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399 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 12, 1990
丕賳卮睾賱 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 丿賵賲丕 亘賲爻兀賱丞 丕賱禺賱賵丿 賵 丕賱賮賳丕亍. 兀賮夭毓賴 兀賳 賷賲賵鬲 賮噩兀丞 賱兀爻亘丕亘 賯丿 賱丕 賷毓賱賲賴丕. 卮睾賱賴 賲賵鬲 兀丨亘丕亘賴 賵 乇賮丕賯賴 賵 丨鬲賶 兀毓丿丕亍賴. 賵 賱兀賳 賰賵賳丿賷乇丕 賱丕 賷丿毓 兀賮賰丕乇賴 鬲賲乇 賲乇賵乇 丕賱賰乇丕賲 賮賯丿 兀乇丕丿 兀賳 賷丿賱賷 亘丿賱賵賴 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賲爻兀賱丞 亘乇賵丕賷丞 睾賷乇 鬲賯賱賷丿賷丞 賰毓丕丿鬲賴.
賯亘賱 賲賲丕鬲賷 亘賮鬲乇丞 賯氐賷乇丞. 夭毓賲鬲 兀賳賳賷 兀賱賲爻 賮賷 賳賮爻賷 賯丿乇丞 廿亘丿丕毓賷丞 賰丕賳 賷亘丿賵 賱賷 夭賵丕賱賴丕 丕賱鬲丕賲 賲爻鬲丨賷賱丕. 賵 賰賳鬲 兀毓鬲賯丿 亘丕賱胤亘毓 兀賳賳賷 爻兀禺賱賮 氐賵乇丞 爻鬲賰賵賳 丕賲鬲丿丕丿丕 賱賷. 兀噩賱. 賰賳鬲 賲孬賱賰. 丨鬲賶 亘毓丿 賲賵鬲賷 賰丕賳 賲賳 丕賱賲鬲毓匕乇 毓賱賷賾 丕賱鬲爻賱賷賲 亘兀賳賳賷 賱賲 兀毓丿 賲賵噩賵丿丕. 廿賳賴 賱兀賲乇 睾乇賷亘. 廿賳 賰賵賳 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賮丕賳賺 賷毓丿 鬲噩乇亘丞 廿賳爻丕賳賷丞 兀爻丕爻賷丞. 賵 賲毓 匕賱賰 賱賲 賷賰賳 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賯丕丿乇丕 賯胤 毓賱賶 賯亘賵賱賴丕 賵 賮賴賲賴丕. 賵 丕賱鬲氐乇賮 亘賲賯鬲囟丕賴丕. 賱丕 賷毓乇賮 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳 賰賷賮 賷賰賵賳 賮丕賳賷丕. 賵 毓賳丿賲丕 賷賲賵鬲. 賱丕 賷毓乇賮 丨鬲賶 賰賷賮 賷賰賵賳 賲賷鬲丕.
廿賳賳丕 賳毓賷卮 噩賲賷毓丕. 賮賷 丨賷夭 賲丕 賲賳 兀賳賮爻賳丕 禺丕乇噩 丕賱夭賲賳. 賱毓賱賳丕 賱丕 賳毓賷 爻賳賳丕 廿賱丕 賮賷 亘毓囟 丕賱賱丨馗丕鬲 丕賱丕爻鬲孬賳丕卅賷丞. 賮賳丨賳 賰丕卅賳丕鬲 亘賱丕 爻賳 賮賷 賲毓馗賲 丕賱兀丨賷丕賳.賲賳 禺賱丕賱 乇賵丕賷丞 賲鬲毓丿丿丞 丕賱賲丨丕賵乇 賷胤乇丨 賰賵賳丿賷乇丕 賯囟賷丞 丕賱禺賱賵丿 亘卮禺氐賷丞 賵賴賲賷丞 丕亘鬲丿毓賴丕 賲賳 廿賷賲丕亍丞 睾賷乇 鬲賯賱賷丿賷丞 賱爻賷丿丞 乇丌賴丕 鬲禺乇噩 賲賳 亘乇賰丞 丕賱爻亘丕丨丞 賵 賲賳 孬賲 丕亘鬲丿毓 賱賴丕 夭賵噩 賵 兀禺鬲 賵 丕亘賳丞 賵 丨賷丕丞 賰丕賲賱丞.
