Scan barcode
sapphic_shroom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Somehow the hardest books to write reviews for are the ones I love the most. Often this is because I feel like I can never do them justice, no matter how I try to present them and explain why they impacted me so much.
If you're a lover of short stories and beautiful stylized writing, you'll certainly find something of value in this collection. It explores a variety of lively historical settings, offers interesting perspectives into the sociological and psychological aspects of both society and the individual, and serves as a window into the thoughts and experiences of the author himself. From the reader's perspective - looking at a chronological overview of his life and later reading his own thoughts on himself, his actions and the people surrounding him - my relationship with him was certainly complicated. While feeling frustrated at some of his comments, others made me laugh - and by the end of the collection, flipping through the last pages of Spinning Gears, it almost felt like I was going through a bout of anxiety worrying over his declining mental state.
Somewhere around the middle mark of the collection, I went out and got any translation of his works I could find - thankfully, there has been a rise in translation of Japanese literature over the past decade. I found myself enjoying his writing style so much that the thought of learning Japanese crossed my language-loving mind briefly. After all, there's nothing quite as satisfying as reading a work in its original form. I doubt this will ever happen, but it's a funny little thing that this work made me consider.
Some of my favourite stories from the collection, in the order in which they appear:
• Rashomon
• Dragon: The Old Potter's Tale
• Hell Screen
• The Life of a Stupid Man
• Spinning Gears
If you're a lover of short stories and beautiful stylized writing, you'll certainly find something of value in this collection. It explores a variety of lively historical settings, offers interesting perspectives into the sociological and psychological aspects of both society and the individual, and serves as a window into the thoughts and experiences of the author himself. From the reader's perspective - looking at a chronological overview of his life and later reading his own thoughts on himself, his actions and the people surrounding him - my relationship with him was certainly complicated. While feeling frustrated at some of his comments, others made me laugh - and by the end of the collection, flipping through the last pages of Spinning Gears, it almost felt like I was going through a bout of anxiety worrying over his declining mental state.
Somewhere around the middle mark of the collection, I went out and got any translation of his works I could find - thankfully, there has been a rise in translation of Japanese literature over the past decade. I found myself enjoying his writing style so much that the thought of learning Japanese crossed my language-loving mind briefly. After all, there's nothing quite as satisfying as reading a work in its original form. I doubt this will ever happen, but it's a funny little thing that this work made me consider.
Some of my favourite stories from the collection, in the order in which they appear:
• Rashomon
• Dragon: The Old Potter's Tale
• Hell Screen
• The Life of a Stupid Man
• Spinning Gears
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity
naomix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Gore, and War
Minor: Child death, Misogyny, and Infidelity
More...