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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
This book changed my life. It's been a long time since I felt such an uncontrollable rush of emotions and I can't get it out of my mind.
Terribly beautiful.
Terribly beautiful.
Chef d’œuvre. À lire pour un regard doux, empreint de nostalgie et d’amertume, sur un Japon éteint. À lire pour la poésie. À lire pour la nature et pour le temps qui passe.
4.5 stars. Compelling read. I just found some parts were boring, but some were very interesting. Those boring parts, which were the first part of the book, felt like they need not be part of the story, and the interesting parts, towards the end, kept me hooked. Beautifully written, poignant and nostalgic that I can see it perfect as a film. I searched because I thought it would be a waste if no one thought of it and so I was glad that there’s a movie (which I have yet to see if they’ve given justice).
I found out, after finishing the book, that this is the first book of a four-part series and I have mixed feelings about it. It would be interesting to know how Honda did after Kiyoaki’s fate, but I can’t help but think Honda will not have as much share in the book as this one, although the synopses say the book is mainly Honda’s point of view. I will still have to think about reading the sequels.
I found out, after finishing the book, that this is the first book of a four-part series and I have mixed feelings about it. It would be interesting to know how Honda did after Kiyoaki’s fate, but I can’t help but think Honda will not have as much share in the book as this one, although the synopses say the book is mainly Honda’s point of view. I will still have to think about reading the sequels.
Čudni su ovi Japanci, štajaznam.. Baš vole da opisuju stvari a baš mi se nisu čitali opisi
Stigao sam do polovine knjige kada me je mama pitala o čemu se radi, rekao sam joj da je u suštini priča o momku iz bogate trgovačke porodice kojeg su poslali na vaspitanje u siromašnu ali plemićku porodicu i on se sada loži na njihovu ćerku, ali se ponaša kao retard i uopšte mi nije jasan taj njihov odnos.. I da je jedini razlog zbog kog i dalje čitam roman to što sam pročitao neku recenziju koja kaže da je druga polovina knjige mnoooogo bolja od prve, pa ajde kao da joj pružim šansu.
Stvarno je istina, bude dosta intriga i spletki kasnije, čak na trenutke i razumem motivacije glavnog lika iako je retard..Pojavljuju se tu i neki Sijamski prinčevi, pa sam eto saznao da se Tajland nekada zvao Siam...
U suštini, bolje bih je ocenio da su mi se čitali opisi, ali ovako sam ih preletao i namučio se da stignem do zanimljivog dela. Da li je vredelo? U suštini mi je drago što sam je pročitao, mada sam očekivao više od Mišime, možda mu se nekada vratim, kada budem raspoloženiji za opise.
Da li bih je preporučio? Ako vam se čita o Japancima u stilu Džejn Ostin, što da ne.. A u suprotnom..ima boljih knjiga.
Inače, Mišima je gaser neviđenih razmera, lik bio najpoznatiji glumac i književnik u Japanu, ložio se na tradiciju i vraćanje carstva, pokušao da izvrši vojni puč, nije uspeo, izvršio ritualno samoubistvo, ima na netu snimak. Nisam očekivao da piše o osećanjima...................
Stigao sam do polovine knjige kada me je mama pitala o čemu se radi, rekao sam joj da je u suštini priča o momku iz bogate trgovačke porodice kojeg su poslali na vaspitanje u siromašnu ali plemićku porodicu i on se sada loži na njihovu ćerku, ali se ponaša kao retard i uopšte mi nije jasan taj njihov odnos.. I da je jedini razlog zbog kog i dalje čitam roman to što sam pročitao neku recenziju koja kaže da je druga polovina knjige mnoooogo bolja od prve, pa ajde kao da joj pružim šansu.
Stvarno je istina, bude dosta intriga i spletki kasnije, čak na trenutke i razumem motivacije glavnog lika iako je retard..Pojavljuju se tu i neki Sijamski prinčevi, pa sam eto saznao da se Tajland nekada zvao Siam...
U suštini, bolje bih je ocenio da su mi se čitali opisi, ali ovako sam ih preletao i namučio se da stignem do zanimljivog dela. Da li je vredelo? U suštini mi je drago što sam je pročitao, mada sam očekivao više od Mišime, možda mu se nekada vratim, kada budem raspoloženiji za opise.
Da li bih je preporučio? Ako vam se čita o Japancima u stilu Džejn Ostin, što da ne.. A u suprotnom..ima boljih knjiga.
