Guardian Newspaper 1000 Novels discussion

Time for September's Love read!

I have this book as an audiobook ready to go after I finish Tom Sawyer. Who is joining?

I probably won't. This doesn't appeal much to me but if I can get a copy from the library, I might change my mind.

I am reading Tom Sawyer first, and have a few others on the go atm, but will get to this later in the month...

I am LOVING this book! I think its partly a case of right-book-right-time, but I'm really relating to it and this is going to be a top read for me.

Its hugely philosophical in nature, with the author admitting that the characters aren't real and basically pawns for his theories.

Some favorite parts:
“When we want to give expression to a dramatic situation in our lives, we tend to use metaphors of heaviness. We say that something has become a great burden to us. We either bear the burden or fail and go down with it, we struggle with it, win or lose. And Sabina - what had come over her? Nothing. She had left a man because she felt like leaving him. Had he persecuted her? Had he tried to take revenge on her? No. Her drama was a drama not of heaviness but of lightness. What fell to her lot was not the burden, but the unbearable lightness of being.”

The philosophical parts that deal with the name of the book are quite good. He goes on to also discuss that part of the unbearable lightness of being is that you only have one life to live and cannot test out other lives/options. When faced with life decisions, you can never know which option is better because you can never try both and compare. Really good thought exercises here.


“Anyone whose goal is 'something higher' must expect someday to suffer vertigo. What is vertigo? Fear of falling? No, Vertigo is something other than fear of falling. It is the voice of the emptiness below us which tempts and lures us, it is the desire to fall, against which, terrified, we defend ourselves.”

I LOVE how the author relates this theory of vertigo to (view spoiler)[ Teresa's potential affair, and how he claims she suffers from "vertigo" in her temptation. Beautiful description of these precipitous life situations. (hide spoiler)]

started this last night
really unusual style, but enjoying so far...

I finished this a couple of days ago
it was easy to read and the author's philosophical musings and detailing of the oppressive state were interesting/thought-provoking
however, the actual "novel" part of the book was somewhat underdeveloped, both in terms of characterisation (especially Tomas, but with the exception of Tereza) and in plot
overall, I was not really sure what Kundera was actually trying to do here - it was all just a bit of a mess
3.5 Stars as a novel, but rounded up to 4 as a well-written "book"

Darren wrote: "I finished this a couple of days ago
it was easy to read and the author's philosophical musings and detailing of the oppressive state were interesting/thought-provoking
however, the actual "novel" ..."

I think that's an absolutely sound response if what you want and expect from a novel is solid characterisation and plot development. For me, the ideas and setting is what I look for more so perhaps that's why it's a 5* to me and a 3.5* novel to you! Completely understand why you rated it that way.

I finally got to finish this book. I really enjoyed this and knid of wished I got to study it at Uni so that I could really take time to pull it apart and get more out of it. I found the story secondary to the pilosophy and think with rereading down the road would get more out of it agian.

Bron, I agree about the story being second to the philosophy. Glad you enjoyed it!

I plan on watching the movie soon. Can't wait to see how it compares, though I have a feeling the story will be the main focus there.

I read this a few months ago (finally!). I pretty much agree with what Darren said in post #6. I was a bit nervous starting it as I worried that the philosophical aspects would make it hard to read but my concerns were unfounded.