Read and Cook with Robbie Cheadle – The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera and Filled Heart-Shaped Meringue Shells #bookreview #fiction #desserts
Posted: April 9, 2025 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Read and Cook, Recipes, Review | Tags: Milan Kundera, Read and Cook, Robbie Cheadle, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Writing to be Read 59 Comments
The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera
I knew when I started reading this book that it was unusual and had a big focus on extramarital affairs and womanizing, but I decided to try it anyway and see what all the fuss was about. The Unbearable Lightness of Being is set in Prague, Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring of 1968 and the subsequent Soviet invasion. The story revolves around four central characters who are all facing their own problems and difficulties with relationships. Both of the men are womanizers and unable to remain faithful to a single woman, even one they profess to love. One of the women is also unable to settle down with a partner and has a string of affairs with men, married and otherwise.
Tomas is a successful surgeon at the beginning of the book. He fears commitment and this has already led to one failed marriage. He does not have anything to do with either his ex-wife or his son. When Tereza arrives on his doorstep, huge bag by her side, he is effectively bamboozled into taking her into his home. She fascinates him and he does have feelings of great attachment for her which lead to him marrying her. He fights these feelings and continues to have his countless affairs, in particular, he has an on-going sexual relationship with Sabina, a beautiful artist. Tereza loves Tomas very much and when the Russian Invasion begins, she goes with him to Zurich where she expects him to give up his infidelities. This does not happen, and he continues to see Sabina who has immigrated to Geneva. Tereza decides to leave Zurich and return to Prague. Tomas, despite his desire for freedom, follows Tereza, knowing he will not be able to leave Prague again. His attachment to Tereza is strong but it does not result in a happy ever after due to Tomas becoming involved in a political situation that destroys his career.
Throughout, Tomas and Tereza’s relationship, Sabina has another on-going affair with Franz, a married man who lives in Geneva. Sabina and Franz don’t understand each other at all and when Franz ultimately leaves his wife to live permanently with Sabina, she disappears, leaving him alone with no-one.
The central theme of this book is the philosophical concept of eternal return which assumes that everything in life repeats itself continuously into infinity. The author, however, uses the characters in his story to dismiss the theory of eternal return while maintaining the view that it is the only path to true happiness and as each individual’s life path is a straight line, lasting happiness is not achievable.
This was not an easy read for me, and I returned to it several times in order to finish it. The philosophy is very different from my personal beliefs and while it was a worthwhile read in the long run, it is not a book that everyone will enjoy
A few quotes from The Unbearable Lightness of Being
“Anyone whose goal is ‘something higher’ must expect someday to suffer vertigo. What is vertigo? Fear of falling? No, Vertigo is something other than fear of falling. It is the voice of the emptiness below us which tempts and lures us, it is the desire to fall, against which, terrified, we defend ourselves.”
“Making love with a woman and sleeping with a woman are two separate passions, not merely different but opposite. Love does not make itself felt in the desire for copulation (a desire that extends to an infinite number of women) but in the desire for shared sleep (a desire limited to one woman).”
“There is no means of testing which decision is better, because there is no basis for comparison. We live everything as it comes, without warning, like an actor going on cold. And what can life be worth if the first rehearsal for life is life itself? That is why life is always like a sketch. No, “sketch” is not quite a word, because a sketch is an outline of something, the groundwork for a picture, whereas the sketch that is our life is a sketch for nothing, an outline with no picture.”
Filled Heart-Shaped Meringue Shells (copyright Robbie Cheadle)
To go with this rather extraordinary book, I am sharing a dessert from my children’s book, Sir Chocolate and the Valentine Toffee Cupid.
Ingredients:
• 4 large egg whites at room temperature;
• ½ teaspoon cream of tartar;
• Pinch of salt;
• 1 cup castor sugar;
• Pink food colouring (liquid); and
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
What you need:
• Electric hand mixer or stand mixer;
• Baking trays;
• Wax paper cut to fit the baking trays;
• A large heart shaped cookie cutter;
• Pencil;
• Large piping bag or a strong plastic bag with the end snipped off; and
• Large star piping tip.
Method:
• Preheat the oven to 120 degrees Celsius.
• Combine egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in the bowl of the mixer (it must not be greased and must be clean and dry).
• Whisk the egg mixture on a low speed until the mixture becomes foamy.
• Increase the speed to high and gradually add the castor sugar, one tablespoon at a time. Allow for 20 seconds of mixing in between new additions of sugar.
