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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Once again, this is a book that his incredibly hard to describe. The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea centers around three characters - Noburo, a 13 year old boy, his mother Fusako and her lover Ryuji.
Fusako and Noburo live in a Japanese port town. Five years ago they lost the the man of the house, and it is only when the sailor Ryuji enters their lives during shore leave that Fusako feels her desires for a new man awaken. Their budding love affair is (sometimes too closely) watched by Noburu. He is an intelligent boy with very strict views of what's right and wrong - and these views do not necessarily limit themselves to what you'd expect in a 13 year old boy, nor what society would deem acceptable. Noburo is part of a gang of 13 year old children who have come to believe that only they can judge the right and wrong of the world. Slowly Noburo finds Ryuji to fall from grace as an untouchable hero of the sea to a family man, a change that carries him and Fusako towards a happy future. Unknown to them, this change also invokes the harsh judgement of Noburo and his gang...
This book is nothing if not unexpected. Each page draws you into the little world of its story more deeply, wraps around you and won't let you go. The descriptions of the port town are cinematic in their vividness, the metaphors are of a poetic, dark nature and the philosophies presented twisted and fascinating. The end is inevitable. Like drums the pages of the book lead you to a destination, and although your every step grants you a bigger knowledge of what this destination is, once you reach it you will be left breathless and amazed and horrified. Mishima is working towards a climax and leaves you with the helpless, terrible knowledge of what is going to happen inevitably, but he does not make you live through it. Not unlike Murakami's [b:After Dark|17803|After Dark|Haruki Murakami|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266451855s/17803.jpg|3070852], the reader is left with but a glimpse of where this story is progressing. As though riding a rollercoaster, you reach the top, the world is stretched out for you to see and observe, and just as you are carried over the peak you are left with that feeling of dread and anxiety and excitement for what you know will follow. For me this was a fresh spin of the usual climax-and-resolution-end; a gripping experience.
Some minor points might be deducted for the book slowing down in the last quarter before picking up again for its climax, but it is just a small, forgiveable dent in a steady, sickeningly fantastic ride.
Fusako and Noburo live in a Japanese port town. Five years ago they lost the the man of the house, and it is only when the sailor Ryuji enters their lives during shore leave that Fusako feels her desires for a new man awaken. Their budding love affair is (sometimes too closely) watched by Noburu. He is an intelligent boy with very strict views of what's right and wrong - and these views do not necessarily limit themselves to what you'd expect in a 13 year old boy, nor what society would deem acceptable. Noburo is part of a gang of 13 year old children who have come to believe that only they can judge the right and wrong of the world. Slowly Noburo finds Ryuji to fall from grace as an untouchable hero of the sea to a family man, a change that carries him and Fusako towards a happy future. Unknown to them, this change also invokes the harsh judgement of Noburo and his gang...
This book is nothing if not unexpected. Each page draws you into the little world of its story more deeply, wraps around you and won't let you go. The descriptions of the port town are cinematic in their vividness, the metaphors are of a poetic, dark nature and the philosophies presented twisted and fascinating. The end is inevitable. Like drums the pages of the book lead you to a destination, and although your every step grants you a bigger knowledge of what this destination is, once you reach it you will be left breathless and amazed and horrified. Mishima is working towards a climax and leaves you with the helpless, terrible knowledge of what is going to happen inevitably, but he does not make you live through it. Not unlike Murakami's [b:After Dark|17803|After Dark|Haruki Murakami|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266451855s/17803.jpg|3070852], the reader is left with but a glimpse of where this story is progressing. As though riding a rollercoaster, you reach the top, the world is stretched out for you to see and observe, and just as you are carried over the peak you are left with that feeling of dread and anxiety and excitement for what you know will follow. For me this was a fresh spin of the usual climax-and-resolution-end; a gripping experience.
Some minor points might be deducted for the book slowing down in the last quarter before picking up again for its climax, but it is just a small, forgiveable dent in a steady, sickeningly fantastic ride.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Sexism
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of Mishima’s shortest novels, but that doesn’t mean it’s less loaded than others. The writer touches on nationalism, post-war childhood, and how this connects to the corruption or salvation of the soul. This book is a great option to start with this author as it completely embodies Mishima’s unique perspective on the world.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After reading this book I honestly thought wtf. I kind of wished it was a book that I read in school, so that I actually understood it. So as any other sane person would do, I quickly found an analysis online.
After actually understanding the allegory I thought the book was better and somehow the brutality made sense.
So I guess that is my tip - find an analysis online, so you understand what is going on.
After actually understanding the allegory I thought the book was better and somehow the brutality made sense.
So I guess that is my tip - find an analysis online, so you understand what is going on.
Freud would have LOVED this one, this is probably one of the creepiest novels I've read but I don't regret it. Some of the actions and some of the descriptions in this book are downright horrific, but I don't think it would be fair to write this off as just a disturbing book. I honestly love the trope in literature of the disturbed teenager who's ultimately just pathetic and sad (i.e. Catcher in the Rye, Adrian Mole), but I think Mishima presented this extremely well, showing a level of disturbance which went to psychological levels rather than just emotional, clearly showing the juxtaposition of this almost sociopathic child kin comparison to the child which he is. I also loved the presentation of masculinity, both in adults and children, and how this reflects the dynamic relationships in the book. My only issue was the writing style- I was really expecting this to be overly-poetic like the title suggests but it came across a little bit flat at times, but I think thats because of the book being translated, I imagine in Japanese the writing would be a lot more romantic.
4/5
4/5
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I WANNA PAINT EVERY PAGE WITH A FUCKING HIGHLIGHTER
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sure, Mishima writes like he hated women so much that his misogyny made him gay(…/bisexual?? i guess?? we stan a bi fascist icon etc etc), but he’s just SO good at capturing the full spectrum of impotent, masculine, Men Going Their Own Way, Freudian rage - from the 13yo watching his mom undress and thinking about how all dads are evil because they get in the way of a son and his sexy mother, and how it’s every boy’s right to watch his dad die- to the 34yo thinking about how no woman could really understand his deep, unknowable warrior’s heart and how he can’t wait to die a glorious death in battle, even as he’s crying and stammering out loud to her about how much money he has in his bank account, and the moment he sees her boobs he’s like hmmmm I guess it’s fine actually.
The entire book is also an extremely obvious criticism on Mishima’s part regarding the western domination of post-WWII Japan, culminating in the 34yo’s emasculation through marriage, which causes him to lose all respect in the 13yo’s eyes. Mishima wasn’t exactly subtle, but I do just genuinely have fun reading his work.
The entire book is also an extremely obvious criticism on Mishima’s part regarding the western domination of post-WWII Japan, culminating in the 34yo’s emasculation through marriage, which causes him to lose all respect in the 13yo’s eyes. Mishima wasn’t exactly subtle, but I do just genuinely have fun reading his work.