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“What is the nature of love?, Kundera wants to know. Why do we want to be seen, and by whom? What's the difference between our soul and our body, and are those Gnostics right? Do things happen by chance, or is there a force behind everything that becomes visible when we experience a happy coincidence? Was Beethoven right when he wrote, Es muss sein (It must be)? Are our dreams just a working out of our daily struggles, or are they a warning sign to lead us to a decision? Why did so many countries think communism was the solution? Why do we try to make toilets look so nice when they are really just the end of a sewer pipe? If aliens wrote about humans, would they name us the cow parasites? Is love for an animal a higher form of love, since we have to accept them as they are? Which is more important, a significant job, or happiness? Why do we bury people under stones? And what do people choose to write on their tombstones? Who am I? What if...?
After I finished reading, I almost wish I hadn't read it yet. Because I wanted to read it again and experience what I had just experienced for the first time. I wanted to experience the fear that had characterized Tereza, the child of a surprisingly vulgar woman, and the one who would eventually grow to be the wife of Tomas, the doctor. I wanted to experience Tomas's insatiability, his desire to be truly happy. I wanted to experience Sabina's search for a meaningful life and the motto of her art, "On the surface, an intelligible lie; underneath, the unintelligible truth." I wanted to experience the antics of Karenin, the dog, and the terribly moving scene about her at the book's close. I suppose what I really wished is that I could just keep reading Kundera, which I plan to do as soon as possible.
Disclaimer: It would be unkind of me not to tell you about some elements in this novel that are potentially offensive — particularly sexuality. Reading this novel is not a test of your faith or a determiner of whether you are mature or unwise. So if you know (or suspect) that sexuality would distract you from profiting from this novel, despite its wonders, just skip it and find something else wonderful to interact with.”
willgray wrote this review Friday, July 13 2007.
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