Rereading Life Is Elsewhere, I had the feeling as though I was traveling back to my adolescent years when I read the book for the first time. The protagonist, Jaromil the poet, leads a life observing and reacting towards others’ views on him. In Kundera’s words, he lives in a ‘mirrored world’. Needless to say, he is unhappy, insecure and emotionally disturbed.

The tragedy is planted at the start of the novel, when Jaromil’s conception is unwelcome by his father. This is a life that is not meant to exist, a life that is always better in somewhere else. But then, ’somewhere’ is a space of non-existence. The eagerness to prove his existence makes Jaromil draw headless sketches, eavesdropping adults’ comments about him, writes and memorizes poems to impress men and women, and voices offensive opinions.

Women play important roles in Jaromil’s life. His relationship with his mother is complicated - it’s dependency rather than love. In fact, he relies on the women - from his mother to the first girls he dated, to the redhead girl,and finally the filmmaker - around him to reassured himself the worthiness of his existence.

Kundera is the master of the craft. The self-conscious narrator appears natural. The inclusion of Xarvier, the character in Jaromil’s dream, as his alter-ego to subtly reflect his vulnerability and frustration (that he can never achieve what he wishes but Xarvier would) is a superior plot. This is evident when the redhead girl, the only person who loves him, calls out Xarvier’s name during their intimacy; and later, Jaromil sees Xarvier makes love with the young filmmaker.

Life is always elsewhere, when you can’t grasp the meaning of life. ( )

the book that shook my world. Incredible insight on our most secret motivations. ( )