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debsep's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dantad's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this book. Paticularly Sabina's character - a representation of the 'lightness' and ephemerality in a world without eternal return.
“The heaviest of burdens is therefore simultaneously an image of life’s most intense fulfillment. The heavier the burden, the closer our lives come to the earth, the more real and truthful they become.”
really loved the discussions on private vs public life. Quite a dense book in terms of ideas so definitely neet to come back to it more but great
"True human goodness, in all its purity and freedom, can come to the fore only when its recipient has no power. Mankind's true moral test, its fundamental test (which lies deeply buried from view), consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals."
“The heaviest of burdens is therefore simultaneously an image of life’s most intense fulfillment. The heavier the burden, the closer our lives come to the earth, the more real and truthful they become.”
really loved the discussions on private vs public life. Quite a dense book in terms of ideas so definitely neet to come back to it more but great
"True human goodness, in all its purity and freedom, can come to the fore only when its recipient has no power. Mankind's true moral test, its fundamental test (which lies deeply buried from view), consists of its attitude towards those who are at its mercy: animals."
epshcherbinina's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
haorfani's review against another edition
5.0
What a fantastic book!
The author describes the life of four characters (five with Karenin) in a foggy way. As the book progress the life of these four characters are connected in a series of events going back and forth in the timeline of the book.
Milan Kundera describes so many dilemas in these book lust vs love, family vs freedom, career vs freedom and others which I might forgot or did not even realize. Among others it desrcribes the political status of Czechoslovakia and the USSR invation. Even though he judges the the totaliarism of communism regime at the same he exalts the idea of revolution and leftist intellectuals from the book.
The last chapter about Karenin's death and the closure of Tomas and Teresas life was really intense and the best chapter of the book for me.
This is a book that I would definately read it again!
The author describes the life of four characters (five with Karenin) in a foggy way. As the book progress the life of these four characters are connected in a series of events going back and forth in the timeline of the book.
Milan Kundera describes so many dilemas in these book lust vs love, family vs freedom, career vs freedom and others which I might forgot or did not even realize. Among others it desrcribes the political status of Czechoslovakia and the USSR invation. Even though he judges the the totaliarism of communism regime at the same he exalts the idea of revolution and leftist intellectuals from the book.
The last chapter about Karenin's death and the closure of Tomas and Teresas life was really intense and the best chapter of the book for me.
This is a book that I would definately read it again!
aculyisaaron's review against another edition
2.0
I felt like this book stretched itself too thin. Maybe I wasn't entirely in the right state of mind to connect with the various characters, who felt too unrelatable.
jessiedev's review against another edition
5.0
at moments its nihilistic view made me a trifle suicidal, but i loved every moment of it. planning on watching the film soon, but feeling trepidatious.
lucy13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
kvanderbeek21's review against another edition
3.5
I wasn't sure about this for about the first half, bur the more I read, the more I really did find it enjoyable and thought-provoking.
changeinpressure's review against another edition
4.0
This was recommended to me by a friend of mine in a handwritten letter, which I suppose makes this novel rather special to me. Whilst it's not what I would usually opt to read, I wound up really enjoying it and I learned a great deal from Kundera.