binstonbirchill's review against another edition
4.0
I found this to be both memorable and fun. But fun in a “Wow! That’s messed up” sort of way. Kundera weaves together the lives of eight characters over the course of five days in a very approachable manner while also dropping some philosophical tidbits along the way.
This is the first book I’ve read by Kundera and I can see how he was a must read a few decades ago but maybe not so much anymore, that relates to one or two cringy moments relating to women. That being said I think he writes female characters well overall.
This is the first book I’ve read by Kundera and I can see how he was a must read a few decades ago but maybe not so much anymore, that relates to one or two cringy moments relating to women. That being said I think he writes female characters well overall.
ali240104's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
germancho's review against another edition
5.0
Es uno de sus libros más viscerales y crudos. Los personajes, como es costumbre, son divertidos y deprimentes, aunque las consecuencias de lo que hacen durante la historia son mucho más funestas que en otros libros. Es un libro que despierta emociones y opiniones (if you've been there). Y en suma, Kundera nos recuerda la "levedad" de los problema y dilemas más graves que pueda tener un ser humano. Más pistas no les doy, simplemente léanselo.
vyshnevyjcvit's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Друге знайомство з автором було вдале. Хоча, це було швидше прощання, адже книгу я почала читати в той день, коли Мілан Кундера пішов від нас💔 Тому текст сприймався символічно і меланхолійно. І мені дуже імпонувала тонка іронічність автора. Хоча без суперечливих персонажів і аморальних вчинків не обійшлося) Буду досліджувати його творчість далі.
_litmosphere_'s review
dark
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
illymally's review against another edition
4.0
It is short novel, reads like a humorous soap opera, but has great substance. Big arching concepts in a light, funny, tragic vehicle.
I have a translation from 1976, entitled "Farewell Party" rather than "Farewell Waltz" as some other translations are titled. "Party" makes more sense with the many characters entwined as they are. I suppose they all take their turns with each other...
I have a translation from 1976, entitled "Farewell Party" rather than "Farewell Waltz" as some other translations are titled. "Party" makes more sense with the many characters entwined as they are. I suppose they all take their turns with each other...
_dunno_'s review against another edition
4.0
I didn't think I'd be able to read Kundera again, given my experiences so far, but I did and I loved it. At some point there were so many charcters entangled, I felt like in Murdoch's [book: A Severed Head], but thank goodness, Kundera stops at the right time and doesn't let everybody sleep with everybody. Just some :))
grgrhnt's review against another edition
4.0
Of all the Kundera novels I read, The Farewell Party relies most on the plot. That distinct voice that at once titillates, disgusts, enlightens is still here at play, if only in diet mode. It isn't the plot that helps the reader across this book though. It's once again, the twisted circumstances of our characters. Everyone is at a crossroads. A woman must choose between pregnancy or abortion; a woman must choose between a man who loves her truly and one who only feigns love but offers adventure; a former revolutionary for whom every day is a choice between life and death; a man stuck between the position of a fatherly figure or just a very caring man; another man who loves his wife but cannot seem to stay loyal to her; a woman who confuses love and jealousy.
The idea of a crossroads is often very distressing to most people, but to viewers, it makes for great pleasure, which is what we are getting here. Like cheating on your spouse deliberately, having a different life in secret. It's fun while it lasts until we are made to chose. Readers are not burdened with that decision here which is what makes for great pleasure. And what happens when they choose? The characters are rendered dull. There is just lingering regret for what could've been. The story has to end there.
The confluence of events seems manufactured in The Farewell Party. That is the greatest criticism I have of this novel. One could argue that the intertwining of stories, as happens in this novel, is essential to conveying the distressing nature of 'crossroads.' But the plot is almost a base pleasure, one should expect that from a self-proclaimed hedonist. It's Kundera though, there more it than that; there is always more to it than that. The environment he creates of this small town in his then deteriorating country is what makes fills the quality gaps left by the plot.
The idea of a crossroads is often very distressing to most people, but to viewers, it makes for great pleasure, which is what we are getting here. Like cheating on your spouse deliberately, having a different life in secret. It's fun while it lasts until we are made to chose. Readers are not burdened with that decision here which is what makes for great pleasure. And what happens when they choose? The characters are rendered dull. There is just lingering regret for what could've been. The story has to end there.
The confluence of events seems manufactured in The Farewell Party. That is the greatest criticism I have of this novel. One could argue that the intertwining of stories, as happens in this novel, is essential to conveying the distressing nature of 'crossroads.' But the plot is almost a base pleasure, one should expect that from a self-proclaimed hedonist. It's Kundera though, there more it than that; there is always more to it than that. The environment he creates of this small town in his then deteriorating country is what makes fills the quality gaps left by the plot.
bloodandglitter18's review against another edition
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
4.0
Vet inte. Gillade inte boken men gillade att läsa den. Ganska förvriden bild av verkligheten aka författaren verkar aldrig ha träffat en kvinna.