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The Unbearable Lightness of Being

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The Unbearable Lightness of Being

By: Milan Kundera, Michael Henry Heim
Narrated by: Richmond Hoxie
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About this listen

One of the century's most famous novels, available for the first time on audio - read by Richmond Hoxie. Milan Kundera's iconic novel of love and politics in communist Czechoslovakia is 'a dark and brilliant achievement' (Ian McEwan).

'A cult figure.' Guardian

'Shamelessly clever ... Exhilaratingly subversive and funny.' Independent

'A modern classic ... As relevant now as when it was first published. ' John Banville

A young woman is in love with a successful surgeon - a man torn between his love for her and his incorrigible womanising. His mistress, a free-spirited artist, lives her life as a series of betrayals - while her other lover stands to lose everything because of his noble qualities.

In a world where lives are shaped by irrevocable choices and fortuitous events, and everything occurs but once, existence seems to lose its substance and weight - and we feel 'the unbearable lightness of being'.

A masterpiece by one of the world's truly great writers, Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being encompasses passion and philosophy, infidelity and ideas, the Prague Spring and modern America, political acts and private desires, comedy and tragedy - and illuminates all aspects of human existence.

©2012 Milan Kundera (P)2012 Faber & Faber Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction
All stars
Most relevant  
Thought provoking and insightful look into human nature and weaknesses. Lots to like and dislike about the characters for a better look at the bigger picture.

Might be my all time favourite book

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Incredible story. You almost believe it. It will leave you wondering who you relate to the most and why.

A heart wrenching roller coaster

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The first half of this story was great, interesting and provoking in a fun manor.
The second half was confusing as the story seemed to go back and forth in time line without suggesting it had which made it hard to keep track of, and the provocative nature got more and more bizarre which is fine for some.
I don’t understand why some scenes were in this book…
However there were many quote-able lines, deep provoking thoughts and poetically sound ideas that made it very worth while.

Politically insightful yet confusing

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Beautiful themes and stories, highly recommended for those who enjoy intertwined stories. Favourite author.

Charming

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Amazing story. Great performance by Richmond Hoxie. Second time reading it and love it as much as the first time.

Great narrator

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I had previously read and loved this book and was excited to revisit the story in audiobook form. Unsettlingly, the reader’s tone when voicing females is deeply at odds with what I had imagined, threatening to degrade Tereza into a weak, whiny and somehow diminutive character.

This is the audiobook that made me realise how important and powerful readers are in presenting stories - their tone can colour stories with their own perception, greatly reducing the listener’s freedom of interpretation.

I strongly dislike this reading and do not recommend it.

I do not recommend this reading

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Truly atrocious misogynist crap - annoying narrator as well. I barely finished it - waste of time and money.

Terrible

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