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katia26's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
stacialithub's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting mix of stories where tales are told in a straightforward style. Most have a twist or an unreliable narrator.
The stories are longer than the typical ones offered by Aesop, but they reminded me of Aesop's fables in that a simple tale can provide food for thought, a trick, or a moral to ponder.
I'm glad I read it.
The stories are longer than the typical ones offered by Aesop, but they reminded me of Aesop's fables in that a simple tale can provide food for thought, a trick, or a moral to ponder.
I'm glad I read it.
kingtoad's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
khepiari's review against another edition
5.0
Ryūnosuke Akutagawa the father of Japanese short stories, has been on my to be-read-list for years. This is an old translation, which has distilled down the stories to their literal translation instead of the 'transliteration' that present day readers look for.
How to make murder mystery frustratingly interesting? Throw in unreliable narrators and witnesses and watch it unfold, is how I found In a Grove. Though day by day I am getting critical about use of rape in story as plot device, I am glad the author didn't use rapist-robber's confession to describe his heinous crime.
The famous Rashomon that has been translated over a hundred times and adapted by famous Kurosawa, remains a compelling story no matter how distilled it gets. The thin line between violence, power and desperation always floats this story.
Yam Gruel, was a funny story with pinch of fantasy. But I don't think I got the entirety of the joke cracked by Akutagawa through this micro-retelling of a myth.
The Martyr, definitely was the most tragic and ironical story of all. The story of an orphan Lorenzo who lived by the words of Jesus and suffered like him. I didn't see the sad twist coming in the end, despite me reading same twists in manga and light novels over and over again!
Kesa and Morito, was interesting, the power dynamics between ex-lovers who are having extramarital affair was gripping. How far can lust last? What sustains love? Surprisingly hate and an honour bound promise to commit a murder does.
The Dragon was hilarious, I had read the orgin myth of the story before, but it was interesting retelling and I have seen its various adaptation on screen and other stories. But I still love stories because nothing has ever echoed the horrors of fake news then a story about a joke that got wild.
Overall it was a decent introduction to Akutagawa's narrative style which is definitely starkly different from Soseki's and far more absorbing and critical in terms of observations.
How to make murder mystery frustratingly interesting? Throw in unreliable narrators and witnesses and watch it unfold, is how I found In a Grove. Though day by day I am getting critical about use of rape in story as plot device, I am glad the author didn't use rapist-robber's confession to describe his heinous crime.
The famous Rashomon that has been translated over a hundred times and adapted by famous Kurosawa, remains a compelling story no matter how distilled it gets. The thin line between violence, power and desperation always floats this story.
Yam Gruel, was a funny story with pinch of fantasy. But I don't think I got the entirety of the joke cracked by Akutagawa through this micro-retelling of a myth.
The Martyr, definitely was the most tragic and ironical story of all. The story of an orphan Lorenzo who lived by the words of Jesus and suffered like him. I didn't see the sad twist coming in the end, despite me reading same twists in manga and light novels over and over again!
Kesa and Morito, was interesting, the power dynamics between ex-lovers who are having extramarital affair was gripping. How far can lust last? What sustains love? Surprisingly hate and an honour bound promise to commit a murder does.
The Dragon was hilarious, I had read the orgin myth of the story before, but it was interesting retelling and I have seen its various adaptation on screen and other stories. But I still love stories because nothing has ever echoed the horrors of fake news then a story about a joke that got wild.
Overall it was a decent introduction to Akutagawa's narrative style which is definitely starkly different from Soseki's and far more absorbing and critical in terms of observations.
samuelm's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished a book of short stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa. This Japanese author committed suicide in 1927 after writing hundreds of poems and stories. Some of his stories are so haunting that the images will be seared into your brain forever. Rashomon is one of these. It is almost as if the author is an omnipotent being hovering over the scenes providing a running commentary on medieval Japanese life. After reading this slim volume, I do have one imperative. I must try some yam gruel.
lauren_endnotes's review against another edition
4.0
"Yes, sir. Certainly, it was I who found the body. This morning as usual, I went to cut my daily quota of cedar, when I found a body in a grove..."
Opening lines of "In a Grove", from RASHŌMON and Other Stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, translated by Takashi Kojima // originals 1910s-1920s in Japanese, translated and collected in English 1952.
Akutagawa is known as the "father of the Japanese short story" - this distinction, as well as my love for short stories made him a must read for my January in Japan queue. In his short life, he wrote 150 stories and gained popularity and prestige for his work. So much so that one of Japan's major literary prizes is named in honor of him - the Akutagawa Prize.
This collection gathers only 6 of his short stories, and was a wonderful introduction to his style. It contains two of his #classics - In a Grove, and Rashōmon.
*Fun Fact* Akira Kurasawa's famous Rashōmon film (1950), despite its name, is actually based on "In a Grove" short story. The film popularized the multiple viewpoints/perspectives and emphasized the subjective nature of truth and justice, regularly referred to as "Rashōmon effect".
Akutagawa's stories are immersive, eerie, and dark. All good combinations for me!
Opening lines of "In a Grove", from RASHŌMON and Other Stories by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa, translated by Takashi Kojima // originals 1910s-1920s in Japanese, translated and collected in English 1952.
Akutagawa is known as the "father of the Japanese short story" - this distinction, as well as my love for short stories made him a must read for my January in Japan queue. In his short life, he wrote 150 stories and gained popularity and prestige for his work. So much so that one of Japan's major literary prizes is named in honor of him - the Akutagawa Prize.
This collection gathers only 6 of his short stories, and was a wonderful introduction to his style. It contains two of his #classics - In a Grove, and Rashōmon.
*Fun Fact* Akira Kurasawa's famous Rashōmon film (1950), despite its name, is actually based on "In a Grove" short story. The film popularized the multiple viewpoints/perspectives and emphasized the subjective nature of truth and justice, regularly referred to as "Rashōmon effect".
Akutagawa's stories are immersive, eerie, and dark. All good combinations for me!
dkwaye's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75