I just finished Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being, and I have to say that Kundera is a master at weaving stories. The novel is mostly about dualism, opposing forces, and the tensions and conflicts that arise as a result of being torn between two opposites.
Central to the novel is the concept of Einmal ist keinmal, or whatever happens might as well not have happened at all. There is no such thing as eternal return. Although Kundera makes this claim, his characters subvert and contradict it; their stories are recurring patterns, essentially repeating the same words, actions, and emotions. Kundera seems to be communicating that even though there are no second chances at life, there are opportunities to make wiser decisions, design a new pattern.
Speaking of patterns, this is a book that I could read repeatedly, and find something new each time. It is a thoughtful and at times meticulous exploration into the human condition, lovely to read, and masterfully executed.
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