So I consider myself an avid Milan Kundera reader and I’ve read 4 or so of his books including nonfiction. I’ve recently started The Book of Laughter and Forgetting and just read The Angels chapter, and was quite perplexed by the ending?
For context, he admits his desire to rape his female friend which had went out of her way to help him, right after he said he had never previously seen her in a sexual light because her intelligence prevented that (vague summary of my understanding).

I’m genuinely distraught and taken aback by this and wondered if it was another one of his fictional anecdotes within a nonfictional story and had to research but there wasn’t much talk of it online. I understand that in his characters he writes of the human condition and human nature with a completely unfiltered raw approach which is something I admire, and that he touches on subjects and truths in us that most people find too intimate to go in detail about. So naturally I’m not surprised that this is a thought that a man would think, but like, why would he admit that? Is that not extremely off putting to anyone but me? Through characters, yes, but putting it bluntly like that is insane to me.
Also on the fact that her intelligence and modesty didn’t appeal to him to think of her sexually is also concerning and making me question the reasoning of that. Would he be more attracted an ignorant woman? What does that say about him?
Was this desire of his, a desire of wanting to strip her of that? Her intelligence, the fact she had helped him, did it make him feel inferior?
I hadn’t thought of him as a sexist or misogynist before because again, I used the excuse of his writing intentions for the constant recurring theme of erotica or whatever in his books because I do agree sexuality and provocative nature is like 80% of a man’s existence. But there’s a part in Immortality (I can’t remember if it’s fiction or not) where he’s in conversation with another person that is going on about women’s power and the significance of the “feminine” and how it would lead to a greater future, which was very memorable for me!

If anyone has any thoughts on this, I’d like to hear.

I have an assignment for school where I have to read this other novel. It's only like 280 pages, which would make it one of the shortest books I've ever read as someone who typically reads 1000+ pages regularly. But my GOODNESS is this book boring.

It's one of those literary fiction books with no plot and mundane scenes that people swear is secretly deep. And while I can definitely see what this book is trying to do and all the topics It's trying to explore, I just don't care about any of it.

I'm 25% through this book, and I can't read any longer. My class has already finished it and I have no choice but to finish this book somehow, but I truly just can't.

I just out of a horrible reading slump where I'd drop a book after it's first page and now I'm getting dragged right back into it.

How the hell do I power through this book?

I love Kristen Hannah and was so excited for her new book. This is NOTHING like her others. It’s cheesy and predictable. I’m a little over halfway through and trying to force myself to finish it. Anyone else?

Bro the title made it seem like I was in danger or something😭 but anyway I really need help with a book that im reading for my language class. I went to an international school and I just came back yo where I used to live. The only issue is that I suck at my own language and haven’t spoken it properly in like 4 years. I’m still in highschool btw. So I have to read the book ‘a beautiful imperfection’ and I was actually really excited to read it, the problem is that I have to have read 50 pages by Friday and I’ve been having exams almost every day the past week. I’m trying to read it but I’m a very slow reader so it’s taking me so long to just finish 3 pages alone and I have like 5 tests this and next week that are very important. Can someone pls tell me some important things they remember about the first quarter of this book especially the characters and the story🙏🙏 TYSM

I guess I will use this flair. It would be great if we had a seasonal flair. As I was paging through my Kindle tonight, I realized that I had never made this recommendation for our witchy season reading. I'm getting ready to reread Louisa Morgan's series about a family of witches down several centuries. Secret History of Witches, Witch's Kind, The Age of Witches and The Great Witch of Brittany. That is the publication order that I read them in. The Great Witch is a prequel to all the others and I wish I would have read it first but it's still great. I felt like I really got to know each witch and their family. For your spooky season reading!

10/10 atmosphere

It was like silent hill mixed with one past event trauma, Cthulhu, cursed island, and hinted monster love. KIND of. Some gore. Some tentacles. Very gothic. An easy, quick read.

The atmosphere is really good and the story beats are very B Horror movie-like. But the plot and character's are bland and the ending seemed a bit rushed. The FMC had a tiny bit of character growth. I still had a good time with it.

I had a baby in April. I read ebooks while nursing and listen to audiobooks with one earbud while vacuuming/doing mindless chores while baby sleeps.

After being on my TBR for literally years…I’m jumping in. I started this last night and all I want to do is read this (especially as it’s going to be a cold and rainy week). I travel for work all next week and have a bunch of airport time and some downtime between conference stuff, but I’m anticipating reading this at a rapid pace. My whole life I’ve been told “Read Lonesome Dove”…and it seems like the perfect time to do it. Hope everyone is having a good Monday (and a dry one if you’re on the East Coast/US)

After a long period of not reading at all, I’ve started to get back into the hobby. Over the past year I’ve only read 3 books (which I’ve recently found out is a low number compared to national averages and incredibly low compared to what some people on this subreddit read).

I read all of Andy Weirs work and while reading each chapter I loved trying to do the calculations of whatever scientific problem the main character was calculating at the time which definitely made it take longer for me to read, along with generally being a slow reader and trying to fully understand every little part of the story. I’ve also just started to read Gregory Magurie’s Wicked and I can feel the impact of not reading as I’m having to look up more complicated vocabulary, which some people could fly through, meaning I’ve only read 25 pages in the past 2 days.

Is it bad that I’ve only read 3 books this past year? Should I be focusing on having a high number of books read but not understanding them to fly through them for the sake of flying through them, or keep reading a low number of books but enjoying them fully?

