The Farewell Party by Milan Kundera
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Farewell Party is more approachable than many of Milan Kundera’s other works. He still uses the novel as a way to ponder deeper issues concerning humanity and a human’s place in the greater world along with the undertones of government repression that appear in many of his works. However, unlike some of his other shorter novels, the ideas do not weigh down the flow of the narrative itself.
There are virtually no characters to like in this novel. All each presents the flaws of their humanity. It is these exact flaws that drive most of the farce of the story forward. The tight construction of the plot propels the narrative forward making for an engaging reading experience.
Each character, through their actions, reveals the imposing behemoth of state control without ever naming it specifically. In this way, each character’s response shows a lack of control in their lives. How one of the common denominators of life, love, can be wielded as a tool to try and exert control over one’s fate.
Overall, this is an enjoyable short novel that fans of Milan Kundera will enjoy.
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