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maozetinna's review against another edition
2.0
Main character dies from toxic masculinity and no bitches.
bluehaneul's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
richard1510's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lilreaderbug's review against another edition
3.5
Very beautiful writing, sad, check content warnings before reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
casparb's review against another edition
nor avoice from afire bellowsed mishe mishe to tauftauf thuartpeatrick...
Mishe Mishe again and unsurprisingly he's very good again. Spring Snow is closer to Confessions of a Mask than the blended depravity & beauty of The Sailor... but there are notes of all. I do detect a fairly Western swing in a way which is odd as this is one of YM's last novels before everything went a bit upsy-daisy.
I could see this as a screenplay for a film though it seems to fit better with more midcentury Japanese cinema than the 70s as this was written. But I wouldn't describe Mishima as somebody that loves progress. (the cinema industry a possible exception for him, interestingly). The issue with that is that the most exquisite features of Spring Snow are Mishima's descriptions, and while the force of his prose is consistently powerful and beautiful across his works, I feel often his narratives are capable of standing aside from that and I'm less sure for Snow. It's the first of a tetralogy ( The Sea of Fertility ) so perhaps will be seeing how things develop. I suspect they're not continuous in that sense.
Purity is the word for YM and is one of my favourites to spot. A crucial litmus test for any of his scenes. His relationship with 'purity' is of course very troubled in that he died for it. There's an incredible pathos - and disturbance - to encountering it in his fiction.
Mishe Mishe again and unsurprisingly he's very good again. Spring Snow is closer to Confessions of a Mask than the blended depravity & beauty of The Sailor... but there are notes of all. I do detect a fairly Western swing in a way which is odd as this is one of YM's last novels before everything went a bit upsy-daisy.
I could see this as a screenplay for a film though it seems to fit better with more midcentury Japanese cinema than the 70s as this was written. But I wouldn't describe Mishima as somebody that loves progress. (the cinema industry a possible exception for him, interestingly). The issue with that is that the most exquisite features of Spring Snow are Mishima's descriptions, and while the force of his prose is consistently powerful and beautiful across his works, I feel often his narratives are capable of standing aside from that and I'm less sure for Snow. It's the first of a tetralogy ( The Sea of Fertility ) so perhaps will be seeing how things develop. I suspect they're not continuous in that sense.
Purity is the word for YM and is one of my favourites to spot. A crucial litmus test for any of his scenes. His relationship with 'purity' is of course very troubled in that he died for it. There's an incredible pathos - and disturbance - to encountering it in his fiction.
sister_ray's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
emanuele312's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.75
summerjohnson521's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Abortion
Moderate: Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Classism
aemynadira's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is my 1st Mishima book. As I started to write this review, I struggled to find the best way to describe it. A love story seems too banal. Father & son dilemma too simple. Then this answer came to me: an attempt to recapture memory, a moment long gone, set into the frame of tragic love story.
It's a story of Kiyoaki set in Tokyo of 1912. Raised in the family tradition of aristocracy, he fell in love with the elegant and sophisticated Satoko. Her beauty overwhelms him, but for Kiyoaki's father, it’s a bad omen. Satoko is about to marry a royal prince, & when all hopes become non-existent for Kiyoaki, he gives her up only to realize too late the magnitude of his despair & passion. The passion is mutual, & the lovers are set on the dangerous, obsessive course. This illicit affair is doomed from the start & they both have to pay an extraordinary price for it.
The love between Kiyoaki & Satoko is beautiful, but so sad & tragic, full of anxiety, existential crisis & like in real life, timing's a b*tch.
Kiyoaki is not exactly a likable character. He's selfish, manipulative & moody, but also enigmatic, unpredictable & melancholy. Another significant character is Honda, Kiyoaki's friend. I love how he's deeply into nuances & philosophy, & how he always contemplates.
Spring Snow is the 1st book of The Sea Of Fertility tetralogy, but I'm not planning to read the next 3 books yet. Someday, perhaps. In this life or next.
It's a story of Kiyoaki set in Tokyo of 1912. Raised in the family tradition of aristocracy, he fell in love with the elegant and sophisticated Satoko. Her beauty overwhelms him, but for Kiyoaki's father, it’s a bad omen. Satoko is about to marry a royal prince, & when all hopes become non-existent for Kiyoaki, he gives her up only to realize too late the magnitude of his despair & passion. The passion is mutual, & the lovers are set on the dangerous, obsessive course. This illicit affair is doomed from the start & they both have to pay an extraordinary price for it.
The love between Kiyoaki & Satoko is beautiful, but so sad & tragic, full of anxiety, existential crisis & like in real life, timing's a b*tch.
Kiyoaki is not exactly a likable character. He's selfish, manipulative & moody, but also enigmatic, unpredictable & melancholy. Another significant character is Honda, Kiyoaki's friend. I love how he's deeply into nuances & philosophy, & how he always contemplates.
Spring Snow is the 1st book of The Sea Of Fertility tetralogy, but I'm not planning to read the next 3 books yet. Someday, perhaps. In this life or next.
bi4ncvx's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75