Initial rating: 4, but bumped up into 5 because I just realized I cannot stop thinking about Kundera's introspective story-telling and masterful character-building, even though I have returned the physical copy of the book to the library. He managed to make types of characters I personally dislike, such as the promiscuous Tomas and Sabina, into sympathetic ones. Indeed, the root of affection and tolerance is understanding, and, oh, how Kundera made us understand the core essence of his characters!