The Unbearable Lightness of Being - No spoilers thread

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Hello. The book we have chosen for our Revisit the Shelf text for August 2021 is The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. The last time we read this book as a group was in 2012. This was when the group was rather new, and before my time. As far as I can tell, there was not a No Spoiler thread at that time, so this is it!

Remember no spoiler threads are for stating that you might want to read the book. We often discuss editions of the book. Please refrain from giving your review of the book or divulging plot elements. I hope you join in and read the book with us. I have not read this book yet, so it will be new to me.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

I took the following description of our author from his Goodreads author page:

Milan Kundera is a Czech and French writer of Czech origin who has lived in exile in France since 1975, where he became a naturalized French citizen in 1981. He is best known for The Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting, and The Joke.

Kundera has written in both Czech and French. He revises the French translations of all his books; these therefore are not considered translations but original works.

Due to censorship by the Communist government of Czechoslovakia, his books were banned from his native country, and that remained the case until the downfall of this government in the Velvet Revolution of 1989.

[Gaurav]

I can't wait for this! I read it twice already and I can't wait to revisit it.

[J_BlueFlower]

I have never read it, but have seen it mentioned many times, and starting to think that it may be not just a classic but a mega classic. Very much looking forward.

....So much in fact that I already borrowed a hard copy at the local library. The first non-ebook book I have borrowed the last 7 months. (Library building has been closed). Got a little carried away with being able to freely enter the library again. Yes, just like that: Walk trough the main entrance, not showing any certificates....

[Sam]

My first time as well and have also already got my copy. I am going to try my read and listen approach by borrowing the audio version too.

[Natalie]

I’ve never read this before. I just put it on hold and if it comes in on time I’ll read it. It’s 16 weeks out though so it’s not looking great. 😬

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Oh good luck Natalie. Sometimes library books are returned early. You might get it.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

I ordered a physical copy online last night. I have a credit card that will earn points on Amazon books, so this is a "free" book to me with points. I get two or three a year that way. Being a classics group, we choose enough older books in the free domain that I rarely need to purchase one.

[Piyangie]

I've never read anything by Milan Kundera, so looking forward to this. I'm planning to do audio. Can find it in audible or Scribd.

[Milena]

I last read this book in college. I loved it then. Curious how I will feel about it now. I am surprised I don't own a physical copy. Will have to get it from the library.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Often with a book in translation to English we must discuss different translators and their editions. Since this is a more recently published book, I do not think that will be an issue. I can only find one translation. In fact, I read a blog that stated that Milan Kundera personally was involved with the choice of translators and would only allow one version. This may explain why the book is considered such a high quality book. Translation quality makes a huge difference to the reader! Correct me if you find more than one translator. The translator of the edition I purchased is Michael Henry Heim.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

I haven't read this one, and am looking forward to it.

[Michaela]

I have this book at home in the German translation, so I´m glad to finally read it.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Michaela wrote: "I have this book at home in the German translation, so I´m glad to finally read it."

I am so impressed. How many languages do you speak, or read? I really only speak English, but can somewhat comprehend French when reading. I cannot comprehend a native French speaker though. They speak much too quickly for me!

[Michaela]

Lynn wrote: "Michaela wrote: "I have this book at home in the German translation, so I´m glad to finally read it."

I am so impressed. How many languages do you speak, or read? I really only speak English, but ..."

German is my native language, so when a book isn´t originally written in English I´m reading the German translation (or original). Though I learned a bit of French and Italian, I could never read a book in these languages, nevertheless understand French(wo)men or Italians speak their language. ;)

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Still to be completely fluent in two languages with a third and fourth comprehensible is quite an accomplishment.

[J_BlueFlower]

Lynn wrote: "Still to be completely fluent in two languages with a third and fourth comprehensible is quite an accomplishment."

I am from Denmark. Here the younger generation starts English at first class (age 6-7 years). I doubt I would be able to find anyone younger than 30 who it not fluent in English. Third language would be French or German starting at age 10-11.

It is just a plain necessity when you start out with this weird thingy that sounds like speaking with your mouth full.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

J_BlueFlower wrote: "Lynn wrote: "Still to be completely fluent in two languages with a third and fourth comprehensible is quite an accomplishment."

I am from Denmark. Here the younger generation starts English at fir..."

Wish we had emojis. It would be a big smile. : )

[Natalie]

It really is so impressive!

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I have had this book on my shelf for years, probably since it first won group read back in 2012. Over 370,000 readers have given it an average rating or 4.10, a pretty good rating. Why is it then that of the at least one dozen times I have had it my hand to read, trepidation makes me put it back on the shelf?

I may read it someday but not this month.

[Michaela]

I didn´t like it either, though it doesn´t deal with politics so much. And I´ve come to relativise the ratings.