Friday, November 26, 2010

The Unbearable Lightness of Being

The Unbearable Lightness of Being


Milan Kundera


I'm finding it hard to write impartially, or even intelligently about this book. The Unbearable Lightness of Being is one of my favorite books, and I find it hard to separate myself from Kundera's amazing prose long enough to write a coherent summary. In short, my first 'review' and believe me, I'm using to word review loosely, of Kundera's masterpiece is the best I'm going to come to giving anyone a general understand of the story, oh, and there are spoilers. Sorry.


Part of what makes Unbearable Lightness so amazing is the amazingly worded philosophy that Kundera expertly threats throughout his story. Really, that's what drew me into the novel, lines like "There is an infinite difference between a Robespierre who occurs only once in history and a Robespierre who eternally returns, chopping off French Heads" - which really sums up the point Kundera is trying to make on heaviness - evokes something in me, and pulls me right in. 


Overall there isn't much I don't enjoy in this novel. I could take or leave Franz as a character, but even he's tolerable until he goes to Cambodia. Sometimes Kundera does get carried away with his philosophic ramblings, and what's more he picks really plot heavy times to do so. Right when your wondering what's going on back in Prague we take a detour into Kundera's mind. 


Sorry for the slightly nonsensical review! 

1 comment:

Rebecca Chapman said...

I have never heard of this book but you definitely make it sound very interesting