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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
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.
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In questo romanzo, ambientato in Cecoslovacchia tra gli anni '60 e '70, sono narrate le vite di 4 personaggi che apparentemente non hanno niente in comune: Tomáš, Tereza, Sabina e Franz.
Il racconto delle loro vite é spezzato dalle osservazioni e riflessioni di Kundera che, proprio mentre il lettore sta per immergersi nella narrazione, vuole analizzare il comportamento dei suoi personaggi.
Uno degli aspetti che più ho apprezzato è l'importanza che viene data al contesto storico-culturale: l'invasione della Cecoslovacchia da parte dei russi. Il clima politico si riflette magnificamente sulla vita dei personaggi che non potrebbero non esserne influenzati.
Inoltre mi è piaciuta particolarmente la scrittura di Kundera, semplice ma profonda e sorprendentemente moderna. Le parole scorrono una dietro l'altra senza ostacoli e mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine.
Unica nota dolente il finale che, a mio parere, lascia desiderare il lettore.
Il racconto delle loro vite é spezzato dalle osservazioni e riflessioni di Kundera che, proprio mentre il lettore sta per immergersi nella narrazione, vuole analizzare il comportamento dei suoi personaggi.
Uno degli aspetti che più ho apprezzato è l'importanza che viene data al contesto storico-culturale: l'invasione della Cecoslovacchia da parte dei russi. Il clima politico si riflette magnificamente sulla vita dei personaggi che non potrebbero non esserne influenzati.
Inoltre mi è piaciuta particolarmente la scrittura di Kundera, semplice ma profonda e sorprendentemente moderna. Le parole scorrono una dietro l'altra senza ostacoli e mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine.
Unica nota dolente il finale che, a mio parere, lascia desiderare il lettore.
This book started off okay but it quickly descended into the unbearable realm (I admit that I am exaggerating it because I wanted to make a pun but it really was approaching that realm). From the start, I could not sympathise with the main characters, especially Tomas, and I attributed it to his status as a man (which admittedly is part of the reason why and would require a separate review), but this sentiment was also echoed in Teresa's and Sabina's chapters. I think the author tried too hard to make meaning out of nothing and it really showed. It came off as pretentious, and was exacerbated by the fact that the characters were not as well fleshed out as they should be in order to make me sympathise with them. However, I can also acknowledge that this might be the author's goal but it was still really difficult for me to resonate with a lot of the things that were brought up (which was one of the things I hoped I'd be able to do given the premise of the book). I could have powered through it but that would take some semblance of effort which I would prefer to exert on other things (like starting The Maniac). Overall, extremely overrated and I have similar testimonies from others to back it up.
Thought this was beautifully written and something I want to come back to.