• When the mixture is thick and glossy i.e. the spoon can stand up in the bowl, stir through the vanilla essence and a few drops of pink food colouring.
Instructions:
• Using a pencil, draw six heart shapes on the non-wax side of a piece of wax paper that fits inside the baking tray.
• Fit the star piping tip into the piping bag.
• Spoon the meringue mixture into the piping bag.
• Squeezing the bag, draw a thick line of meringue around the heart shape. Repeat twice to form three meringue layers, one on top of the other to form the sides of the meringue shell.
• Using the piping bag, fill in the bottom of the heart with meringue mixture.
• Pipe another layer of meringue around the sides of the heart.
• Pipe a few meringue stars to use up the last of the meringue mixture in the piping bag.
• Place the meringues in the oven and bake for 3 hours.
• Switch off the oven, and open the door half way. Leave the meringues to cool overnight.
Filling for the Heart-Shaped Meringues
Ingredients:
• A handful of chopped strawberries;
• A handful of chopped raspberries;
• Whipped cream; and
• Melted chocolate.
Method:
• Whip the cream and spoon a quantity into each shell. Don’t overfill.
• Add a small quantity of chopped strawberries and chopped raspberries.
• Drizzle tempered dark chocolate over the filling.
Tip:
Only fill the meringues just before serving or they will go soggy.
Sir Chocolate and the Valentine Toffee Cupid is available from Amazon US here:
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Milan Kundera is a superb writer. I loved this book and must read it again. Thanks for the meringue recipe.
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Hi Darlene, this book was a mixed bag of tricks for me. I enjoyed the writing but couldn’t understand the need to womanize.
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Oh Robbie. I must say that quote from the book makes me wish to read it.
Thanks.
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I’m glad, thank you, Patty
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I loved this book and haven’t read it in years !
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I’m pleased to know you enjoyed this book
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I’ve been curious for years about “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” but never read it. Your terrifically written review, Robbie, convinced me not to. 🙂
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😂, no, it’s a book about serial womanizers and I didn’t particularly care for those attitudes. I don’t really understand people like that.
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I don’t, either. They wreak a lot of selfish havoc.
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☺️💜
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It’s a long time since I’ve read this book, but I do remember I didn’t enjoy it – I didn’t like any of the characters.
On the other hand, I do love a meringue!😊
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It is a very odd but, but very famous so I gave it a try. Meringue is rather delicious.
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I have not read this book Robbie.
Thank you for sharing and the meringue recipe 🤗
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It’s a very odd book, Maggie.
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It sounds it Robbie 🙄
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Funny how we can instantly recognise a phrase or book title without any idea where it comes from. Now I know, but have no desire to read it. However, comments reveal the writing is really enjoyed by plenty of readers.
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Hi Janet, there are a lot of great ideas in this book and some of the writing is really extraordinary. I did finish it and there was a lot to like but the serial womanizing and attitudes towards sex and relationships were weird for me and I didn’t like that aspect which is quite integral to the story.
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I agree, this is not a book for everyone… Your cookies? EVERYONE (hopefully)
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TC grandmother didn’t like meringue. Strange to me but she would not eat it.
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I think the book wouldn’t suit me either Robbie, But the heart shaped Meringues I am sure would go down a treat 🙂 xx ❤
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Hi Sue, some of the thinking is inspired, the history interesting and the writing great. The womanizing – not my thing
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Ditto. Xx ❤️
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I’m surprised you stayed with the book, Robbie. But I love how you found the author’s take on the theme to be faulty. I do believe in happily ever after. Some people are rather cynical, I think. You wrote an excellent review.
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Hi Colleen, I read this on the plane to and from Tokyo and that’s how I managed to finish it. There are some good philosophical ideas and great writing but the overarching attitudes are very alien to me. I could not accept a relationship on these terms but the author described it in a very normal way. Made me wonder about the society he lived in.
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A terrific review, Robbie. I alway like when someone goes beyond their personal beliefs to provide an objective opinion of a writer’s work. The shells sound delicious.
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Hi John, the thought processes and good writing in this book are worthwhile. The casual sex was a bit much for me but this book is very famous.
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Yet you didn’t denigrate the book, which is admirable.
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Well, no, I would never do that. Books are to be respected and I try to be open minded.
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I know that. It is nice to see is what I meant.
