Reviews

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima

okayose's review against another edition

2.0

fell a bit flat

sebwhalley's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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

4.25

ryannorris's review

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

400iux's review

3.0

there were way toooo many descriptions of ppl sucking nipples and “hairy erect cocks” for my liking

dramaqueenv's review against another edition

dark informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

pen game was crazy ngl 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Animal cruelty, and Body horror

magmaa's review

5.0

10/10

disturbing, thought-provoking, dark, symbolic, haunting, poetic

Many words to describe this book and many symbols to be found within. Glory, man's dream, westernization of Japan and more are beautifully compressed into a short masterpiece by Mishima.

juicebox's review

challenging dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

A powerful book tackling glory, idealism, masculinity, youthful expectations vs adult reality, family roles and vulnerability/honesty.

Mishima's personal life is thoroughly entwined in the narrative, especially the tension between the influence of the West and traditional Japan.

I felt it required some time and side reading to digest and fully appreciate the novel. The beauty of the prose was overtly apparent, but the messages contained within require some deeper consideration. 

The ambiguous ending is perfect and testament to the balance between elegance and brutality that runs through the work. 

I read this at 20ish and now again at 30. And I can see myself in Ryuji. At 20 I admit to some feelings of wanting to attain glory, of feeling special in some way, like it was inevitable that I would achieve something. Now at 30, I see the joys in life are not contained in some heroic pursuit, but rather in love, connection and maturity. 

stephenblockhead's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious medium-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

4.0

Before reading any Mishima 'I wonder what this guy's deal was. why he do that?'

After reading this 'okay. I get it. relationship to yourself and your loved ones and your nation are all just different instances of death. damn bro'

erinbannister's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

mateuszbro's review

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75