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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
this is peak existentialism. they all suffer from being human and each is suffocated by desires
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Meh. This was a book recommendation from a friend. It promised a lot and well… it was okay. I found it mostly boring. There were however some really nice parts that I enjoyed reading.
The way the tears just kept coming out in the last Karenin chapters…I need some compensation for that
challenging
reflective
tense
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
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Watched this video essay from someone who specializes in Czech literature which adds some important context about the writing style, politics, and Kundera. (https://youtu.be/iaSQ1OttEJ4?si=dnk1Y1usZG9D02Tn) Basically it’s all some big joke! Never trust a Czech man who’s actually a french novelist.
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Very beautiful; masterful weaving of storylines and ideas that run over and around each other. Finished now (Aug 2025) at a time where I am thinking a lot about this heaviness, the unbearable lightness, about holding contradictions (happy/sad) and not necessarily striving to untangle them. Book is both deeply political and intensely individual - very enjoyable.