A strange and poignant book that is not really a novel (not even an actual plot). It's thought-provoking and fascinating. Definitely not a light read, but well worth reading.

Amazon Description
In one of the finer modern ironies of the life-imitates-art sort, the country that Kundera seemed to be writing about when he talked about Czechoslovakia is, thanks to the latest political redefinitions, no longer precisely there. This kind of disappearance and reappearance is, partly, what Kundera explores in The Book of Laughter and Forgetting. In this polymorphous work -- now a novel, now autobiography, now a philosophical treatise -- Kundera discusses life, music, sex, philosophy, literature and politics in ways that are rarely politically correct, never classifiable but always original, entertaining and definitely brilliant.

RELEASE NOTES:

Mailing to lmn60 who accepted on the "Alternating Genres" relay.

Enjoy!

Wow!!! That was fast - thanks Pyam. This one's headed for Mt TBR. More later!

Finally got off my butt and read this one - and I'm very glad I did! Having recently read some fairly 'ordinary' books recently, it was exciting to remind myself what the skills of an outstanding author are like. Yes... even this is Kundera's first 'novel', it becomes clear very early on that we're in the hands of a master.
The format of this work may be a little disconcerting to some readers, and a lesser author would probably have struggled to pull off this 'pastiche', but Kundera has bound together his narrative, memoirs and political reflections with skill and wit.
My only criticism - and its a minor one at that - is that I was more engaged by some of his stories and reflections than others. Other than that.... this book really is a treasure!
Thanks for sharing this one with me, Pyan. It is now, finally (!) moving onto crimson-tide who accepted it on bookrelay last year!

Received safely today as part of the "Another Aussie Ring - Fiction Only" BookRelay.
Yikes! Yet another to haul onto the mountain.
Thanks lmn60.

Hmmm . . . another strange one from Kundera. I really, really tried to like this book but somehow it just didn't gel. Perhaps it wasn't the right time for it so speak to me in the same way that 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' did a few years ago. I found his style irritating in parts, and brilliant in others. There are some gems in there certainly, but with much of it I found myself thinking "que? - what on earth is his point?!". That bothered me as I'm sure the point must be there somewhere. I didn't like most of his characters (Tamina excepted) and most of all I didn't/don't like his attitude to women.

Sorry Lynn, but you can't win 'em all I guess! Now the book will soon be off on a journey to another reader who has it on their wish list. I do hope they find it more enjoyable.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Sending today by post to jubby (in Sydney) as she is the October recipient for the Southern Cross Exchange. I hope my comments don't put you off too much, jubby. Read lmn60's entry and disregard mine!

I'm not going to read any of the comments - yet!

Thank you for sending me a book from my wish list Crimson-tide. I am looking forward to giving this one a go.