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A review by mikarala
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It only took a few pages for me to fall in love with this novel. It is somehow both incredibly philosophical and yet completely grounded. This is a book that doesn't shy away from dirty topics, and honestly it can be kind of gross at times. But even then, there's a kind of respect for that dirtiness being a part of what makes us human, and I felt that Kundera treated all the characters with a lot of tenderness, even when they had degrading thoughts and experiences. I think that's quite the feat for a book that features a philanderer and nympomaniac as our male lead, with female main characters who can't help but love him and express a kind of obsessive love and desire to be dominated by him at times.
Considering that, I'm kind of surprised to say I actually thought Tereza and Sabina were rendered with quite a lot of respect and thoughtfulness for their individuality, rather than being relegated to being mere sex objects. I often find women written by men, especially in novels where sex is a major topic, can feel quite one-dimensional or objectified. I didn't feel that way at all about Tereza and Sabina. I thought they were both extremely complex and well-written female characters, I would honestly say probably some of my favourite female characters ever written by a male author.
Altogether, an incredibly thoughtful meditation on the human condition, on surviving the everyday indignities associated with our existence and doing your best to find happiness in whatever form you can. Definitely a novel I need to return to and experience again, because I feel like there's so much more to it that I wasn't able to fully appreciate this time. Highly recommend.
Considering that, I'm kind of surprised to say I actually thought Tereza and Sabina were rendered with quite a lot of respect and thoughtfulness for their individuality, rather than being relegated to being mere sex objects. I often find women written by men, especially in novels where sex is a major topic, can feel quite one-dimensional or objectified. I didn't feel that way at all about Tereza and Sabina. I thought they were both extremely complex and well-written female characters, I would honestly say probably some of my favourite female characters ever written by a male author.
Altogether, an incredibly thoughtful meditation on the human condition, on surviving the everyday indignities associated with our existence and doing your best to find happiness in whatever form you can. Definitely a novel I need to return to and experience again, because I feel like there's so much more to it that I wasn't able to fully appreciate this time. Highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Excrement
Minor: Emotional abuse