鬲匕賰乇賻鬲 兀賳賴丕 賰丕賳鬲 賲賮鬲鬲賳丞 賮賷 胤賮賵賱鬲賴丕 亘賮賰乇丞 兀賳 丕賱乇亘 賷乇丕賯亘賴丕 亘丕爻鬲賲乇丕乇. 賵 賱毓賱賴丕 賰丕賳鬲 鬲賱賰 兀賵賱 賲乇丞 卮毓乇鬲 賮賷賴丕 亘賴匕賴 丕賱賱匕丞 丕賱睾乇賷亘丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲爻丕賵乇 亘賳賷 丕賱亘卮乇 毓賳丿賲丕 賷賰賵賳賵賳 鬲丨鬲 丕賱兀賳馗丕乇. 毓賳丿賲丕 賷購賳馗乇 廿賱賷賴賲 乇睾賲丕 毓賳賴賲 賵 賴賲 賮賷 賱丨馗丕鬲賴賲 丕賱丨賲賷賲賷丞. 毓賳丿賲丕 賷賳鬲賴賰 丕賱賳馗乇 丨乇賲丕鬲賴賲. 賰丕賳鬲 兀賲賴丕 鬲賯賵賱 賱賴丕: 丕賱乇亘 賷乇丕賰. 丌賲賱丞 亘匕賱賰 兀賳 鬲賳夭毓 賲賳賴丕 毓丕丿丞 丕賱賰匕亘. 賱賰賳 丕賱毓賰爻 賴賵 丕賱匕賷 賰丕賳 賷丨氐賱. 賮賴賷 賱賲 鬲賰賳 鬲鬲禺賷賱 丕賱乇亘 鬲丨丿賷丿丕 廿賱丕 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱賱丨馗丕鬲 丕賱鬲賷 鬲賲丕乇爻 賮賷賴丕 毓丕丿丕鬲賴丕 丕賱爻賷卅丞 兀賵 賱丨馗丕鬲 禺夭賷賴丕.賵 賱兀賳 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賮賷 禺賷丕賱賳丕 賴賷 丕賳毓賰丕爻 賱賲丕 亘丿丕禺賱賳丕 賵 丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 賮賷 丕賱賵丕賯毓 賯丿 賱丕 鬲賰賵賳 賰匕賱賰. 賮廿賳 丕賱丌禺乇 賴賵 賲乇丌丞 賱賳丕. 賳乇賶 兀賳賮爻賳丕 賮賷 毓賷賵賳賴 賯亘賱 兀賳 賳乇丕賴丕 賮賷 丕賱賲乇丌丞.
鬲禺賷賱 賱賵 兀賳賰 鬲毓賷卮 賮賷 毓丕賱賲 賱賷爻 亘賴 賲乇丌丞. 爻鬲丨賱賲 亘賵噩賴賰. 賵 爻鬲鬲禺賷賱賴 賰丕賳毓賰丕爻 賱賲丕 賷賵噩丿 亘丿丕禺賱賰. 孬賲 鬲禺賷賱 兀賳 兀丨丿丕 賲丿 賱賰 賲乇丌丞 賵 兀賳鬲 賮賷 丕賱兀乇亘毓賷賳 賲賳 毓賲乇賰. 鬲禺賷賱 丕賱乇毓亘 丕賱匕賷 爻賷氐賷亘賰. 爻鬲乇賶 賵噩賴丕 睾乇賷亘丕 毓賳賰 鬲賲丕賲丕. 爻鬲賮賴賲 亘賵囟賵丨 賲丕 乇賮囟鬲 丕賱鬲爻賱賷賲 亘賴: 賱賷爻 賵噩賴賰 賴賵 兀賳鬲.丨鬲賶 賮賷 毓氐乇 丕賱賰丕賲賷乇丕 丕賱鬲賷 鬲乇丕賯亘賳丕 賮賷 賰賱 賲锟斤拷丕賳 賱賲 賷鬲睾賷乇 卮賷亍 賮兀賳丕賳丕 賰丕賳鬲 鬲卮毓乇 亘丕賱賮毓賱 亘賰丕賲賷乇丕鬲 禺賮賷丞 賲爻賱胤丞 毓賱賷賴丕 賲賳 賰賱 賲賰丕賳.
