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jairereads's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m glad I picked this up, put it down, and picked it back up the times I did. The narrator’s philosophical cutaways from the plot were puzzling, insightful, often funny, sometimes fucked up, and altogether rewarding in the novel’s goal of offering cogent observations on humanness and desire.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Excrement, Sexual harassment, and War
sarahgordon327's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
2 stars is generous. I could not stand the protagonist, Tomas, which made the entire book hard to like and enjoy. Also, can you please come up with another way to say “another woman’s groin?” Gross.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Moderate: War
surdiablo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I detested more than half of this book, enough to the point that regardless of the last two parts not being completely terrible, I'm going with a 1-star after mulling on it for a while. This is one of those books where I didn't vibe with the writing style/choices in general, and thought it would have greatly benefitted from sticking to some specific topic, rather than being all over the place. Kundera's writing gave me this constant ick which I only tend to feel when authors' questionable views seep into their works, and lo and behold, he says this during the meta-commentary: 'The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities.' which unfortunately confirmed my fears. 🤣
This book reeks of misogyny and features a toxic miserable relationship that goes nowhere. He tries his hand at some philosophy and political commentary, which came off as pretentious and r/Im14andthisisdeep material, rather than anything profound. Some of the excessive and distasteful events or descriptions seemed to me as if the author was fulfilling his lascivious fantasies through these characters, or simply being gratuitous. I don't know if something was lost in translation but it became rather unbearable indeed with the constant focus on sex for the majority of the book. I don't mind reading about shitty characters or sex, but the way Kundera handles it and the things he focuses on.. It just rubs me the wrong way if that makes sense... I didn't care much about the characters with their unnatural inner monologue, although Teresa's traumatic upbringing was well-written.
Kundera occasionally draws conclusions by linking unrelated elements, which can seem illogical, even though they're presented as if they naturally fit together. This can leave the reader feeling perplexed often (The relation between Teresa's bowler hat and violence for example). It adds a lot to that pretentiousness I mentioned earlier. The political plot was comparatively enjoyable, but there wasn't enough of it and what existed felt rather basic. I have never been a fan of the author telling me what to think or feel, so that didn't help either. At the end of the day, if you ask me Do you feel like you gained anything reading this book?, my answer would be no. I didn't care for his thoughts or insight, and the parts I didn't hate seem forgettable now after all this time, while the irritation remains.
P.S. Kundera definitely has a poop fetish... Oh, and don't read this book if you haven't read Anna Karenina and don't want its ending spoiled.
This book reeks of misogyny and features a toxic miserable relationship that goes nowhere. He tries his hand at some philosophy and political commentary, which came off as pretentious and r/Im14andthisisdeep material, rather than anything profound. Some of the excessive and distasteful events or descriptions seemed to me as if the author was fulfilling his lascivious fantasies through these characters, or simply being gratuitous. I don't know if something was lost in translation but it became rather unbearable indeed with the constant focus on sex for the majority of the book. I don't mind reading about shitty characters or sex, but the way Kundera handles it and the things he focuses on.. It just rubs me the wrong way if that makes sense... I didn't care much about the characters with their unnatural inner monologue, although Teresa's traumatic upbringing was well-written.
Kundera occasionally draws conclusions by linking unrelated elements, which can seem illogical, even though they're presented as if they naturally fit together. This can leave the reader feeling perplexed often (The relation between Teresa's bowler hat and violence for example). It adds a lot to that pretentiousness I mentioned earlier. The political plot was comparatively enjoyable, but there wasn't enough of it and what existed felt rather basic. I have never been a fan of the author telling me what to think or feel, so that didn't help either. At the end of the day, if you ask me Do you feel like you gained anything reading this book?, my answer would be no. I didn't care for his thoughts or insight, and the parts I didn't hate seem forgettable now after all this time, while the irritation remains.
P.S. Kundera definitely has a poop fetish... Oh, and don't read this book if you haven't read Anna Karenina and don't want its ending spoiled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Excrement and War
Minor: Rape and Death of parent
fjcrow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
So sad in such a beautiful way. It highlights the flaws of man and the pain of living, but it gave me a sense of peace to see the humanity that flows through us all no matter what, and how pain can be grotesquely romantic
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Rape and War
soumil_da_vinci's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I gave a five star rating simply because I've never read anything like it.
This book reminds me of Murakami a lot. But here in this book, Kundera himself is a character, an obscure narrator who ponders and shares his thoughts with you on his creation- like a God sort of. It gives a sense of someone telling a story right before you and by Gods, I can listen to Kundera speak for eons.
There are just four main characters as mentioned in the blurb/summary: Tereza, Tomas, Sabina and Franz. Franz is the only one who is a bit distant from the other characters and I didn't quite like Franz. I didn't like a lot of characters at a lot of places but by the end I had found peace with them. Tereza is the only character who might feel close to something "good" and so the wider population might align with her thoughts and motives. But by the end, I too changed like Tereza and learnt to love the characters- all of them except Franz.
