The Unbearable Lightness of Being

[[deleted user]]

Angela and I are reading this in May - please join us if you wish :0)

[Angela]

I am about two days away from starting this... can't wait!!! :)

[[deleted user]]

I shall start this week too :0)

[Marie (UK)]

I hated this book - it is touted as the greatest thing since sliced bread and is simply a repetition in 7 or maybe 8 parts. I found nothing to like in the characters Thomas, was a boor and a chauvinist and Theresa a doormat. Insipid. Maybe i was missing something. I will be interested in your insight

[[deleted user]]

I've read it before and I enjoyed it with some reservations - there's definitely a rather chauvenistic tone to it at times.

[Angela]

I am on p. 42 and am finding it strangely engrossing. Very much enjoying so far - it is very quotable. Anyone else starting to nibble on this one?

[[deleted user]]

Definitely tomorrow :0)

[Hilary]

I really wanted to join in with this but just don't have time at the moment. I'll be interested in what you think of it though.

[[deleted user]]

Just started and straight away - on the very 1st page ( with the the paragraph about the eternally recurring Robespierre ) I remembered what I liked about it. Like Laurel said about The Man Without Qualities, it's a novel of ideas and there's something to think about on every page.

[Angela]

Absolutely! I think this is wonderfully written, so penetrating. He has made a myriad of ideas completely readable. I am into Tereza's story now... a lot of what Kundera says really rings true.

[Angela]

P.S. Can we have one of his poems for the daily some time? :o)

[[deleted user]]

Sad to say I didn't even know he'd written any - but yes, of course we can :0)

[[deleted user]]

Once I started I couldn't stop. I think I enjoyed it even more the 2nd time - it's so very wise. The one thing I would change about the book (view spoiler)[ apart from a giving a happy ending to at least one of the characters (hide spoiler)] would be to have a Iittle less detail about Tomas's infidelities . That aside, the the book is a tragic/comic very human delight. (view spoiler)[ I couldn't read it right to the end as the last bit about Karenin reminded me too much about losing our cat last year - Mr Kundera must be an animal lover<\spoiler> (hide spoiler)]

[Angela]

Does this mean you've finished?!

[[deleted user]]

Yes - sorry - should have said - I just charged through it :0)

[Jenny]

this is one of my favorites too, I will be lurking a wee bit to see how you're liking it ;)

[Angela]

I am such a slowpoke but I am savouring it on purpose as the writing is so enjoyable. Has anyone read any of his other work?

[Jenny]

yes many, I had a rather long Kundera phase several years back and liked most of his novels very much. They are all rather philosophical and even the ones I didn't like quite as much are worth being read for the sentence-gems alone.

[Jenny]

I've just checked Angela: another favorite of mine by him is 'The Joke', his first novel.

[Angela]

Thanks so much Jenny - the writing is so good I would read another of his in a heartbeat. I feel my own Kundera phase is ready to commence :) Will check out The Joke now.

[[deleted user]]

So glad you suggested a Readalong for this, Angie - I'd forgotten how much I loved it - the only other Kundera I've read so far is Immortality and I really enjoyed that one too. I've got The Joke somewhere about and also The Book of Laughter and Forgetting

[Hilary]

I don't recall reading anything by him and although I intended to join in this read along other things took over. Which book would you suggest would be the best introduction to his work.

[Angela]

This is my first Hil and I think it's great. What do you think ladies?

[[deleted user]]

Of the 2 I've read I like The Unbearable Lightness of Being best - but I read somewhere that the first Kundera you read is always your favourite because it's your introduction to his unique style - not sure how true this is generally - but it was for me. :0)

[Jenny]

I think this one is a good start to get a feeling for if you like his style Hilary.

[Hilary]

Thanks everyone, I'll try and see if I can track down a copy.

[Angela]

Has anyone seen the movie 'Closer'? Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts etc.? I am reminded of that film while reading this, which is interesting as the movie was once reviewed with the phrase 'rabid bunnies'. I'd be interested to know if anyone else can see similarities.
Still loving it :)

[[deleted user]]

No I haven't seen Closer (I have to say it like Hannibal Lecter does in Silence of the lambs) - would you recommend it (despite the rabid rabbits )? There is a film version of the Unbearable Lightness of Being - can't imagine how they adapted it.

[Jenny]

it's great Lee! (the original movie)

[Angela]

I finished this about a week ago and loved it!! I posted a thought or two in critics corner. Lee I'd love you to watch Closer, even if just to tell me whether my comparison is just.

[[deleted user]]

I shall give it a go - I imagine it should be quite easy to sell to my other half (rabid rabbits etc)

[Angela]

Haha yes there are no actual sex scenes to my recollection, just a lot of talking about sex scenes!