Currently reading this “Czech Post-Modern Masterpiece” and so far I don’t see what all the excitement was about. Even taking into account that I am widely held to be a moron of the first order I think the my inability to understand the point of this novel really isn’t my fault.
Seriously I am about a third of the way thru and so far this book doesn’t seem to have a point. It is supposed to be an exploration of life in the intellectual / artistic community of Prague during the Czech spring centered around two couples, who I think are having interlinked affairs and may or may not have a dog. Instead what I have sounds like a recitation of items in someones day planner – typical prose:
“On Tuesday Tomas woke up and brushed his teeth while wondering if Sabina, his exciting free-willed lover, would be available for a quick boning later in the day. After completing this task he sat down to coffee and a roll, it was 6:30. Picking up the newspaper, he saw that the Russians had invaded. As he read he contemplated, “What if Nietzsche was wrong? What if there was no eternal recurrence?” Finishing his roll and coffee he rinsed the dishes and left for work. Returning precisely eight hours later he ate the dinner his wife had prepared and then took the dog for a walk. As he did so he saw a column of Russian tanks driving down the street while a soldier in the black uniform of the armored forces directed traffic. The soldiers uniform both terrified and strangely excited him. Watching the tanks roll by he contemplated, “What if Marx was wrong and there is no universal class struggle?” The dog pooped and Tomas returned home.
So far it has gone on like that for page after pointless page. Avoid this book like the plague.
…and THAT is why I steadfastly stay-the-hell-away from ANYTHING that is “critically acclaimed” or referred to as a “masterpiece of our time”. Dreck! All of ‘em!
When you’re done with that one, explain “Catcher in the Rye” to me
I did that one already boiled down to boring book about a whiny brat.
the movie was better.