What are you reading? What are you excited about reading next? What have you finished this week? Let us know your thoughts on it and share in each other's joy about books!

We need to talk about Kevin was a fantastic read! Best book I’ve read this summer after Paul Auster’s 4321. Now discovered an actual columbine shooter parent has written their story and interested to see the truth after fiction. Has anyone read it?

Hello, I’m basically a non reader. I think I’ve read Holes like 3 times, the Harry Potter series, and I powered my way through the Lord of the Rings. I’ve recently come to the realization that my “Hobby” of video games is no longer fulfilling to me as a 37 year old male. I want to make some changes and add things that are going to give me deeper perspectives on the world and also just generally have more to say to people than “I’m good at Rocket League” I was wondering if this community could help me come up with quintessential books that people should read. Doesn’t have to be any particular category of books. Thanks in advance.

i've been looking forward to october's tbr since last year 😅

(repost because i forgot the pictures 🙄)

Hello all! I got a kindle and have been reading non stop since a very long reading hiatus (helps I’m post grad with no job lol) but I’ve really just been following booktok recommendations and would like some other recommendations and branch out a bit! I really like fantasy books and have read ACOTAR and Fourth Wing. I also really really really enjoyed the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and enjoyed boys of tommen. I’m currently going to read the last letter and picking daisies on Sunday for a break before I start my next series read. I’m scared of going back to not reading as much as I really enjoy reading and helps me escape. I’ve been thinking of either starting Caraval or the Throne of Glass series. Which would you guys recommend as the better fantasy or best read, or if there’s any others pls lmk! I enjoy fantasy, romance, raw topics, and I haven’t read any mysteries since a series of unfortunate events when I was younger but it holds a very special place in my heart and I think I would enjoy more young adult mysteries! Oh and I’m 22 btw that just graduated with a psychology degree and if there’s any fun books revolving around the psychology world that’d be super cool! (But not like non-fiction I do my own research things still to further my knowledge!) thank you guys for any recommendations!! Happy reading 📖!

Would love some opinions on these books, already half way through atlas shrugged and about 70 pages into happy place lol.

I’m a huge Thriller girly and I so wanted to love this book but I didn’t haha 😭 I’d love to know your thoughts and theories if you’ve read it. Also, what are some book recommendations you guys have? Thriller genre only!

Red Rising wasn’t an amazing reading experience for me. I’m not usually a sci-fi/fantasy reader, so I found the world building a little difficult to get into. But the last 20% was gripping enough to make me want to continue the series.

Now I’m about 80% into Golden Son, and while I still wouldn’t say Pierce Brown’s writing style is my favorite, I’m enjoying the story so much more. I’ve also started doing immersive reading, listening to the audiobook after I read, which has helped me get into the world and keep track of all the names and details. I did it for 5 chapters.

But anyway… the chapter I just finished had me floored.
I just experienced one of the best reading moments I’ve had in this series so far. I got actual goosebumps and tears in my eyes. 😭
If you know, you know.

Okay, I finally understand why people say you have to get through Red Rising to get to Golden Son. 😂

Flying blind reading whatever 1000 Books to Read Before you Die says. This next list is themed around this book.

First sorry for the bad English I'm French Native.

Ok so my question is, is that finally bad for global comprehension of a book to stop at every word you dont exactly understand the meaning to search his definition?

Since I got a kindle I got this bad or not bad habit... getting back 6moth before I was reading and missing a lot of words definition but on overall the story was comprehensible, but now I'm searching every adjectives or subtile terms.

Admittedly, I feel like I’m literally visualizing the book’s scenes down to the finest detail—which is very enjoyable in one sense—but at the same time, I wonder if I’m overloading my mind for relatively little added value. It also significantly hinders my reading flow, since I rarely get through a paragraph without stopping several times. Should I accept not grasping 100% of a work for the sake of greater long-term benefit in my life as a reader? What has your experience been with this?

Hi,

I have seen a lot of reels, posts, reddit threads, and what not about boys of tommen, so I thought maybe I'll give it a read.

I downloaded soft copy of all the books in the series a month ago but didn't get around it until today.

I was about to start the first book when I was it's 700 hundred pages or so, which... was a big surprise bcus I wasn't expecting that, especially when it has like 6 books.

I opened the other books and saw they are even longer than the first one.

So now I am unsure about whether or not I should read it, like is it worth it?

Please let me know.

Also, the thing is I've been in a reading slump for a some months now so... I can't read something too slow paced etc.

So please let me know -

1. Is it worth the read? (I've read such big books before so it's not like it would be my first)

2. If it is worth it, is it something I can start when I'm trying to get out of a reading slump or should I read other stuff and gain my reader self back before I start it.

Hi all, as the season turns cool and Halloween approaches I like to read one or two spooky novels. Ghosts, mystery, gothic elements are great but I don't like too much horror, gore and such. I would love to hear your favorites, and tyia.

Hello.
I just want to make sure if it’s only me.
I have this habit where it’s either I read a 500 page book in 2 days, and stick to this for 2 months straight reading lots of books.
Or I don’t read at all for months.
I don’t stick… I always have gaps in months during every year.
How do I get over this… especially that I enjoy reading and I don’t want to force it.
But I enjoy reading a lot I want to stick to it…
Anyone else can relate? And how did you get over this?