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yorange's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The smut was a jumpscare
I loved the way everything was conveyed (even though I read a translation)
Some descriptions made me feel very uneasy
I loved the way everything was conveyed (even though I read a translation)
Some descriptions made me feel very uneasy
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: War and Vomit
tonyfrobisher's review against another edition
5.0
A short story that remains with you for a long time. Duty, honour, obedience, love and death. An astonishing piece of writing that conveys such powerful, heart-rending and gut-wrenching emotion. A deeply visceral and unflinching account of the unity and one-ness of a husband and wife in both love and death.
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
5.0
This is, of course, Mishima's masterpiece; I've read the short story in several languages, and the writing is stunning no matter which. The chosen title for most translations appears to be some variant of "patriotism," whether that's the French "Patriotisme," Danish "Fædrelandskærlighed" (fatherland-love), Russian "Патриотизм," German "Patriotismus," or Polish "Umiłowanie Ojczyzny" (love of the homeland). Dutch swings in the opposite extreme with "Rouw om het vaderland" (mourning for the fatherland). But none of those is quite correct.
The original title is 憂国 (pronounced yûkoku), which doesn't really have a single-word equivalent in any language of which I can think. Roughly translated, the kanji refer to the state or condition of worrying about or being concerned for one's country: the first character 憂 means anxiety or mourning (as does its Chinese progenitor), and the second 国 means land, country, homeland, place of birth (which, again, is more or less analogous to the simplified Chinese version of 國). The concept of patriotism, on the other hand, carries a definition of loving and serving one's country. The double meaning of anxiety and mourning is paralleled in the juxtaposition throughout the story: both characters are young, and have only been married for under a year when they commit suicide together in an incredibly gruesome manner. Mishima doesn't shy away from describing sex and death in the same sharp, lyrical prose.
The original title is 憂国 (pronounced yûkoku), which doesn't really have a single-word equivalent in any language of which I can think. Roughly translated, the kanji refer to the state or condition of worrying about or being concerned for one's country: the first character 憂 means anxiety or mourning (as does its Chinese progenitor), and the second 国 means land, country, homeland, place of birth (which, again, is more or less analogous to the simplified Chinese version of 國). The concept of patriotism, on the other hand, carries a definition of loving and serving one's country. The double meaning of anxiety and mourning is paralleled in the juxtaposition throughout the story: both characters are young, and have only been married for under a year when they commit suicide together in an incredibly gruesome manner. Mishima doesn't shy away from describing sex and death in the same sharp, lyrical prose.
scotty_s's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Possibly the most emotionally moving thing I have ever read
kamee's review against another edition
5.0
ճապոնական գրականութեան երեւի բնորոշ գծերից ա էս օտարուած վիճակը, ու էստեղ էլ, երբ թւում էր, թէ հեղինակի յուզականութիւնը զգալի ա լինելու, միեւնոյն ա, հեղինակը «չեզոքութիւն էր» պահում։
ու էդ ինչ֊որ սառը տպաւորութիւն ա թողնում, կամ էլ թարգմանութեան արդիւնքն ա։
ու էդ ինչ֊որ սառը տպաւորութիւն ա թողնում, կամ էլ թարգմանութեան արդիւնքն ա։
elsatriin's review against another edition
5.0
Second five star read for 2020! Although 5 stars is given with emotion, objectively it'd be 4.
So.. This is a short story that I read online. I honestly had no idea what to expect, since I found the link on twitter and all I knew, was that it was about seppuku(ritualistic suicide by disembowelment practiced by samurai). That was what intrigued me.
I didn't expect to read something, that was heartbreaking and romantic at the same time. Filled with, as the title says, patriotism and love and respect and commitment. Yukio Mishimas writing style is poetic, patient and impactful. I'm looking forward to reading more from him.
What shocked me, was that after I had finished the novella I googled the author and found out, that he himself died by seppuku!! That gave a whole other feel to this.. This is one of those, that will stay with me for a really long time and come into my mind when I least expect it. So much to think through.
All in all I highly recommend this and since it's only about 60 pages, there really isn't any excuses.
Here's the link: https://www.quotev.com/story/5489107/Short-Story-Collection/25
So.. This is a short story that I read online. I honestly had no idea what to expect, since I found the link on twitter and all I knew, was that it was about seppuku(ritualistic suicide by disembowelment practiced by samurai). That was what intrigued me.
I didn't expect to read something, that was heartbreaking and romantic at the same time. Filled with, as the title says, patriotism and love and respect and commitment. Yukio Mishimas writing style is poetic, patient and impactful. I'm looking forward to reading more from him.
What shocked me, was that after I had finished the novella I googled the author and found out, that he himself died by seppuku!! That gave a whole other feel to this.. This is one of those, that will stay with me for a really long time and come into my mind when I least expect it. So much to think through.
All in all I highly recommend this and since it's only about 60 pages, there really isn't any excuses.
Here's the link: https://www.quotev.com/story/5489107/Short-Story-Collection/25
rikkifranca's review against another edition
5.0
A piece of work that renders me speechless. From tenderness of written love making to the gruesome act of suicide. Contradicting subjects sewed together by strings of founded beliefs, morals, virtues, etc.