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soumil_da_vinci's review against another edition
- 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
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!
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Car accident, and War
milaniezh's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, and War
Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, and Sexual assault
Minor: Animal death
navayiota's review against another edition
- 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
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
_quinnsreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Grief
jelliestars's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Infidelity and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Sexual content, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, and Injury/Injury detail
lizardcha's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Cancer
lily_k8y's review against another edition
- 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
2.75
Graphic: Animal death, Infidelity, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, Excrement, and Grief
elikareads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Grief