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wundini's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, and Death
sapphic_shroom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you're a lover of short stories and beautiful stylized writing, you'll certainly find something of value in this collection. It explores a variety of lively historical settings, offers interesting perspectives into the sociological and psychological aspects of both society and the individual, and serves as a window into the thoughts and experiences of the author himself. From the reader's perspective - looking at a chronological overview of his life and later reading his own thoughts on himself, his actions and the people surrounding him - my relationship with him was certainly complicated. While feeling frustrated at some of his comments, others made me laugh - and by the end of the collection, flipping through the last pages of Spinning Gears, it almost felt like I was going through a bout of anxiety worrying over his declining mental state.
Somewhere around the middle mark of the collection, I went out and got any translation of his works I could find - thankfully, there has been a rise in translation of Japanese literature over the past decade. I found myself enjoying his writing style so much that the thought of learning Japanese crossed my language-loving mind briefly. After all, there's nothing quite as satisfying as reading a work in its original form. I doubt this will ever happen, but it's a funny little thing that this work made me consider.
Some of my favourite stories from the collection, in the order in which they appear:
• Rashomon
• Dragon: The Old Potter's Tale
• Hell Screen
• The Life of a Stupid Man
• Spinning Gears
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity
naomix's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Mental illness, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Gore, and War
Minor: Child death, Misogyny, and Infidelity
albernikolauras's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I would highly recommend reading the introduction to this story collection (or at least the timeline, which I went back and forth to throughout the collection) and go into this ready to learn. Akutagawa was plagued by a lot of darkness within his life, and this collection definitely carries that darkness, so beware.
Graphic: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Suicide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual violence, Child abuse, and Murder
pigeonpersona's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death, and War
axiomofequality's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Mental illness
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Suicide
Minor: Bullying
unboxedjack's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Violence