Franz-Sabina plotline brings in a lot of political commentary and picks up the political scenes of that time yet when I was reading the Tereza-Tomas portion, it never did itch me because it felt almost perfect for the characters and for the book as well. During the Franz storyline the political stuff get too much and I began to miss the philosophical comments which began at the start or the end of the chapters. It got a bit overwhelming at the latter half but I wanted to finish the book so I got with it and thankfully it was all worth it because "Karenin's Smile" and the first part of the book are the best parts. It ends in a way like the Christopher Nolan movies- at a point of catharsis not the actual end, although the "end" of the characters is given already.
The magic realism used here is the best of its kind. It emphasises more on the realism than the magic and the closest comparable thing is Norwegian Wood.
You won't miss the magic or you won't question why it is even called a piece of magic realism because it is used in such a subtle and realistic way. If you think of it, he magic realism which happens in this book, also happens in your life but you ignore it or choose to forget it because it's unimaginable.
Anyway, it was a great book, arguably the best book I've read this year...but unlike the Murakami books, I won't be returning to this one soon. This was good for one reading but since the author practically discusses everything with you, there's nothing much to do by reading it again. That is not a bad thing for me.
Kudos!
This book reminds me of Murakami a lot. But here in this book, Kundera himself is a character, an obscure narrator who ponders and shares his thoughts with you on his creation- like a God sort of. It gives a sense of someone telling a story right before you and by Gods, I can listen to Kundera speak for eons.
There are just four main characters as mentioned in the blurb/summary: Tereza, Tomas, Sabina and Franz. Franz is the only one who is a bit distant from the other characters and I didn't quite like Franz. I didn't like a lot of characters at a lot of places but by the end I had found peace with them. Tereza is the only character who might feel close to something "good" and so the wider population might align with her thoughts and motives. But by the end, I too changed like Tereza and learnt to love the characters- all of them except Franz.
Franz-Sabina plotline brings in a lot of political commentary and picks up the political scenes of that time yet when I was reading the Tereza-Tomas portion, it never did itch me because it felt almost perfect for the characters and for the book as well. During the Franz storyline the political stuff get too much and I began to miss the philosophical comments which began at the start or the end of the chapters. It got a bit overwhelming at the latter half but I wanted to finish the book so I got with it and thankfully it was all worth it because "Karenin's Smile" and the first part of the book are the best parts. It ends in a way like the Christopher Nolan movies- at a point of catharsis not the actual end, although the "end" of the characters is given already.
The magic realism used here is the best of its kind. It emphasises more on the realism than the magic and the closest comparable thing is Norwegian Wood.
You won't miss the magic or you won't question why it is even called a piece of magic realism because it is used in such a subtle and realistic way. If you think of it, he magic realism which happens in this book, also happens in your life but you ignore it or choose to forget it because it's unimaginable.
Anyway, it was a great book, arguably the best book I've read this year...but unlike the Murakami books, I won't be returning to this one soon. This was good for one reading but since the author practically discusses everything with you, there's nothing much to do by reading it again. That is not a bad thing for me.
Kudos!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Car accident, and War
junglejelly's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I've found it quite hard to rate and now review this book. I can see why it's a classic, but it's an odd book for me.
I absolutely adored the characters who were so well written and I felt like I had known them for years (even if they might not be that likeable).
Unbearable is a great delve into how infallible and complex humans are/can be.
I absolutely adored the characters who were so well written and I felt like I had known them for years (even if they might not be that likeable).
Unbearable is a great delve into how infallible and complex humans are/can be.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Car accident, and War
Minor: Violence
milaniezh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and War
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death
chsm8's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, and War
Minor: Gun violence and Death of parent
navayiota's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not an enjoyable book, but certainly one that has a lot to say. I want to read an analysis of it, because I feel like I have no idea what it was truly about. Very thought provoking though, in many ways...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Abandonment, and War
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Cancer, Sexual assault, Excrement, Car accident, and Alcohol
raeviews's review against another edition
reflective
medium-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
Kundera's writing is so engaging and he is very skilled at weaving together ideas. He was also successful in his blending of philosophical musings and plot. My main gripe with this book is the messaging around gender. Also, he was very ambitious with the sheer amount of ideas he touched upon in this book, and some of them I felt weren't fully developed. I was interested the insight he provided into living through the aftermath of the Prague Spring. Kind of wish there was more about Prague in the book. Overall, though, I found this book to be really enjoyable. Had lots of interesting insights about romantic relationships, family, and politics, and a great narrative voice. There are some scenes in this book that I will definitely remember for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Infidelity, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism, Police brutality, Abandonment, and War