賴賱 鬲睾賷乇鬲 禺氐丕卅氐 丕賱禺賱賵丿 賮賷 毓氐乇 丕賱賰丕賲賷乇丕責 賱賲 鬲鬲睾賷乇 賮賷 丕賱毓賲賯. 賱兀賳 毓丿爻丞 丕賱賰丕賲賷乇丕 賰丕賳鬲 賲賵噩賵丿丞 賯亘賱 丕禺鬲乇丕毓賴丕 賰噩賵賴乇 賲噩乇丿. 賮賲賲丕 賱丕 卮賰 賮賷賴 兀賳 丕賱賳丕爻 賰丕賳賵丕 賷鬲氐乇賮賵賳 賰賲丕 賱賵 兀賳賴 賷噩乇賶 鬲氐賵賷乇賴賲 丿賵賳 兀賳 鬲賰賵賳 孬賲丞 毓賷賳 賰丕賲賷乇丕 賲爻丿丿丞 廿賱賷賴賲.廿匕丕 賮丕賱乇睾亘丞 賮賷 丕賱禺賱賵丿 兀爻丕爻賴丕 丕賱廿丨爻丕爻 丕賱賲鬲囟禺賲 亘丕賱兀賳丕 賵 賱賰賳 賷賳亘睾賷 兀賳 賷丿毓賲賴 丕賱鬲氐乇賮 丕賱賲鬲賮乇丿 丕賱匕賷 賷丿賮毓 亘賲夭賷丿 賲賳 丕賱賰丕賲賷乇丕鬲 丕賱賲爻賱胤丞 毓賱賶 賴匕賴 丕賱兀賳丕 賵 亘丕賱鬲丕賱賷 丕賱賲夭賷丿 賲賳 鬲囟禺賲 丕賱匕丕鬲.
賱丕 卮賷亍 兀賮賷丿 賲賳 兀賳 賷鬲亘賳賶 丕賱賲乇亍 爻賱賵賰丕 胤賮賵賱賷丕. 匕賱賰 兀賳 丕賱胤賮賱 丕賱匕賷 賱丕 賷夭丕賱 亘乇賷卅丕 賵 睾乇賷乇丕 賷丨賱 賱賴 兀賳 賷爻鬲亘賷丨 賲丕 賷卮丕亍. 賵 亘賲丕 兀賳賴 賱賲 賷丿禺賱 亘毓丿 丕賱毓丕賱賲 丕賱匕賷 鬲爻賷胤乇 賮賷賴 丕賱卮賰賱賷丕鬲 丕賱丕噩鬲賲丕毓賷丞. 賮賴賵 賱賷爻 賲噩亘乇丕 毓賱賶 丕賱丕賱鬲夭丕賲 亘賯賵丕毓丿 丕賱賱賷丕賯丞. 賵 賷丨賯 賱賴 兀賳 賷毓亘乇 毓賳 賲卮丕毓乇賴 丿賵賳 丨乇噩. 賴賰匕丕 賰丕賳 丕賱賳丕爻 丕賱匕賷賳 賷乇賮囟賵賳 丕賱賳馗乇 廿賱賷賴丕 賰胤賮賱丞 賷乇賵賳賴丕 亘賱賴丕亍 賵 睾賷乇 賲賴匕亘丞 賵 賲鬲氐賳毓丞 亘卮賰賱 賷爻鬲毓氐賷 毓賱丕噩賴. 亘丕賱賲賯丕亘賱 賷乇賶 賮賷賴丕 賲賳 賷毓鬲亘乇賵賳賴丕 胤賮賱丞 兀亘丿賷丞 賮鬲丕丞 賮丕鬲賳丞 亘毓賮賵賷鬲賴丕 丕賱胤亘賷毓賷丞.賵 賲賳 丕賱賲賮丕乇賯丕鬲 丕賱乇丕卅毓丞 賴賳丕 賮賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賵 賮賷 兀丿亘 賰賵賳丿賷乇丕 亘氐賮丞 毓丕賲丞 兀賳 丕賱亘胤賱 丿丕卅賲丕 丕賲乇兀丞 賲賴賲丕 鬲毓丿丿 丕賱兀亘胤丕賱 賵 賲賴賲丕 亘丿丕 賱賳丕 毓賰爻 匕賱賰. 賮丕賱賲乇兀丞 賴賷 氐丕丨亘丞 丕賱乇賵丨 丕賱賵孬丕亘丞 丕賱鬲賷 兀賳囟噩鬲賴丕 丕賱鬲噩乇亘丞 賵 睾爻賱賴丕 丕賱兀賱賲 賲賳匕 丕賱亘丿丕賷丞.
