Identity

Therearesituationsinwhichwefailforamomenttorecognizethepersonwearewith，inwhichtheidentityoftheotheriserasedwhilewesimultaneouslydoubtourown.Thatalsohappenswithcouples-indeed，aboveallwithcouples，becauseloversfearmorethananythingelse"losingsight"ofthelovedone.Withartfulnessinexpandingandplayingvariationsonthemeaningfulmoment，MilanKunderahasmadethissituation-andthevaguesenseofpanicitinspires-theveryfabricofhisnewnovel.Herebrevitygoeshandinhandwithintensity，andamomentofbewildermentmarksthestartofalabyrinthinejourneyduringwhichthereaderrepeatedlycrossestheborderbetweentherealandtheunreal，betweenwhatoccursintheworldoutsideandwhatthemindcreatesinitssolitude.