The Book of Laughter and ForgettingThe Book of Laughter and Forgetting
Score Classic
What it's about
In seven interwoven parts, Milan Kundera magnifies, shrinks and reorders different sides of human existence.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's the novel that brought Kundera his first big international success.
You'll love it if you liked
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Joke
Invisible CitiesGood to know
It's told in seven parts.
By the numbers
- Readers28 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller16 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
More by Milan Kundera
The Unbearable Lightness of BeingThe JokeIf you like this, read next
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Is The Book of Laughter and Forgetting worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #2,613 of the 3,056 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 59.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Book of Laughter and Forgetting about?
In seven interwoven parts, Milan Kundera magnifies, shrinks and reorders different sides of human existence.
How long does it take to read The Book of Laughter and Forgetting?
About 8 hours (324 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Book of Laughter and Forgetting?
If you liked it, try The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, The Joke by Milan Kundera or Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino.