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Oh man I know

Your review is quite ironic in that it is pretentious. It doesn't account for individual taste and the fact that everyone will take from a novel something different. Why didn't you concentrate on expressing your own opinion of the novel rather than poorly criticising differing opinions to yours?

I don't believe there WERE any 50s gangster hats in the novel.

This is an interesting phenomenon on ŷ������ and maybe all over the place. One person doesn't like a book so they call into question the intentions behind everyone who does.

"Look how many attempts at witty barbs I can make!"
Negative views are fair enough but the way you have expressed them is more suitable for the discussion boards. They are separate from the reviews section for a reason.

This is what I was trying to say...you said it better. Thanks.

Apparently seemless execution of subtext mirroring decades of society changing philosophy, reflections on European political strife and it's psychological implications, and brilliant uses of literary devices are just no match for your intellectual prowess, huh? I guess generations of "lonely intellectuals" are all just not reading deeply enough into the story to tease out the bullshit you were able to draw from the text. Please have mercy on our idiocy.

Loved you review. "This book is not but chicken soup for those obnoxious, lonely intellectuals..":D very well said.

And has a really lousy and empty ending.

I liked the book a little more than this, but still, bravo.

I agree, what a shocker. The line abot uutut women like the weight of men on top of them during sex as allpoets agree throughout the ages . Gee whiz how dumb. Of course all the poets are menprob . Pretenious , grandiose, unreadable.

Did any of you notice that he used up around 50 pages or so to talk about "shit", "defecation", "faeces"? He must've realised by that time that his novel was really shitty, so he decided to talk about "shit"... and philosophize about it!

Great review!

@Amt Reed said "This has to be the most over-rated book ever." That seems a bit hyperbolic and melodramatic. And to insult readers who like the book seems counterproductive.

We all dislike some books -- even great ones. I. for instance, still rate "Moby Dick" only two or three stars... and I've read it like three times... just to make sure I wasn't mistaken. And we all love books we know are "trash," but read for joy.

That said, you may want to focus on the text instead of making broad generalizations about readers. And so you know, I am reading the book now and getting a sense of the strengths/ weaknesses of it. So love reading both positive and critical reviews.

I found yours of little help. Since you seem morally outraged by a character's infidelity, and insult readers who enjoy the book. But do little to tear apart the text and tell me why you are dissatisfied.

FYI, having a character who cheats on his or her spouse does not mean that Kundera approves of the behavior. Instead, he is using the serial infidelity to explore what the character means... to the author.

I agree with your review 100%, I couldn't wait to finish this book not because I wanted to see what happens to the character but because I wanted to start another book.

I didn't enjoy the book either. Too much Philosophy for me and I thought he wasted a lot of time talking about stuff that I thought was totally unnecessary.. and yes the abrupt ending! So yes, I also couldn't wait to finish it and move on! This one was definitely not my cup of tea!

Roohi wrote: "I didn't enjoy the book either. Too much Philosophy for me and I thought he wasted a lot of time talking about stuff that I thought was totally unnecessary.. and yes the abrupt ending! So yes, I al..."

The ending is actually very meaningful to the rest of the book. This whole book is a philosophical question about meaning to life (weight) or no meaning to life (lightness). The end with the butterfly floating in the room relates to the lightness/meaningless of life while the music coming from below relates to the heaviness/meaning to life. What Kundera is trying to say is that we will never find an answer. These two ideals will never be separate.

Thank you, I totally agree with the review and I'm giving up the book. The explanation of Teresa psychology based on the Life kg the mother has zero depth, it's basically cliché.

I don't care you do not love the book.

I actually really enjoyed this book but now reading your review I am doubting myself and tending to agree with you on some points.

Thank you for writing this review 👍

Thanks. I am a little over halfway through the book, and I don't know whether it's a good book or not. It has definitely more substance to it than the movie. More later.

Thank you for your opinion of this book. I have had this on my radar for awhile and thought I should read it, but you have changed my mind. I read a couple books last year because I thought I should and one was the worst book I read all year (Catch 22). Maybe I just didn't "get it" -- but nevertheless a waste of time for me.

