The Unbearable Lightness of Being

[katy]

Hi John

Well, I agree that the author gives to his characters his own opinions as well as opinions of some people he knows, that he creates contradictions to better serve his aim. But this is a classical example.
In this book, however, he transformed his characters' thoughts into his own so smoothly that you cannot see the line where Teresa stops thinking and where Kundera starts. There is no very much visible border between the author and his creatures so that sometimes I thought that Milan was Tomas and Tomas became Milan.

I hate to admit though that I agree with you in a lot

You know what is my favourite thing in the book? Karenin's smile!!

I was thinking of asking you a question. On the back cover of my book Kundera was mentioned as representative of Magical Realism and put in line with Gabriel Marquez and Salman Rushdie. But I cannot see anything in common! Am I wrong? Didn't I notice something?
Do you think this book was written in Magical Realism style?
Why?

Well, I suppose you can mention Teresa's dreams, her fantacies and fantacies of others...but still, you know that they are fantacies, they don't become real, you can see the red line between the world of dreams and reality. I don't understand. Well, sometimes I thought that reality in the book looked like a dream, but it is still not the same.

And why the hell did you call that ugly dog Natasha?! haha just kidding (don't be offended for the dog, please)
Thanks for your nice words

Katya

[John_G]

Hi Katya,

I hate to admit though that I agree with you in a lot
I just tried to show you another way to look at what you feel is an insult.

You know what is my favourite thing in the book? Karenin's smile!!

Why? Please expand.

On the back cover of my book Kundera was mentioned as representative of Magical Realism and put in line with Gabriel Marquez and Salman Rushdie. But I cannot see anything in common! Am I wrong? Didn't I notice something?
Do you think this book was written in Magical Realism style?

Your opinion is never wrong.
I have not read anything by Marquez or Rushdie. I have read Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. Her work is listed as Magical Realism so I have some reference.
http://www.emory.edu/ENGLISH/Bahri/MagicalRealism.html
By definition of Magical Realism I would say no. However, a case could be made on the union of lightness/weight. The back cover of my copy makes no reference, it was published in 1984.

And why the hell did you call that ugly dog Natasha?!
I liked the name. It beat out Nola, Natalia, Jolie and Zandalee. She is a good therapy dog for retirement homes.

[katy]

Karenin's smile... well, it is so simple and beautiful, and...something which makes you smile either.
I like the way the will to live expressed. Some yelps of a dying dog showing that something still interests her are her smile. As long as you keep smiling you have the motive to live.