鬲賲囟賷 丕賱賲乇兀丞 賵賯鬲丕 兀賰亘乇 賮賷 丕賱丨丿賷孬 毓賳 賲卮丕睾賱賴丕 丕賱噩爻丿賷丞. 賵 賴賷 賱丕 鬲毓乇賮 丕賱賳爻賷丕賳 丕賱賱丕賲亘丕賱賷 亘丕賱噩爻丿. 賷亘丿兀 賴匕丕 賲毓 氐丿賲丞 丕賱賳夭賷賮 丕賱兀賵賱. 賷丨囟乇 丕賱噩爻丿 賮噩兀丞 賮鬲賳鬲氐亘 丕賱賲乇兀丞 兀賲丕賲賴 賲孬賱 賲賷賰丕賳賷賰賷 賲爻卅賵賱 毓賳 鬲卮睾賷賱 賲氐賳毓 氐睾賷乇 亘賲賮乇丿賴: 毓賱賷賴丕 兀賳 鬲囟毓 丕賱賮賵胤 賰賱 卮賴乇. 賵 兀賳 鬲亘鬲賱毓 兀賯乇丕氐丕. 賵 鬲爻賵賷 丨賲丕賱丞 氐丿乇賴丕. 賵 兀賳 鬲賰賵賳 賲爻鬲毓丿丞 賱賱廿賳鬲丕噩. 賵 賰賱賲丕 賮賯丿 丕賱噩爻丿 丕賱賳爻丕卅賷 賮丕卅丿鬲賴 兀氐亘丨 卮亘賷賴丕 亘賲氐賳毓 賲鬲丿丕毓. 賱賰賳 毓賱賶 乇賵丨 丕賱賲乇兀丞 兀賳 鬲馗賱 亘丕賱賯乇亘 賲賳賴 鬲丨乇爻賴 廿賱賶 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞.廿匕丕 賮噩賵鬲賴 賵 亘乇賳丕乇 賵 乇賵亘賳夭 賵 睾賷乇賴丕 賲賳 丕賱卮禺氐賷丕鬲 丕賱匕賰賵乇賷丞 亘賲丕 賮賷賴丕 賰賵賳丿賷乇丕 賳賮爻賴 丕賱匕賷 賱毓亘 丿賵乇丕 賮賷 丕賱兀丨丿丕孬 賴賵 賵 氐丿賷賯賴 丕賱賵賴賲賷 兀賮賷賳丕乇賷賵爻. 賰賱 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱乇噩丕賱 廿賳 賴賲 廿賱丕 賱睾賵 丕賱丨丿賷孬 賵 丨卮賵 丕賱賰賱丕賲 賵 丕賱亘胤賵賱丞 丕賱賲胤賱賯丞 賴賷 賮賯胤 賱賭 亘賷鬲賷賳丕 賵 賱賵乇丕 賵 乇亘賲丕 賯賱賷賱丕 賱賭 兀賳賷賷爻.
