged it but Kundera wastes them on the whiniest, bullshit inner monologues. "Rancid" was used a number of times in the book. The word summarizes the whole text. Literally, putrid.
dark
emotional
Me costó mucho leerlo por mi aversión al comunismo. Creo que eso es todo lo que podría decir al respecto.
ludvik: one thing about me is I’m a very hateful person I have a lot of hate in my heart
Šis varētu būt no visvieglāk lasāmajiem un atmiņā paliekošākajiem Kunderas darbiem (jei bogu, no slavenā Viegluma varu atcerēties tikai 2 lietas: ārsts un trimda Francijā).
Šis ir stāsts par to kā joks sabojā dzīvi, noved līdz atriebībai, taču atriebējam un jokdarim asaras vien iznāk. Beigu koncerts skaists un kopumā šo viegli lasīt kā filmu ar izskatīgām viegli skumjām beigām.
Šis ir stāsts par to kā joks sabojā dzīvi, noved līdz atriebībai, taču atriebējam un jokdarim asaras vien iznāk. Beigu koncerts skaists un kopumā šo viegli lasīt kā filmu ar izskatīgām viegli skumjām beigām.
Kundera remains irrevocably authentic to the depiction of his transient setting and disillusioned characters. He portrays the struggles of a degenerating society, amidst the crumbling of the communist ideals, to retrieve the cultural and religious heritage discarded by the onslaught of the red revolution. The turmoil in the setting is mirrored in the lives of the characters who suffer from traumatic fixation in the past where various incidences altered the course of their destiny. Kundera binds the feeling of personal and collective pathos into a strong package of an emotional juggernaut in this masterpiece.
The striking quality of this book lies in its ability to interweave its multi-perspectival narratives into an intersecting unit that represents the plurality of the human experience. In a text that thematically adheres to the tenets of modernism while comprising of a narrative chalked out on postmodernist lines, it truly captivates the reader. By depicting the same setting by the viewpoint of several individual consciousnesses, Kundera showcases the human tendency to project one’s own reflections on to the setting, presenting the world we dwell in as a unique experience. However, by linking the perspectives with a common emotive charge of decadence, Kunder convinces the reader of the inevitable homogeneity that persists in the world. I would strongly recommend this book to all readers who have the courage to embark on a journey of candid self-reflection.
The striking quality of this book lies in its ability to interweave its multi-perspectival narratives into an intersecting unit that represents the plurality of the human experience. In a text that thematically adheres to the tenets of modernism while comprising of a narrative chalked out on postmodernist lines, it truly captivates the reader. By depicting the same setting by the viewpoint of several individual consciousnesses, Kundera showcases the human tendency to project one’s own reflections on to the setting, presenting the world we dwell in as a unique experience. However, by linking the perspectives with a common emotive charge of decadence, Kunder convinces the reader of the inevitable homogeneity that persists in the world. I would strongly recommend this book to all readers who have the courage to embark on a journey of candid self-reflection.