Reviews

Rashomon en andere verhalen by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

heniaakbar's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

4.0

- In The Grove: Incredible story from different perspectives, which teaches you effectively about seeing everything from every angle. Because hey, different set of eyes can see one event differently from others, you know. 5 

- Rashomon: This is also about perspective. If you think it's fine for you doing something, why do you think other people cannot do the same thing to you? 5

- Yam Gruel: I see this story as a longing and desire for something will keep someone happy and looking forward to it. To ensure that he will no longer have to work to fulfil that desire, surprisingly, will leave him empty and forlorn. It's the desire that fuels you, and without that, what's the point? 5

- The Martyr: I don't see Lorenzo as a martyr, and I will call him what he is "the victim". 3

- Kesa and Morito: This has the tone like Yam Gruel, after you fulfil your desire, it's no longer as enticing as it seemed before. It's about adulterous woman who wants to kill her husband, but in the end, she found something else. I don't like the long monologue, though. 3

- The Dragon: See, sometimes lie become truth when you speak it often enough. Or is it about manifesting something and that something will finally become reality? 4

gabspina's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

michelraptor's review against another edition

inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

booksnbrains's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

buthainna's review against another edition

3.0

In A Grove was my favorite

kay222's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

beththebookdragon's review against another edition

4.0

Compelling, simply told (at least in translation) yet sophisticated and psychologically nuanced shrt stories set in various periods of historical Japan.

A window into Japanese culture and history, and the sensibility of an early-20th-century literary Japanese author.

kestrellady's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Strong character development? N/A

4.5

Wasn't really sure what to expect going into this, but I really enjoyed the various stories. They're very focused on the vagaries of human nature, but in a very down to earth way that sometimes pokes fun at more pretentious stories. 

pigs4beginners's review against another edition

dark lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

gracieterry's review against another edition

dark reflective

3.5