A review by sofitoteva
The Joke by Milan Kundera

3.75

The Joke is a witty exploration of the oppressiveness of communism, often disguised in subtler, more insidious forms.

It took me a while to get into the book, as I felt I needed to do a fair bit of extra research to fully grasp the nuances in the characters’ inner dialogues. I don’t think I would have appreciated the novel nearly as much otherwise.

I highly recommend reading this with someone you can discuss it with — having those conversations helped me catch themes I would have otherwise missed.

For example, speaking with my friend on our takeaways from the book made me reflect on the distinction Kundera draws between living traditions and creative art. The regime bans new artistic expressions because they pose a threat, as they refuse to conform. But traditional rituals like the Ride of the Kings are allowed and even celebrated, because they’ve lost their original meaning. They’re safe performances, easily used as state propaganda. It’s a chilling reminder of how authoritarian systems hollow out culture.