賱賳爻賲 廿賷賲丕亍丞 亘賷鬲賷賳丕 賵 賱賵乇丕 廿賷賲丕亍丞 丕賱乇睾亘丞 賮賷 丕賱禺賱賵丿. 賮亘賷鬲賷賳丕 鬲乇賷丿 兀賳 鬲賯賵賱 亘胤賲賵丨賴丕 賱賱禺賱賵丿: 廿賳賳賷 兀乇賮囟 兀賳 兀鬲賱丕卮賶 賲毓 丕賱丨丕囟乇 賵 賴賲賵賲賴. 兀乇賷丿 兀賳 兀鬲噩丕賵夭 賳賮爻賷. 賵 兀賳 兀氐亘丨 噩夭亍丕 賲賳 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺. 賱兀賳 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 毓賲賱丞 禺丕賱丿丞. 賵 乇睾賲 兀賳 賱賵乇丕 賱賲 鬲賰賳 鬲胤賲丨 廿賱丕 廿賱賶 丕賱禺賱賵丿 丕賱兀氐睾乇. 賮廿賳賴丕 賰丕賳鬲 鬲鬲賵賯 廿賱賶 丕賱卮賷亍 賳賮爻賴. 兀賳 鬲鬲噩丕賵夭 賳賮爻賴丕. 賵 鬲鬲噩丕賵夭 丕賱賱丨馗丞 丕賱爻毓賷丿丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲噩鬲丕夭賴丕. 兀賳 鬲賯賵賲 亘卮賷亍 賱賰賷 鬲馗賱 賮賷 匕丕賰乇丞 賰賱 賲賳 毓乇賮賴丕.賵 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞
賱丕 鬲賻毓乇賮 廿賷賲丕亍丞 丕賱乇睾亘丞 賮賷 丕賱禺賱賵丿 廿賱丕 賲毓賱賲賷賳 賲賲賷夭賷賳: 丕賱兀賳丕 賴丕 賴賳丕 賵 丕賱兀賮賯 丕賱亘毓賷丿 賴賳丕賰. 賵 賱丕 鬲毓乇賮 睾賷乇 賲賮賴賵賲賷賳: 丕賱賲胤賱賯 丕賱匕賷 賴賵 丕賱兀賳丕 賵 賲胤賱賯 丕賱毓丕賱賲. 賱丕 賷噩賲毓 卮賷亍 廿匕賳 亘賷賳 賴匕賴 丕賱廿賷賲丕亍丞 賵 丕賱丨亘. 亘賲丕 兀賳 丕賱兀禺乇 丕賱賯乇賷亘. 賵 賴賵 賰賱 廿賳爻丕賳 賲賵噩賵丿 亘賷賳 賴匕賷賳 丕賱丨丿賷賳 丕賱賲鬲胤乇賮賷賳 (丕賱毓丕賱賲 賵 丕賱兀賳丕). 賲賯氐賷 賲爻亘賯丕 賲賳 丕賱賱毓亘丞. 賲賴賲賱 賵 睾賷乇 賲乇卅賷.
賵 賳丨賳 賳毓賱賲 賲賳 賲孬丕賱 賲賷卮賰賷賳 賵 賳丕爻鬲丕夭賷丕 賮賱賷亘賵賮賳丕 賲賳 乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱兀亘賱賴 賱丿賵爻鬲賵賷賮爻賰賷 兀賳 丕賱乇賵丨 丨賷賳賲丕 鬲賰賵賳 鬲丨鬲 兀賳馗丕乇 賰孬賷賮丞. 賱丕 鬲賰賮 毓賳 丕賱賳賲賵 賵 丕賱鬲賵乇賲 賵 丕賱鬲囟禺賲. 賱賰賷 鬲胤賷乇 賮賷 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賳丨賵 丕賱兀毓丕賱賷. 賰賲賳胤丕丿 賲囟丕亍 毓賱賶 賳丨賵 亘丿賷毓.
廿賳 賲丕 賷丿賮毓 丕賱賳丕爻 廿賱賶 乇賮毓 兀賷丿賷賴賲. 賵 鬲賳丕賵賱 亘賳丿賯賷丞 賵 丕賱丕賳鬲氐丕乇 噩賲丕毓賷丕 賱賯囟丕賷丕 毓丕丿賱丞 兀賵 睾賷乇 毓丕丿賱丞. 賱賷爻 丕賱毓賯賱. 亘賱 丕賱乇賵丨 丕賱賲鬲囟禺賲丞. 廿賳賴丕 丕賱賵賯賵丿 丕賱匕賷 賱丕 賷賲賰賳 兀賳 賷丿賵乇 賲丨乇賰 丕賱鬲丕乇賷禺 亘丿賵賳賴. 賵 亘丿賵賳賴 兀賷囟丕 賰丕賳鬲 兀賵乇賵亘丕 爻鬲亘賯賶 賲爻鬲賱賯賷丞 毓賱賶 丕賱毓卮亘 鬲乇丕賯亘 亘賰爻賱 丕賱爻丨亘 丕賱乇丕賰囟丞 賮賷 丕賱爻賲丕亍.
