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fightingmarc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I have previously read Mishima's "Confessions of a Mask" and enjoyed the perspective he offered. His writing is beautiful and I find myself getting absorbed in the drama he stages. However, the characters in "Forbidden Colours" go beyond twisted to an obnoxious degree.
There is virtually no redeeming feature of Yuichi, the main protagonist. Mishima uses Shunsuke to crowbar in his philosophy that is dense, difficult and boring. The more interesting aspects of the story suddenly grind to a halt in order for these philosophical outbursts to take place.
The last hundred pages are what allowed me to finish the book. The plot picks up again and sudden unexpected revelations take place that change where the story is headed. There are several moments that, as a queer man, played with my expectations, leading me to places that I didn't expect emotionally. The ending however is supremely disappointing. I like reading Mishima novels, mainly because I find it interesting to occupy the mind of someone that I disagree with on such a fundamental level. However, Mishima takes us to odd, warped conclusions that are frankly disgusting. I would never have guessed that something as beautiful as Ryuichi Sakamoto's song "Forbidden Colours" could have taken the name of something so strange.
There is virtually no redeeming feature of Yuichi, the main protagonist. Mishima uses Shunsuke to crowbar in his philosophy that is dense, difficult and boring. The more interesting aspects of the story suddenly grind to a halt in order for these philosophical outbursts to take place.
The last hundred pages are what allowed me to finish the book. The plot picks up again and sudden unexpected revelations take place that change where the story is headed. There are several moments that, as a queer man, played with my expectations, leading me to places that I didn't expect emotionally. The ending however is supremely disappointing. I like reading Mishima novels, mainly because I find it interesting to occupy the mind of someone that I disagree with on such a fundamental level. However, Mishima takes us to odd, warped conclusions that are frankly disgusting. I would never have guessed that something as beautiful as Ryuichi Sakamoto's song "Forbidden Colours" could have taken the name of something so strange.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Rape, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Mental illness, Medical content, Homophobia, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death
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