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bohoautumn's review against another edition
2.0
This is a fiction story that wraps itself around the philosophical ideas of the author. Kuranda's prose is witty and deceptively conversational, and his ideas and observations are, on a few occasions, captivating. Despite the onus on philosophy, it's actually a fairly light read.
However, these good points began to weigh heavy (yes, pun) after the first quarter. The potentially exciting philosophical ponderings disintegrate, for me, into meaningless and sometimes off-putting excuses for adultery. Off-putting in that it becomes super dull, and because the wife is first annoyingly passive (rather than fascinatingly so) and then self-reproachful for not accepting her husband's love as it was! I'm all for freedom in love, but playing the numbers game on one side, and years of sadness on the other, is a big snooze.
This is first and foremost a book of ideas, so the story is secondary. Yet it is the vehicle for the ideas, and for me, are driven not over the edge, but simply stall. I could have accepted his meanderings and disconnected ideas if his prose was lyrical, poetic, which, while good, isn't either.
What I don't accept are his flimsy philosophical observations. His basic premise - questioning whether lightness is preferable to heaviness, or whether heaviness is a bad thing - is a worthwhile one. Yet the explanations are assumptions backed up by, more often than not, grammatical rather than conceptual links. Just using 'therefore' doesn't a legitimate point make.
I think that I would have enjoyed this in my early 20's, when I was particularly open to being pushed philosophically, legitimate or not, and everything seemed amazing because of it's new opportunity to push. There was no pushing now, and the gentle nudges were easy to forget.
I gave it 2 stars for enjoyment, but give it 3 stars for worth because it does have it's place, mostly for stylistic and cultural reasons, and partly because it's so well known, so it's worth discovering what it's all about, if you have that much extra time. I didn't hate it, but I would have preferred having had spent my time chewing on a different book.
However, these good points began to weigh heavy (yes, pun) after the first quarter. The potentially exciting philosophical ponderings disintegrate, for me, into meaningless and sometimes off-putting excuses for adultery. Off-putting in that it becomes super dull, and because the wife is first annoyingly passive (rather than fascinatingly so) and then self-reproachful for not accepting her husband's love as it was! I'm all for freedom in love, but playing the numbers game on one side, and years of sadness on the other, is a big snooze.
This is first and foremost a book of ideas, so the story is secondary. Yet it is the vehicle for the ideas, and for me, are driven not over the edge, but simply stall. I could have accepted his meanderings and disconnected ideas if his prose was lyrical, poetic, which, while good, isn't either.
What I don't accept are his flimsy philosophical observations. His basic premise - questioning whether lightness is preferable to heaviness, or whether heaviness is a bad thing - is a worthwhile one. Yet the explanations are assumptions backed up by, more often than not, grammatical rather than conceptual links. Just using 'therefore' doesn't a legitimate point make.
I think that I would have enjoyed this in my early 20's, when I was particularly open to being pushed philosophically, legitimate or not, and everything seemed amazing because of it's new opportunity to push. There was no pushing now, and the gentle nudges were easy to forget.
I gave it 2 stars for enjoyment, but give it 3 stars for worth because it does have it's place, mostly for stylistic and cultural reasons, and partly because it's so well known, so it's worth discovering what it's all about, if you have that much extra time. I didn't hate it, but I would have preferred having had spent my time chewing on a different book.
justine_ett's review against another edition
4.0
This book was so odd and not what I was expecting whatsoever. I give it four stars solely because it supports my daytime-nighttime book approach. I also liked that it was a little funky.
eggburp's review against another edition
5.0
It recently dawned on me that there are a limited number of books that one can read in a lifetime so I've chosen to demand more from my books, and make better choices.
That being said it is fitting that this was the first book I chose to read after deciding that I should make better choices with literature.
Some of my favourite sections were the ones that strayed from conventional story telling, specifically the ones taken from the point of view of a dog, and a dictionary definitions section on different words and their meaning to different characters.
It is a somber thought that the choices we make can never be changed, but through that we can move with caution through the events in our lives and develop the strive to make the best choices possible.
That being said it is fitting that this was the first book I chose to read after deciding that I should make better choices with literature.
Some of my favourite sections were the ones that strayed from conventional story telling, specifically the ones taken from the point of view of a dog, and a dictionary definitions section on different words and their meaning to different characters.
It is a somber thought that the choices we make can never be changed, but through that we can move with caution through the events in our lives and develop the strive to make the best choices possible.
daydreamereyes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
daraiscutexoxo's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bowlingallie's review against another edition
I started this because a friend said it was their favorite book ever but I am not feeling it at all. maybe because I’m in a fantasy stage right now, maybe because this is way too philosophical and I can’t feel that deep about a man
quenchgum's review against another edition
5.0
I'm likely studying abroad in Prague this summer. Bring on the Kafka's and Kundera's.
champers4days's review against another edition
1.0
The narration and story lines were blithely nihilistic, and the characters alternated between treating others and being treated terribly by their loved ones. TONS of people talk about liking this book, but I just don't see it. Also, the text is sometimes cumbersome to read, with an omniscient narrator scattering thoughts and philosophical perspective throughout the story.
cmjane's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.25