廿賲丕 兀賳 鬲賰賵賳 丕賱賲乇兀丞 賲爻鬲賯亘賱 丕賱乇噩賱. 賵 廿賱丕 爻鬲賰賵賳 賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱亘卮乇賷丞. 賱兀賳 丕賱賲乇兀丞 賵丨丿賴丕. 賲賳 鬲爻鬲胤賷毓 丕賱鬲毓賱賯 亘兀賲賱 賱丕 賲亘乇乇 賱賴. 賵 兀賳 鬲丿毓賵賳丕 廿賱賶 賲爻鬲賯亘賱 睾賷乇 賲囟賲賵賳. 賰賳丕 爻賳鬲賵賯賮 毓賳 丕賱廿賷賲丕賳 亘賴 賲賳匕 夭賲賳 亘毓賷丿 賱賵賱丕 丕賱賳爻丕亍.
At that instant I felt a pang in my heart! That smile and that gesture belonged to a twenty-year-old girl! Her arm rose with bewitching ease. It was as if she were playfully tossing a brightly colored ball to her lover. That smile and that gesture had charm and elegance, while the face and the body no longer had any charm. It was the charm of a gesture drowning in the charmlessness of the body ... I was strangely moved. And then the word Agnes entered my mind. Agnes. I had never known a woman by that name.But wait. Is this elderly woman, charmless, possibly named Agnes, really a character in the novel? And what about that first-person narrator? Is he not a character, in a sense?
When I wake up, at almost eight-thirty, I try to picture Agnes. She is lying, like me, in a wide bed. The right side of the bed is empty. Who could her husband be? Clearly, somebody who leaves the house early on Saturday mornings. That鈥檚 why she is alone, sweetly swinging between waking and sleeping.
Then she gets up. Facing her is a TV set, standing on one long, storklike leg. She throws her nightgown over the tube, like a white, tasseled theater curtain. She stands close to the bed, and for the first time I see her naked. Agnes, the heroine of my novel. I can鈥檛 take my eyes off this beautiful woman, and as if sensing my gaze she hurries off to the adjoining room to get dressed.
Who is Agnes? 鈥� Agnes sprang from the gesture of that sixty-year-old woman at the pool 鈥� whose features are already fading from my memory. At the time, that gesture aroused in me immense, inexplicable nostalgia, and this nostalgia gave birth to the woman I call Agnes.
When someone is young, he is not capable of conceiving of time as a circle, but thinks of it as a road leading forward to ever-new horizons; he does not yet sense that his life contains just a single theme; he will come to realise it only when his life begins to enact its first variations.There are countless themes swimming inside this novel (or are they merely variations on life and death?), and every few pages you're left wondering how you feel about what he's just touched on - have I ever thought about this?; yes, he has put it perfectly; that's what I've always wanted to put into words but never could!
'Just imagine living in a world without mirrors. You'd dream about your face and imagine it as an outer reflection of what is inside you. And then, when you reached forty, someone would put a mirror before you for the first time in your life. Imagine your fright! You'd see the face of a stranger. And you'd know quite clearly what you are unable to grasp: your face is not you.'One of the strongest forces in our lives, and perhaps a natural human constant, is identifying with ourselves. Could you go a day without looking in the mirror? Isn't your name so dear to you that it even feels like it's something you yourself created out of talent and inspiration? Are our gestures, familial relations, mannerisms in making love and what we hold as our own peculiarities, actually unique when the sheer number of people on Earth suggests otherwise? If we created art, do we wish for its immortality or our own as the creator? Just how well do we think we know how others perceive us?
'I long for an experiment that would examine, by means of electrodes attached to the human head, exactly how much of one's life a person devotes to the present, how much to the memories and how much to the future. This would let us know who a man really is in relation to his time. What human time really is.'I especially liked Agnes in this novel; I felt that her own world and dignity were precious to her over anything else, and I could relate to that. While she realises she loved and truly connected with her father, there's always an insurmountable gap between her and her mother, sister, lovers, even husband and daughter.
Agnes subtracts from her self everything that is exterior and borrowed, in order to come closer to her sheer essence (even with the risk that zero lurks at the bottom of the subtraction). Laura's method is precisely the opposite: in order to make her self ever more visible, perceivable, seizable, sizeable, she keeps adding to it more and more attributes and she attempts to identify herself with them (with the risk that the essence of the self may be buried by the additional attributes).The only reason I didn't give this book five stars is that it fell just short of the standards of which touched me deeper, but I must say that Immortality easily overpowers most novels I've rated four stars. If you haven't read Kundera before, I highly recommend these two, in my eyes, works of art that speak through their wisdom, insights, and most of all, love.