The Unexpected Lightness of Milan Kundera’s New Novel

When its publisher announced in early 2015 that The Festival of Insignificance, Milan Kundera’s first novel in 13 years, would be a “summation of his life’s work,” fans were giddy with anticipation. With uncanny prescience, Kundera’s previous books all but predicted our Instagram era—what would he have to say about the Panopticon we now live in? Kundera is also the most notorious Russophobe of modern European letters—would he enjoy an I-told-you-so moment, addressing Russia’s recent return to authoritarianism, its invasions of Georgia and Ukraine, and its Soviet-style effort to whitewash its history? And what about his stubborn hatred of pop music—as a citizen of France, would he at least admit that the guitar riff in that Daft Punk song is pretty sweet? Alas, none of the above—no musings on the Internet or rants about the ubiquitous cellphone camera, no mention of Vladimir Putin, and no discussion of music. Continue reading at 'Slate'

[ Slate | 2015-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #previous books #recent return #vladimir putin

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Unexpected Lightness of Milan Kundera’s New Novel'


The Unexpected Lightness of Milan Kundera’s New Novel

When its publisher announced in early 2015 that The Festival of Insignificance, Milan Kundera’s first novel in 13 years, would be a “summation of his life’s work,” fans were giddy with anticipation. With uncanny prescience, Kundera’s previous books all but predicted our Instagram era—what would... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2015-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #previous books #recent return #vladimir putin


RIP to one of the great horny novelists of the 20th century, Milan Kundera.

I was surprised to read this morning that Milan Kundera, the eminent Czech novelist best known for The Unbearable Lightness of Being, died yesterday at the age of 94. Mainly because I thought he was already dead. For a generation of literary types (Gen X in particular), Kundera was the cool,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-07-12 15:34:43 UTC ]
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Milan Kundera, Acclaimed Czech Novelist, Dies at 94

The Czech-born writer, who spent his most creatively productive years in exile in France, was known for his light, philosophical touch and acerbic views of men and women, most notably depicted in 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Milan Kundera novel set for June

Milan Kundera's first novel in 12 years will be published in English this June. Faber will release The Festival of Insignificance, translated from the French by Linda Asher, on 18th June. C.e.o. and publisher Stephen Page acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in the novel in a deal with Sarah... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Excited fans queue for Mantel signing as Mirror & the Light cover lights up Tower of London

Hilary Mantel signed copies of The Mirror & The Light (Fourth Estate) for lucky fans ahead of today’s official publication as the book’s cover was beamed on to the Tower of London. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-05 07:49:45 UTC ]
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City Lights Rallies for a Palestinian Poet

A February 7 group reading at City Lights Books amplified the voice of Gazan poet Mosab Abu Toha and benefited the Middle East Children's Alliance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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In the dark days of the pandemic, 36 famous authors found light in a collaborative novel

In 'Fourteen Days,' the Authors Guild shows off its storytellers, including Dave Eggers, Celeste Ng, Scott Turow, Mira Jacob, Tommy Orange, Tess Gerritsen, R. L. Stine, Weike Wang and Ishmael Reed. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2024-02-06 16:00:00 UTC ]
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Watch the Trailer for ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE

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The quintessential California bookseller behind City Lights gets his moment

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[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-09-06 14:00:49 UTC ]
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'Friday Night Lights' Author Torches ChatGPT-Assisted Iowa Book Ban

H.G. "Buzz" Bissinger said whoever decided to use the software to pull his book from the Mason City school district is a "complete idiot." Continue reading at The Huffington Post

[ The Huffington Post | 2023-08-18 15:13:40 UTC ]
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9 of the Best Manga Adaptations (and 1 that Should Never See the Light of Day)

We round up the very best manga adaptations to watch (along with one title that should never see the light of day). Check out our picks! Continue reading at Book Riot

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10 Brilliantly Unexpected Jane Austen Homages

For anyone who's ever wanted to read about Elizabeth Bennett riding dragons and Elinore Dashwood solving murders, Julia Seales, the author of 'A Most Agreeable Murder', selects 10 inventive Jane Austen riffs. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Indulging in the Lightness of American Born Chinese is Like Escaping Into a World We Haven’t Built Yet

Watching the new TV adaptation of Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel American Born Chinese on Disney+, I feel like one of the Chinese immortals in the show who emerges from his den in the basement of a dim sum restaurant: it is as if several lifetimes have passed since I first experienced this... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-15 08:53:31 UTC ]
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Seeing the Light on Religious Fiction

Jeff Crosby, the executive director of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, learns to embrace Christian fiction after years as a skeptic. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Seeing the Light on Religious Fiction

Jeff Crosby, the executive director of the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association, learns to embrace Christian fiction after years as a skeptic. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Watch the first trailer for Netflix’s adaptation of All The Light We Cannot See.

Fans of Anthony Doerr’s 2014 Pulitzer Prize winning novel All The Light We Cannot See have something to chew on today, with the release of the first trailer for Netflix’s adaptation, directed by Deadpool and Stranger Things(?!) producer Shawn Levy. Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-04-18 15:16:59 UTC ]
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The Unexpected Gifts of Reading

Books always leave us changed. A random decision to pick up a certain book series led to one of the days of my life that I most cherish. Continue reading at Book Riot

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Book Review: ‘Roald Dahl, Teller of the Unexpected’ by Matthew Dennison

“Teller of the Unexpected,” an elegant new biography, sidesteps the ugly side of the children’s book author while capturing his grandiose, tragedy-specked life. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-01-17 20:39:40 UTC ]
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