I condemn hypocrisy in all its forms - މުނާފިގުކަމުގެ ހުރިހާ ސިފައެއް އަހަރެން ކުށްވެރިކުރަމެވެ

Tuesday, November 05, 2024

BOOK REVIEW: “The Book of Laughter and Forgetting” by Milan Kundera

"Physical love was merely a sign, merely a symbolic act that confirms friendship," writes Kundera.

If you think you have heard this phrase before, you are right. It was uttered by Shah Rukh Khan's character in Karan Johar's "Kuch Kuch Hota Hai".

Johar reinforces this concept in a later film titled "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil".

I have always been of the view that love, romantic love too, can exist only if it was based on some sort of friendship and respect. In fact, for me, saying "I love you" to someone is equal to saying "I respect you".

Then there is death, which makes everything invaluable.

"Death's proximity makes life burn all the brighter," said a character in Chris Sanders's animated movie "The Wild Robot" based on Peter Brown's book.

Kundera echoes how we, all living things, are on a trajectory toward death, no matter what our life's timeline is.

Writes Kundera: "Jan said that we are all seated on the direct line to death. That the whole world, which is being assailed by violence, cruelty, barbarism, was seated on that line."

Kundera’s “The Book of Laughter and Forgetting” delves into the nature of forgetting, memory, history, and the individual's relationship with the past.

The novel explores how regimes manipulate history and memory to control the present, and how individuals resist and subvert these attempts.

The novel is composed of seven separate narratives that are loosely connected by recurring themes and characters. This fragmented structure reflects the fragmented nature of memory and history.   

The characters are complex and often morally ambiguous. They are caught between the forces of history and their own desires, and they struggle to find meaning and freedom in a world that seems to be slipping away from them.

Kundera's writing is known for its precision and wit. He uses language to explore the complexities of human experience and to expose the absurdities of political power.   

The novel is a scathing critique of totalitarianism and the manipulation of history. It highlights the dangers of forgetting the past and the importance of individual memory in resisting oppression.   

Kundera blends elements of realism, magical realism, and philosophical inquiry. This creates a unique and thought-provoking reading experience.   

"The Book of Laughter and Forgetting" is considered one of Kundera's most important works and a significant contribution to 20th-century literature. It has been widely translated and has influenced countless writers and thinkers.

These are just a few of the notable aspects of his novel which is a rich and complex work that rewards careful reading and reflection.

LIKE / COMMENT to my review of Milan Kundera's novel "The Book of Laughter and Forgetting" here on my blog or on my GoodReads

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