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andrewwwwww's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ezrasupremacy's review against another edition
dnf at 48%
first dnf of the year, and something i only rarely do.
i find the subject matter and perspective of a gay man in 1930s-ish japan really interesting, but this was so painfully boring, i can’t keep trying to push through.
not particularly interested in reading more from mishima due to his political views, so this will most likely be my only encounter.
first dnf of the year, and something i only rarely do.
i find the subject matter and perspective of a gay man in 1930s-ish japan really interesting, but this was so painfully boring, i can’t keep trying to push through.
not particularly interested in reading more from mishima due to his political views, so this will most likely be my only encounter.
katiesphone's review against another edition
hes one sick fuck.
but i like this quote, it really speaks to me about my own feelings on gender.
"In the woodblock prints of the Genroku period one often finds the features of a pair of Lovers to be surprisingly similar, with little to distinguish the man from the woman. the universal ideal of Beauty and Greek sculpture likewise approaches a close resemblance between the male and female. might this not be one of the secrets of love? might it not be through the innermost recesses of love that causes an unattainable longing in which both the man and the woman desires to become the exact image which other? might not this longing drive them on, leading at last to a tragic reaction in which they seek to attain the impossible by going to the opposite extreme."
but i like this quote, it really speaks to me about my own feelings on gender.
"In the woodblock prints of the Genroku period one often finds the features of a pair of Lovers to be surprisingly similar, with little to distinguish the man from the woman. the universal ideal of Beauty and Greek sculpture likewise approaches a close resemblance between the male and female. might this not be one of the secrets of love? might it not be through the innermost recesses of love that causes an unattainable longing in which both the man and the woman desires to become the exact image which other? might not this longing drive them on, leading at last to a tragic reaction in which they seek to attain the impossible by going to the opposite extreme."
doseogwan's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.5
magmaa's review against another edition
5.0
10/10
I seem to be enjoying books with main characters that are outcasts and idk what it means
Also Mishima is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors with every book I read
This one is no exception, with a very beautiful language Mishima portrays queer identity during adolescence with no fault and perfection
I seem to be enjoying books with main characters that are outcasts and idk what it means
Also Mishima is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors with every book I read
This one is no exception, with a very beautiful language Mishima portrays queer identity during adolescence with no fault and perfection
sjuuzn's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
3.0
Mishima's attempt at portrayal of homosexuality gives only mix tesults. The generalisations made about himsexuals makes one want to throw the book. If you can ignore those couple of sentences though, it is an intresting portrayal of psychology of a a homosexual person living in a society where homosexuals are not supposed to exist. Intresting because I don't always find the author agreeable.
The segregation of sexes that is made in schools and colleges and jails is probably made with aim of keeping people from having sex - but aren't they presuming that all children are hetrosexuals ? Our narrator studies in one such boys' school. His constant efforts at denials and pretending to be a straight person is one of the two themes of novel.
The other theme is that of war. In a way, our 'mask' is a war child. Born and raised amid wars, taught in millitary schools. And thus has an obsession with death. An obsession perhaps common to his generation in Japan. That was raised to be soldiers - including the famous suicide bombers.
It not so much shocking then that he should find a sexual satisfaction in sadism and death.
The segregation of sexes that is made in schools and colleges and jails is probably made with aim of keeping people from having sex - but aren't they presuming that all children are hetrosexuals ? Our narrator studies in one such boys' school. His constant efforts at denials and pretending to be a straight person is one of the two themes of novel.
The other theme is that of war. In a way, our 'mask' is a war child. Born and raised amid wars, taught in millitary schools. And thus has an obsession with death. An obsession perhaps common to his generation in Japan. That was raised to be soldiers - including the famous suicide bombers.
It not so much shocking then that he should find a sexual satisfaction in sadism and death.
pussaydestroya's review against another edition
dark
fast-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
4.5
buruberie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
_maria_'s review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0