Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Sailor who Fell from Grace with the Sea

This was a challenging book because of its content. However, the writing is absolutely beautiful and I felt the depiction of the three characters added so much depth to the novel. It makes you think a lot about what we can fool ourselves into thinking is right… It also shows the power of the herd mentality, especially when it comes to children.

Content Warnings

nabila99's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

i'm normally someone who loves lots of descriptions and setting detailed scenes - but this book had way, way too much of it. cut out the (very repetitive) descriptions of the sea, sky and ships and 1/3 of the book would be gone. also, i know the central theme is sailing / the sea / ships, but a totally excessive amount of nautical jargon is used, to the point that it's very frustrating and impossible to research every single one.

otherwise, it has some beautiful prose and a dark, intriguing story, but the above issues made it difficult to stay engaged and a bit of a slog at times. the character of fusako was also underdeveloped and underutilised.

Content Warnings

maelisperlman's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

epellicci's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

Content Warnings

margaridamorgado's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

halceeeeeeeee's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Content Warnings

mushyneedles's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The language itself was lyrical and captivating, which only made the unsettling story even more so. The subject matter is bleak and creepy and terrifying as a stand alone piece but especially in the context of Mishima’s ideologies and life.
I went into this thinking Noburo as the allegorical representation of traditional Japan would be Mishima’s fictional counterpart in this story, as Fusako is of the west. But I realise Mishima seems to have represented himself or perhaps the general ‘self’ of agency in Ryuji, the sailor torn between worlds. I find it interesting he’s dissected himself and his ideologies into two conflicting characters in that way and can only begin to imagine how much of this actually reflects the violence of the conflicts and resolve that existed in his own sense of self.

Content Warnings

More...