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vickie101101's review against another edition
3.0
This year, I am focusing on reading more international books. This is how I borrowed "The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon" from my local library. I read reviews on Goodreads before taking this book out and had high hopes. Unfortunately, I did not love this book. I wanted to love this book, but I did not. I found sections to be dry and cumbersome. I often caught myself dosing off. The thing that I did enjoy, however, was the sense of humour throughout the book. I often found myself smirking over some of the passages. Before reading this book, I had no idea about the dry sense of humour that was present during this time period. Overall, I liked this book, but I would not recommend this book except to people who are wanting to learn about this time frame in Japanese culture.
sweetpavement's review against another edition
2.0
I don't particularly care for this translation, which is why this book is only rated 2 stars. While I enjoyed reading Sei's story, I felt the translation by Meredith McKinney was much more accessible while also being truer to the feel, language, and imagery Sei wished to convey.
tianabanana's review against another edition
5.0
I study East Asian Language and Culture with a focus on Japan. When I first read some selections from this book for a class, I was bored to tears. Last summer, I ordered it from Amazon and tackled it head on. What a good idea! Shonagon is my hero. She is hilarious, self deprecating in such a charming way, being a feminist, telling it like it is ("Everything that cries in the night is beautiful with the exception, of course, of babies."), just generally being awesome in Heian Japan. If I could travel back in time, I would choose to hang out with Sei Shonagon.
corvinaq's review against another edition
4.0
Apparently 10th century Japanese courtesans had to be ready at the drop of a hat to write poetry layered with complex allusions, because people are constantly asking them to do this in this book and they get very cross if the poem isn't sufficiently wonderful. It sounds like a stressful profession to me.
However, I enjoyed the author's opinion of children and how she is annoyed to hear "An unpleasant-looking child being praised and petted by parents."
However, I enjoyed the author's opinion of children and how she is annoyed to hear "An unpleasant-looking child being praised and petted by parents."
nagi_mahori's review against another edition
5.0
Muy divertido, genial para conocer la vida cortesana del Japon del año 1000
benrogerswpg's review against another edition
2.0
I did not enjoy this.
I found this an extremely dry and boring book.
Lots of spirituality and things too, not in the type that I like reading.
Just all-in-all not a book for me.
1.8/5
I found this an extremely dry and boring book.
Lots of spirituality and things too, not in the type that I like reading.
Just all-in-all not a book for me.
1.8/5
jayb_213's review against another edition
4.0
A window into the Japanese court in the year 1000 (remarkable) from the perspective of, what sounds like, their version of a “mean girl” or a stereotypical sorority girl. It’s written well and the window into the time period is fascinating.