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heyfarahey's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
trve_zach's review against another edition
The grandson of Prince Genji wanders the grounds of an abandoned monastery and imagines its functions, sees it built in reverse. He starts to find evidence of people, of some event which led to the breaking of doors and the setting of fire. What follows is a fluid and sublime piece/meditation that lulls you into a particular rhythm.
It’s a pace that mirrors the Prince’s slow walk through the grounds. Here and there are the off-kilter Krasznahorkai images and existential angst, giving the story a relaxed-but-tense feeling.
It’s the kind of book where you learn the main character’s motivations 80 pages in. It’s a rumination on infinity, pollination and plant growth, traditional craft like book and paper making, the ineptitude of authority, and the ceaseless driving forward of disease and death and subsequently new growth and life. It’s a slightly different side of Krasznahorkai, and immensely enjoyable. Few others can creat atmosphere the way he does.
[review copy provided by New Directions]
It’s a pace that mirrors the Prince’s slow walk through the grounds. Here and there are the off-kilter Krasznahorkai images and existential angst, giving the story a relaxed-but-tense feeling.
It’s the kind of book where you learn the main character’s motivations 80 pages in. It’s a rumination on infinity, pollination and plant growth, traditional craft like book and paper making, the ineptitude of authority, and the ceaseless driving forward of disease and death and subsequently new growth and life. It’s a slightly different side of Krasznahorkai, and immensely enjoyable. Few others can creat atmosphere the way he does.
[review copy provided by New Directions]
asililydying's review
brain cannot deal with the phrases 'namely' and 'to be brief' so much right now
kilburnadam's review
5.0
A meditative novella that explores the fragility of life, the creation of art and the journey towards aesthetic fulfillment. Set in the tranquility of a Kyoto monastery, the story follows a man's journey as he discovers the hidden meanings and beauty in the temple's architecture and art. The use of long, descriptive sentences takes the reader on a journey of their own, as they navigate the complexities and nuances of the author's prose. A sparsely populated work that delves into themes of Buddhism and the human condition, it offers a challenging but rewarding read.
kilburnadam's review against another edition
5.0
A meditative novella that explores the fragility of life, the creation of art and the journey towards aesthetic fulfillment. Set in the tranquility of a Kyoto monastery, the story follows a man's journey as he discovers the hidden meanings and beauty in the temple's architecture and art. The use of long, descriptive sentences takes the reader on a journey of their own, as they navigate the complexities and nuances of the author's prose. A sparsely populated work that delves into themes of Buddhism and the human condition, it offers a challenging but rewarding read.
martha_anne_h's review
challenging
2.5
This book would have been greatly improved, for me, by the inclusion of more full stops.
berning's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
I'm sure the research that went into this book was a hundred times more exciting than the book itself. Wish I had just read some obscure Wikipedia articles about Kyoto instead.
zsolya's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.25