Reviews

This novel flows to-and-fro the tangible and the intangible, the real and the imaginary. Kundera weaves banal words to create texts that touches your most elusive thoughts.

Perhaps not its primary reason for commendation by most, but a book whose narratives of femininity and womanhood are crucial to contemporary feminism. Chantal’s grappling with her identity is inherently a challenge to the patriarchal status quo.

Its depiction of identity was however rather meta textual, and even tangential, if I might assert that, which makes me wonder whether the title was appropriate in the first place. But what is appropriate anyway?

Nonetheless, this book will leave you lingering, longing for more.

wishb0nes's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

dariannafv's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

twilightfan420's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Really neat and introspective read. I really liked both points of view (rare in a multi-narrator book for me) and enjoyed seeing how they intersected. The last few chapters were so strange and disorienting I was captivated.

Content Warnings

klaramaz's review against another edition

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medium-paced

4.75

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