Ride-sharing game

Author: Kundera
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: The Field Theory of Modern Love—In the Absurd Game, the True Self Listens to the Doll's Crying
This book, by the renowned Czech writer Milan Kundera, who has won international literary awards multiple times and been nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, is part of the classic love series including The Game of Love, Letting Go, and Edward and God. With a humorous tone, he depicts the human condition—superficially light, yet fundamentally heavy; seemingly casual, yet intricately refined; seemingly popular, yet profound and witty, filled with wisdom about life.
The Game of Love—A girl and her boyfriend go on a vacation together. While parking at a gas station, the girl contemplates the duality of spirit and flesh, worrying about her shyness, then becomes infatuated with another woman's frivolous and unrestrained charm, especially the flirtatious games between young women and drivers they encounter on the road. When she gets back into the car, she speaks to her boyfriend as if she were a stranger, and he gradually shifts to a rougher and more reckless manner. Their new selves become lost in this imitation of a hitchhiking game.
Letting Go—At 35, he meets her at 50 on the street. He recalls a physical encounter 15 years ago. Later, she married him, who was 19 years older than her. They had a son, and 10 years ago, her husband passed away. Since then, she has visited his grave every year. This time, their encounter awakens past desires.
Edward and God—Edward is a teacher in a small Czech town, and his principal, Zehaczekova, is the female classmate who was responsible for sending his brother to the countryside years ago. Edward pursues a beautiful girl named Alice, who is devoutly chaste due to her belief in God. To win her over, Edward feigns even greater piety, only to be discovered by the female principal in the church, who then confronts him. In the end, both women fall in love with him, but he falls into the trap he set for himself—a void without substance.