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The Unbearable Lightness of Being
- Narrated by: Richmond Hoxie
- Length: 9 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, Classics
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What listeners say about The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Marie Z
- 27-02-18
Profound book but views now dated - worth reading all the same
I have waited 20 years to listen to this book after rave reviews in the 80 & 90’s. I wanted to experience more of life to fully appreciate it as I knew it was considered a modern day classic.
Not sure if it was really worth the wait.
Set in the 1960’s it is off its time and the views he expresses are now thankfully outdated and the world has changed for the better esp the treatment of females.
On the plus side there is a profound philosophical element to this book and
what he has to say about female/ male relationships is insightful and well written. Makes you think 🤔
The historical Checz war angle is also fascinating - no wonder the author now lives in Paris and denies his Checz origins. This book illustrates the pain everyone had to go through at this time - like all war stories it is v sad.
On the negative side his kitsch thematic is forced and often dreary and the story goes back and forth too much and his devise of commenting on his characters is bombastic at best. It feels forced to me - I know that is critical ( but hey it is my review) as he is a renowned writer.
Having said that - intend to watch the movie - it is 3 hours long!!
Finally - I speeded this up to 1.25 - Lord I could not listen to this without a faster pace 😀
19 people found this helpful
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- Ant
- 30-07-13
Strives to be deep
There are parts of this book that I thoroughly enjoyed. There are moments of great beauty through skilful prose and a thoughtful story. However, I think you can only enjoy an opinionated book if you agree with the opinions expressed. Unfortunately, in enough of the cases to spoil it, I did not.
My other complaint is quoting the ancients to prove your point rather than illustrate it. Euclid was a truly great mind - it took us a couple of thousand years to show his work as incomplete, but eventually we moved past him.
I would go as far as to say I could possibly be a fan of the author, but not the philosopher.
I know others have found this book very deep and enjoyable - it is well written, so I am wary of putting another reader off it just because I didn't enjoy parts of it.
32 people found this helpful
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Overall
- William
- 07-04-13
A wistful and wise sideways look at "reality"
Kundera's work is always profound. His characters face all the usual dilemmas thrown at us by life and the complex business of being "human". Some characters soar above the mundane, others are sucked down by it. Kundera never tires of throwing us the deep questions - the plot is richly drawn with a sweet and sour mixture of humour and sorrow. This is provocative philosophy wrapped in a vivid sugar coating of human endeavour and intrigue.
8 people found this helpful
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- WoodWild
- 09-04-19
I love this book
I've read this book many times, hearing it was like reading it again for the first time, it is a great piece of writing
3 people found this helpful
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- ManOfTheWeevil
- 03-10-16
Breaking News: Famous classic is really good
The reading was very well done. He brought me close in against the feeling of the book and prevented it from ever getting dull, as a more prosaic, dispassionate reader could have.
I don't think there's anything i can say about the book which hasn't been said better by others. It's a book of philosophy / psychology but unusually dense with substance. Expresses every idea with a very high ratio of beauty to wordcount.
The book will affect how I see things for a long time. Particularly the idea that there are at least two correct and valid ways of seeing the same situation e.g. a strange coincidence.
The prosaic and factual one which says 'By law of probability coincidences are bound to happen constantly.'
And the poetic view which intelligently seeks out and appreciates the beauty and conceptual nuances in such events.
To limit yourself only to the former view is to rob yourself of beauty in your life.
That's something I'm going to change.
3 people found this helpful
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- F. McKee
- 08-11-15
the unbearable listening to of bollocks
This book does not follow a classic structure and uses the characters to expound philosophical theories, some of which are good, but most left me scratching my head. and as you are bombarded with so many theories, the book suffers from a lack of focus.
There will be some people who will completely disagree with this assessment and give it 5 stars and I can understand that assessment, as at times the book seems like is going to burst into life. It just didn't do it for me.
6 people found this helpful
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- Jason 2013
- 18-01-15
Emotional and happy memories
I read this at university and it brought back lots of memories. Great story bit of philosophy, bit of love, bit of history, and all good. Throughly enjoyed it, narrated well.
6 people found this helpful
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- Mr Guy McDonald
- 16-05-21
One of the top 10 books I have ever read
Just read "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" by Milan Kundera. If I had known how much sex there was in the book I would not have bought it and that would have been a huge mistake. It was a wonderful exploration of character and motivation. Funny and thought provoking, books like this make up for all the crap you read in between.
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 17-06-20
Piece of art
Complex and profound. Philosophy, history, sex and love wrapped up in a soft honest narrative.
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- Charlie O'Doherty, London
- 04-04-20
Blissful and brilliant
Kundera is a master of truly touching writing. Few other contemporary writers come so close. If you haven't experienced this novel, go ahead right now. You'll be swept away by its beauty.
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- Casey
- 28-03-17
Love the guy who read this
Such a lovely calming voice. He got me through some hard slow parts. Some elements of the story were confusing for me but I'm sure some research will sort that out!
1 person found this helpful
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- Kathryn
- 02-12-21
A subtle reading of a beautiful book
Richmond Hoxie is the ideal choice of reader for Kundera's philosophical, political, sensual & challenging novel.
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- Marisol
- 16-02-15
Kundera
Excellent book about a philosophical way of life. Recommendable for all audiences. My first Kundera experience and am looking forward to more!
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- Rochelle
- 23-02-13
An Absolute Joy
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Definitely. A delightful jigsaw of stories overlaid with non-judgemental "light" philosophical asides.
What was one of the most memorable moments of The Unbearable Lightness of Being?
I enjoyed several of the "philosophical" tangents that the narrator took. They added depth to the story, gave us insight into the characters that we'd not have gleaned from the story alone, creating humanity beyond what would be in a more conventional storyline. A third dimension.
What about Richmond Hoxie’s performance did you like?
My impression is that Richmond Hoxie was extremely familiar with the book. He had just the right levity at times when it was needed but also created the characters perfectly.
If you could rename The Unbearable Lightness of Being, what would you call it?
I wouldn't.
Any additional comments?
This book lives up to it's hype. Worth the time, extremely enjoyable. More than "just a story".