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comment by b_b
b_b  ·  499 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Milan Kundera, Literary Star Who Skewered Communist Rule, Dies at 94

Totally seconded on The Joke. It should be essential reading for all high school or university students. Nothing has ever explored and explained the behavior of dictatorships more succinctly and successfully. It’s a master work. Immortality is a mind fuck, but well worth it if you can get through the first half.





kleinbl00  ·  499 days ago  ·  link  ·  

It might matter when you read them. Life is Elsewhere was more profound to me, probably because I was in my late 20s when I read it.

b_b  ·  499 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I’ve read both the joke and unbearable lightness in my 20s and 30s and perceived them in subtly different ways each time. Definitely reflective of my life experience at each point. I plan to reread each on my 40s, as well, but haven’t gotten to it yet. Life I only read once many years ago, so I’m having trouble remembering the details beyond that I was also wowed by it.