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🤗💞
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😊
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☺️💜
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I haven’t read the book, but I did see the 1988 film adaptation. I like meringues as long as they are not over sweet. Shared on Twitter, Robbie.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hi Pete, these meringues are very good. Not to sweet. I haven’t seen the film but I’ve heard about it. Thanks for sharing 🩵🦋
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Nice review, Robbie. It doesn’t sound like a book for me, though. My daughter makes the best meringues. I keep saying I’m going to try making them, but haven’t yet. I will try your recipe and maybe do bird’s nests for Easter.
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Hi Carla, I don’t think you would like this book. There is a lot of sex in it and I know you aren’t a big fan. I’m not either but Ives’s curious about this book. Curiosity killed the cat 😹. These are very nice meringues, not to sweet 💜
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The Unbearable Lightness of Being sounds like one of those books which, after reading, I’d need to take a shower. I’ll take a filled meringue shell, though.
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Hi Liz, I don’t think this book is your cup of tea, but there are some interesting ideas in it about the human condition and the writing is great. Meringues with fruit and cream are divine.
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Hi Robbie, I like how you write such thoughtful reviews. You explained your opinions and gave a thorough analysis of the writing and themes. Many people post negative reviews on Amazon and other sites. Some are just mean! For instance, a reader might say something stupid such as the writer should never write again or the writer is ignorant. They don’t really review a book.
I don’t think I’ll read it. I’ve heard of the movie and wasn’t interested in watching it. I don’t like reading about adultery and promiscuous men, although women could be guilty also. Your meringues look so delicious and pretty! I used to do lots of baking. Since moving to Mexico, it’s hard to find good ingredients. It’s so dry where we live and high altitude that recipes have to be adjusted for that. More baking powder or more butter, water and so on. My oven temperature dial is Celsius not Farenheit. I have to use an online conversion chart. Fruit pies are a little easier. I sit at the table and watch them through the window. I can’t walk away or they could turn out wrong. I forget at times. Today I left potatoes boiling on the stove top. My husband and I left for the store. My son called and said they burnt. He took the pot outside with the black potatoes! I’ve heard you can bake in air fryers. 😃
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Hi Kay, this is certainly not a bad book, it just delves deeply into a way of life and moral values that are very different to mine. I don’t understand womanizing and I believe it hurts the family. I don’t bake that much now either. Those days have passed on the whole. I am making a very nice cake for Easter though 😃
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I am going to try a vanilla coconut cake using my Mom’s recipe. It was our favorite Easter cake of hers. If it turns out good, I’ll take a photo.
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Good luck I look forward to the photograph 🤗
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I haven’t read this book or seen the movie, but I’m drooling over the recipe for the filling of the meringue shells.
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You can get your son to make them for you 😉. This book is controversial so I had to read it 💓
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I’ve heard of the Unbearable Lightness of Being but I’ve never read it, and to be honest, now I never will. We all have our own ways of looking at the world, and our place in it. I don’t understand infidelity, not in an era when it’s so easy to move on before you betray the person you’re supposed to love. Because infidelity is always a betrayal, of trust if nothing else.
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Hi Meeks, I agree and these men were serial womanizers. It isn’t in line with my ethics either but I did finish the book. Some concepts were intriguing and the writing is great.
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I am tempted because of the writing, but I’ve reached a point in life where I need less stress, not more. I can just imagine myself swearing at my Kindle and throwing it across the room! lol
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😂🤣 possibly
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Definitely prefer the meringues thank you Robbie…great synopsis of the book though ♥
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This book is not everyone’s cup of tea.
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I enjoyed your reading your review, Robbie, and getting your take on the book. I also didn’t connect with the affairs, but there was something about the story that I found intriguing, specifically that “lightness of being,” of floating through life without any heaviness or sense of burden. And then, in the end, the ephemeral nature of life seemed to reinforce that light touch. The heaviness and burdens mean nothing in the long run. I haven’t read it in a long time and wonder if my thoughts would change.
And your meringue shells look beautiful. I’d definitely enjoy those!
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Hi Diana, there is a lot to recommend this book. I agree that the concept of lightness is intriguing and the writing is beautiful. The endless affairs did get a bit much and some parts were fairly graphic for me. The casual sex went on and on for the entire book. Meringues are always nice 💞
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I agree. The 1988 movie was much better (less sex) and beautifully filmed. Give it a try if you get a chance.
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Thanks for the recommendation
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Tomas sounds like a narcissist who wants everything his own way. Someone like that will always end up alone. Your meringues provide a pleasant contrast.
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He was an odd character. So selfish but also caring. His caring was reluctant though. He didn’t want to care.
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