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jacksonfj8's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-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
4.25
chloeboyle's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes a little sad in places, and sometimes doesn't make sense. Good though
sloppybuster's review against another edition
5.0
Ultra masterpiece probs one of the highest juicy though provoking ideas per page ratios I’ve read in a novel
anne978's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting. I knew I liked Kundera's style, but this book was different from most novels. It is a compilation of stories about fictional people and about the writer himself, all revolving around the themes laughter and forgetfulness. To me, it was a mixture of some vere very beautiful and touching chapters, and weird-in-an-I-can't-put-my-finger-on-it kind of way. Sometimes the male characters were (in varying degrees) misogynistic, which I found very annoying, and some sex scenes/ideas were too disturbing for me. I choose to focus on the good parts and say that I liked it, but I definitely did not like all of it.
sharri_elle's review against another edition
3.0
Absolutely brilliant writing, and insights in to humans and human absurdity. The sexual violence/violence toward women, however, was very off-putting. A masterpiece and evidently so, but one that (for this reason) I didn’t really enjoy.
andrewsobo's review against another edition
4.0
This novel is meant to be taken slowly, each paragraph warranting its own mental visualization and rumination before the next can begin. Ultimately, I find Kundera’s voice to be inspiring in the ways it forces me to think.
daughterofceres's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
TW: Sexual Violence
I was excited to get into Kundera's books and started with this one. His writing is nice & there are definetly lots of quotable moments in this short story. The reason my rating is so low is that it seems Kundera has an obsession with rape and sexual violence. In nearly all of these short stories there are unnecessary mentions of sexual violence or desire to be sexually violent, the demented fantasies are more often than not superfluous and distract from the plot and progression of the book rather than progress them in my opinion. I've picked up another book of his, but at this point I'm very nervous and hesitant about starting it.
Edit: This does not impact my rating, but it's worth it to note this is a compilation of seven short stories, I was expecting one continuous story based off the desriptions here.
I was excited to get into Kundera's books and started with this one. His writing is nice & there are definetly lots of quotable moments in this short story. The reason my rating is so low is that it seems Kundera has an obsession with rape and sexual violence. In nearly all of these short stories there are unnecessary mentions of sexual violence or desire to be sexually violent, the demented fantasies are more often than not superfluous and distract from the plot and progression of the book rather than progress them in my opinion. I've picked up another book of his, but at this point I'm very nervous and hesitant about starting it.
Edit: This does not impact my rating, but it's worth it to note this is a compilation of seven short stories, I was expecting one continuous story based off the desriptions here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, and War
Minor: Terminal illness, Abortion, and War
kittysch7's review against another edition
4.0
I would be so in and then he would hit you with some weird messed up misogynistic bull! Experienced a bit of whiplash reading, but still really in awe of his writing.