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Title: The Unbearable Lightness of Being : A Novel by Milan Kundera ISBN: 0-06-093213-9 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 May, 1999 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.25 (163 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A flawed masterpiece of philosophical fiction
Comment: Milan Kundera is an intellectual author of several books of fiction and poetry, plays, and essays. He is even considered by some to be a philosopher. So if you are looking for light reading or erotic literature, then look elsewhere. Even though it is a fairly easy read and it does have a lot of sex, you will be disappointed with this novel. If, however, you are a thinker who loves ideas, a student of philosophy, or a fan of philosophical fiction, then this "book of ideas" is a must read.
In this book "lightness" is living superficially, uncommitted, and selfishly without purpose. Weight or "heaviness" is living committed to and loving a spouse, burdened with adherence to and sacrifice for principles that are greater than oneself. In this novel Kundera tells a story of how living a life of lightness is inevitably unbearable, untenable, and that in order to find meaning and peace and happiness in this life, we must take on the weight of commitment and purpose outside ourselves.
The philosophy of the novel is essentially existential, and the reader will find many of its concepts operating in the lives of the novel's characters: Life is a series of unique, chance events that the individual experiences in isolation (even though surrounded by people, no one can truly understand the experience of another in the same way); that the universe is indifferent; and that human existence is unexplainable and essentially meaningless; the importance of freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one's actions. But there is a lot more in this novel than just these few concepts - much, much more.
I say this novel is flawed because it seems to me to cry out for more rewriting and editing. As it is I call it "near great". It is somewhat disordered, overly sexual, and overly ambitious. It contains too many "philosophical" ideas that are left undeveloped. And it includes a lot of discussion and criticism about Communism and the Soviet "invasion" of Czechoslovakia in the Spring of 1968 (although this does have a profound impact on the main characters in the novel). All of this made the book hard to read and follow, and left me confused as to the intended meaning of the novel.
Of course great literature is hardly ever easy, and some brainpower is usually required to "put it all together". And in the case of a great novel like Faulkner's "The Sound and the Fury" figuring out what is going on is half the fun! But in the case of The U. L. of B. I don't think Kundera was trying to write just a great novel. He didn't intend to tell a story that we could figure out completely. His purpose was to engender thought. Not to answer all of life's questions, but to raise some of his own for our consideration and reflection. And at the same time to give us some ideas that may help us to find meaning and happiness and purpose in our own lives.
But, even with all the philosophical and intellectual stuff, the novel is still poignant and tender. It even made me cry at one point near the end of the book.
Here are a few questions / ideas to keep in mind while reading the novel: What is the significance of sexual lust and promiscuity in our lives, and how do they relate to love, happiness, and contentment? How do commitment and betrayal relate to love, happiness, and contentment? How much do we really control in our lives, and how much are we victims of circumstance? Can we cope with lack of control and "randomness" (perhaps even absurdity) in our lives and still find happiness and peace of mind? Can we find any truth in a world full of lies, deceit, phoniness, manipulation, scheming, propaganda, and kitsch? In this regard, how does our modern, urban lifestyle compare with a natural, idyllic Garden of Eden life that is without guile? Is our human existence better than that of animals? What can we learn about love from the difference in the way we love animals and people?
After you finish the novel, be sure to watch the movie. It is beautifully done. It stays close to the main plot of the novel, and the screenplay writer did a very good job of clarifying the novel's principal philosophical message.
Rating: 5
Summary: A great reading experience.
Comment: To me the main theme of this book is responsibility, those who accept it and endure the consequences, and those who attempt to avoid it. Tomas and Sabina at the start of the novel represent the lightness of non-commitment and irresponsibilty, Tereza on the other hand is burdened by and committed to her love for Tomas. As the novel unfolds Tomas is forced to make decisions which eventually weigh him down and cost him both his postion as a doctor and his free-spirited life style. Kundera uses the theme of responsibilty to not only highlight moral issues in personal relationships but also the consequences of expressing one's opinions publicly(in this case in communist Czechoslovakia of the 1960's).
Kundera structures the novel around a Beethoven quartet, using the four characters Tomas, Tereza, Sabina and another, Franz, to represent different motifs or themes. Unlike other writers whose experiments with structure often interfere with the telling of the story, Kundera's choice of format does not. This seems odd when you consider that Kundera purposely brings attention to the structure of his book and even provides a account by the author himself during the story about his experience in putting together the novel. Thus Kundera's book like many postmodern works is both experimental and metafictional, but yet flows with a natural grace that makes the reading of the novel an enjoyable, accessible and intelligent experience in the tradition of all great storytelling.
One aspect of the book I found particularly interesting was the way Kundera counterpoints the harsh rule of a communist state with the eroticism of his characters. As we follow Tomas through his life as a womanizing surgeon to a one-woman-only polictical outcast we are able to view the changes that take place in both his private and public lives and draw connections between the two. We're also able to view the affect of Sabina's life of betrayal, the burden of Tereza's steadfast love, and the complications of Franz's marraige and infidelities all through an examination of the characters' sex lives and their relationship to the state.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being introduced me to the work of Milan Kundera after which I went on to read some of his other books. None, however, influenced me and entertained me as much as this one. There are many reasons why we like one particular author over another some of which are easy to articulate and some not. For me Kundera's prose, his tone, his thinking, his subjects, all of these I found attractive. This is one of the most beautiful books I've read and it provided me with many different insights into life and at the same time was a joy to read. You can't do much better than that.
Rating: 5
Summary: The Unbearable Lightness of Being Rocks
Comment: Written with clarity and the skipping lightness of language, Milan Kundera is able to cleverly separate the poles of what is light and heavy. These philosophical questions and ideas are portrayed by the two main women in the story: Teresa and Sabina. Both regulate Tomas' life; one being the opposite of another has their enchanting charm and displeasing bitterness. A worthwhile book to read, The Unbearable Lightness of Being is surely an immortal piece of literature. A great novel, a wonderful experience! Two other quick Amazon picks include Henry and June by Anais Nin, The Losers' Club by Richard Perez
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Title: The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera ISBN: 0060932147 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 May, 1999 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez ISBN: 0060929790 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 November, 1998 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez ISBN: 0140119906 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: November, 1994 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Immortality by Milan Kundera ISBN: 0060932384 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 01 November, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The JOKE by Milan Kundera ISBN: 006099505X Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 14 April, 1993 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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