Reviews

Star by Yukio Mishima

bluestarfish's review

4.0

Twenty-three-year-old Rikio Mizuno is a famous film actor who is reflecting on his life and fame and persona as someone who is always perceived. We are on set with him and the director is setting up various shots so there are some moments to rest and think. He feels strained by the work and feels like he's on the cusp of it all being over. The descriptions of him slipping between the acting and the non-acting states are mesmerising and this really is all about the emotions and feelings and descriptions of the moments that he perceives (including being perceived) rather than much plot in the short novella.

Translated by Sam Bett.

ameve2's review

dark fast-paced

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

3.0

rocketiza's review

2.0

Meh

annetjeberg's review

2.0

I liked it, and I didn't like it. For sure, I did not like the main character, who sounds old and bitter. Maybe that is what stardom does to you? I definitely wouldn't like to trade.

joanabryant's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.0

jakeeys's review

dark reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

3.5

lampost15's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted medium-paced

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

5.0

lalasel's review

• Loveable characters? No

3.0

sketchybooks's review

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

b_harlou's review against another edition

A little book that explores the fact that being famous isn’t equal to happiness. Most of the time in fact the opposite. Because you feel like you can’t do anything more with your life. You’ve obtained all you can. You don’t have anything to chase. Your life becomes empty, without excitement and without a goal to reach. It kills you inside, and you want to end it all.
Dark and heavy for sure, but way more interesting than you’d think.