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comparadox's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
armintoss's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mariagxmez's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
emmaopaline's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Suicidal thoughts
remainsofabook's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Animal death, Body shaming, and Suicidal thoughts
schumacher's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent, unsettling study of paraphilia, memory, and sensation.
blchandler9000's review against another edition
3.0
(note: I was only able to obtain a copy of the title story, so my review is only about that, not the other 2 tales in this edition)
A strange tale that weaves between lovely, dark, and melancholy, sometimes from sentence to sentence. A sad, old man goes to a sort of brothel where he is allowed to sleep next to a young woman. She's been given a powerful sleeping drug, so she has no idea about who she spends the night with or how. The old man's thoughts run from nostalgic to angry to sad, all brought about by odor and minor physical details of the sleeping girls. He recalls past relationships, both with family and with lovers. He also experiences nightmares and mentally toys with strange desires.
Some of the book was quite lovely, with evocative passages—especially the more nostalgic moments. Other parts turned me off, though, like his reoccurring thoughts about hurting the girls or killing himself. But the goods outweighed the bads and my curiosity about this author's works has been piqued, so I'll be reading more from Kawabata.
A strange tale that weaves between lovely, dark, and melancholy, sometimes from sentence to sentence. A sad, old man goes to a sort of brothel where he is allowed to sleep next to a young woman. She's been given a powerful sleeping drug, so she has no idea about who she spends the night with or how. The old man's thoughts run from nostalgic to angry to sad, all brought about by odor and minor physical details of the sleeping girls. He recalls past relationships, both with family and with lovers. He also experiences nightmares and mentally toys with strange desires.
Some of the book was quite lovely, with evocative passages—especially the more nostalgic moments. Other parts turned me off, though, like his reoccurring thoughts about hurting the girls or killing himself. But the goods outweighed the bads and my curiosity about this author's works has been piqued, so I'll be reading more from Kawabata.
worstwitch's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 maybe. My first Kawabata and perhaps I shouldn't have selected his later short stories as my first. I was too intrigued by House of the Sleeping Beauties to not read it right away though. The young, virginal girls sleeping next to old men who are aged emotionally and physically by time/events/relationships reminded me so much of Humbert Humbert & Lolita. An attraction to innocence, before corruption can touch them-- a longing to be near this and possess it for a night.
My favorites were One Arm and Of Birds and Beasts though.
My favorites were One Arm and Of Birds and Beasts though.
heniaakbar's review against another edition
2.0
Probably the worst Kawabata experience for me. There's not much happening, only old man remembering his womanizing youth while being with sleeping beautiful girls.