Reviews

The Festival of Insignificance by Milan Kundera

lulumoss's review

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2.0

Maybe it's just me; or maybe you need to be French? I didn't understand a thing that was going on in that book. I mean I could understand each little vignette as I was reading it, but as a whole? To call it a novel is stretching it, I think. Other than being about the same small group of people, it didn't seem to tie together. There was no THERE there, if you know what I mean.

I'm willing to concede that it's VERY possible that it's just me and that this is a wonderful sparkling miracle of a novel, and I'm just an illiterate bumpkin who should stick to mystery-solving cats, but honestly - what WAS that?

jesustrespalacios's review against another edition

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3.0

“La insignificancia, amigo mío, es la esencia de la existencia. Está con nosotros en todas partes y en todo momento. Está presente incluso cuando no se la quiere ver: en el horror, en las luchas sangrientas, en las peores desgracias. Se necesita con frecuencia mucho valor para reconocerla en condiciones tan dramáticas y para llamarla por su nombre. Pero no se trata tan sólo de reconocerla, hay que amar la insignificancia, hay que aprender a amarla.”

miiyayukii's review against another edition

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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

4.0

marionmrg's review against another edition

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J'y retrouve rien.. c'est pas très entrainant, pas de profondeur à l'histoire.. dommage moi qui souhaitais découvrir Kundera c'est un véritable échec ici.. 

hellay's review against another edition

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challenging funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

saltkroka's review

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slow-paced

0.5

More like the festival of creepiness, or the torture by boredom. Terrible, do not recommend.

cosmere_emily's review

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1.0

dnf even though it’s so short it’s just so damn boring I couldn’t do it

lauradelic's review

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funny lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

hannahbananas's review against another edition

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funny fast-paced

5.0

la tendresse augmentait dans le cœur de Staline au même rythme que la pression de l’urine dans la vessie de Kalinine.

kirsten0929's review

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2.0

More of a long short story than a novel. Like how the author makes clear that these are his characters, his creations, inserts himself into the narrative here and there. Interesting that this was not a distraction. I would think it would be like watching a play where the actor falls out of character but it's not. It works. Overall, appreciated how he interwove the four main characters but couldn't fully appreciate the story. A little over my head perhaps.