I have only just begun reading the book and want to criticize you for judging anyone who likes it. That said, I cannot help but feel superior to anyone who thinks that Ayn Rands books or well-written or that she actually had anything worthwhile to say so I will not judge- at least not until I have finished reading the book. ;)

Yep, hate this book.

I found it incredibly pretentious and the juxtaposition of sex with war jarring. It wasn’t handled well. No characterization. The characters are just there as place holders and a mouth piece for Kundera’s philosophy. (Which I get is part of the point, but the execution was piss poor. It’s just not good writing. *Shrugs and find better things to do with one’s time*).

Probably one of the worst books I’ve ever read. I suffered through it. Your review is spot on!

I read this book twice, 10 years apart. I understood the depth of it much more the second time. Life is random coincidences without meaning. Suffering is senseless. However, humans have a need to “make sense�� and have a purpose for living (weight). Without meaning/purpose (lightness) is unbearable. Most of us are sheeps going through life giving little thought to purpose and meaning. I believe Kundera captured the restlessness and emptiness of a man’s search for meaning. It’s very poignant. It’s not a book for entertainment.

I find it counterproductive that you focus on attacking people who liked the book. One could equally take on the fact that you clearly can't appreciate a book for more than the "story", and have no appreciation for the ideas behind it. The author even states it, but you clearly missed it. The characters are not real and are only a reflection of his ideas - the book is a comment on the meaning of life.

I agree - I couldn’t even finish it! Overtly pretentious with nothing likable about any of the characters; the writing is terrible. I’m lol at all the people with hurt feelings over this review as well as the commenters who think you simply missed all the profundity.

Finally, someone with sense. This book is insanely bad. I don't know how I will finish it.

Glad this review exists because I am too lazy to bitch about this book. Maybe it appeals to others but I just found it hella sad and way too long, did not finish.

I gave it 2 stars on the quality of the book itself, but I can easily see why you went with a single star in the context of its overratedness.

I don't agree but your review made me laugh. Liked!

Glad to see another side to all the laud given Kundera....profound insights into humanity exist, but the main character is a narcissist and creeps me out. Also, anyone ever notice this author seems to be stuck in the “anal�� stage according to Freud’s theories??? 😂😂😂

Hate the book man, what was it even?

I agree heartily with your review and with Miodrag, above (I did the same as he).

In the world of Kitsch you would reign King

lol more please

Thanks for the review! I’m 75% finished (fortunately audiobook so it goes quickly). I somehow was under the impression that this was going to be a profound philosophical book about the soul. Since however I’m nearly finished and it lacks the depth I anticipated, I’m reading some reviews and can see I’m not alone. Personally, it reminds me of “Blindness�� by José Saramago where I was really excited to read but ended up abhorring all the characters because of their unheroic depravity.

I agree with you 100 percent. The book sucked in my opinion. I don't get the hype at all. Tomas was just a dick who should get his life together, and his wife Teresa was just the same. Freaking leave him. Simply ew.

Sure you like Paulo Coelho :)

From the start this review clearly shows it is not targeted at the book but rather the author and the people who like the book. Everything about the review filled with try hard "clever" quips and clichés and looks at the story in the most superficial level.

Now I want to know what a good book is for you

What a Smelly Belly!

Just finished and this book was legit one of the worst I’ve ever read. I couldn’t focus at ALL.

i think you refuse to take into account that this book was not centered around romance. It was more focused on character flaws and the philosophical message behind their thoughts and decisions. Hate the characters all you want but just because you personally can't grasp what the writer had intended on doing doesn't mean the writer had no idea what he had been doing either.

“Chicken soup for those obnoxious, lonely intellectuals who wish they could be playaz”🥲�� you could’ve have written a better review!!

No need to insult people who like it. This book wasn' t clearly for you. There are more suitable readings for people like you. Maybe Paulo Coelho, for instance, as mentioned before.

So agree with you, I was very disappointed with this book too. thank you for your review. It doesn’t mean your are going to like Paulo Coelho, as some people said. I heard he is very superficial too. 🤦‍♀��