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jmcook's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
zoekerr's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jezza_wilko's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
talestoldtall's review against another edition
4.0
A heavily character-driven novel focusing on a sailor who has romanticized his life of solitude, a 13 year old nihilist and his widowed mother. There's a simple story surrounding the three, but where the book shines is in its deep exploration of these characters' psyche. That means there's a lot of narration based totally in the characters' minds and not so much attention in setting or plotlines but I finished this feeling like I got a solid grasp of three rich internal lives.
I can't speak for the accuracy of the translation but the prose is beautiful. With that said, this is a dark, haunting book. There are just as many moments of tenderness as there are dark brutality. It touched on themes of loneliness, the often underestimated intelligence and wild nature of children, and uncertainty and sacrifice in relationships.
My first read by Yukio Mishima, but I'm definitely interested in more after this one.
I can't speak for the accuracy of the translation but the prose is beautiful. With that said, this is a dark, haunting book. There are just as many moments of tenderness as there are dark brutality. It touched on themes of loneliness, the often underestimated intelligence and wild nature of children, and uncertainty and sacrifice in relationships.
My first read by Yukio Mishima, but I'm definitely interested in more after this one.
sambiddlestone's review against another edition
3.0
a bit of a jumbled mess - mishima is intent on putting his own personal issues - of which he had plenty - to paper through a tale that can’t really decide if it wants to be allegorical or literal, and its central theses are difficult to separate from the fascist end-point of the author’s own life. yet I find myself immediately wanting more - his writing style is incredibly engrossing, and to delve deeper into the psyche of an incredibly controversial and eventually despicable man in this way - in contrast to Schrader’s filmic interpretation - is very very interesting, and to see how his work correlates with his own mental downfall is hard to pry oneself away from.
mrh29992's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
mrmysteryfox's review against another edition
3.0
Very descriptive story of a pubescent boy absent a father figure and a sailor who falls in love with the boys mother. Never have I read a book that so eloquently describes the call of the sea from a sailors perspective. The book takes some unexpected and macabre turns and reminded me of the susceptible nature of boys egos and peer pressure.
souperfelipe's review against another edition
3.0
The book makes no effort to disguise the fact it was written by a psychopath with daddy issues. It makes for a unique reading experience, attractive to the morbidly curious but inseparable from the abhorrent artist.