Inače, Mišima je gaser neviđenih razmera, lik bio najpoznatiji glumac i književnik u Japanu, ložio se na tradiciju i vraćanje carstva, pokušao da izvrši vojni puč, nije uspeo, izvršio ritualno samoubistvo, ima na netu snimak. Nisam očekivao da piše o osećanjima...................
Blegh.
Spring Snow was an oddly beautiful mix... one that I found myself completely incapable of appreciating or engaging with, and yet could see why other high minds could.
This is the story of handsome but apathetically discontent Kiyoaki, a young man being raised alongside a well-to-do family in 1912 Japan, 7 years after the Japanese-Russo war has ended. He and his upstanding but poor friend Honda navigate the structured culture present in Japanese culture. Kiyoaki is conscious only of himself, his good looks, and the moment he is in; Honda is studious and a loyal friend.
This is a story with depth, with layers. Perhaps I would have appreciated the beautiful depiction as depicted by Mishima of Japanese culture in the early 1900s, if I hadn't found the characters so... so... BORING. I think there was a lot of packed social commentary provided in the forms of these characters by Mishima, and I just couldn't digest it. It felt so far away from me, and in fact a bit pretentious, that I couldn't empathise or relate with the things they were talking about at all.
For example, Kiyoaki and Honda have a misunderstanding that leads to a tense moment (naturally as a result of a woman). Instead of speaking about this issue clearly, Honda instead lectures Kiyoaki on social economics. What...? What? Who talks like that? Mishima, honestly. I mean, this is a guy who had a lot of ideas that indeed probably spent most of his time talking about issues like the decline of the samurai nation and loss of ideals in Japan as the result of Westernisation in the early 1900s, as he is on record for his beliefs and also commited seppuku (ritual suicide by blade) after trying to persuade others to his cause unsuccessfully. I mean. That's pretty strong idealism.
AND STILL. I just wasn't feelin' it. In fact, I felt a bit like Kiyoaki, who is described as being a bit of a thoughtless and not particularly intelligent boy in this story. It sort of passed over my head. I need metaphors and social commentary to be administered with a hammer, straight to my brain. Or it'll usually pass by me like a fart in the wind.
In conclusion, let's blame the fact that I found the audio narrator a bit stiff, yes, that's probably why I couldn't wrap my brain in pleasure while reading this book. Clearly, it wasn't me and my simple brain. ;)
Spring Snow was an oddly beautiful mix... one that I found myself completely incapable of appreciating or engaging with, and yet could see why other high minds could.
This is the story of handsome but apathetically discontent Kiyoaki, a young man being raised alongside a well-to-do family in 1912 Japan, 7 years after the Japanese-Russo war has ended. He and his upstanding but poor friend Honda navigate the structured culture present in Japanese culture. Kiyoaki is conscious only of himself, his good looks, and the moment he is in; Honda is studious and a loyal friend.
This is a story with depth, with layers. Perhaps I would have appreciated the beautiful depiction as depicted by Mishima of Japanese culture in the early 1900s, if I hadn't found the characters so... so... BORING. I think there was a lot of packed social commentary provided in the forms of these characters by Mishima, and I just couldn't digest it. It felt so far away from me, and in fact a bit pretentious, that I couldn't empathise or relate with the things they were talking about at all.
For example, Kiyoaki and Honda have a misunderstanding that leads to a tense moment (naturally as a result of a woman). Instead of speaking about this issue clearly, Honda instead lectures Kiyoaki on social economics. What...? What? Who talks like that? Mishima, honestly. I mean, this is a guy who had a lot of ideas that indeed probably spent most of his time talking about issues like the decline of the samurai nation and loss of ideals in Japan as the result of Westernisation in the early 1900s, as he is on record for his beliefs and also commited seppuku (ritual suicide by blade) after trying to persuade others to his cause unsuccessfully. I mean. That's pretty strong idealism.
AND STILL. I just wasn't feelin' it. In fact, I felt a bit like Kiyoaki, who is described as being a bit of a thoughtless and not particularly intelligent boy in this story. It sort of passed over my head. I need metaphors and social commentary to be administered with a hammer, straight to my brain. Or it'll usually pass by me like a fart in the wind.
In conclusion, let's blame the fact that I found the audio narrator a bit stiff, yes, that's probably why I couldn't wrap my brain in pleasure while reading this book. Clearly, it wasn't me and my simple brain. ;)
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
A deceptively simple tragic romance depicting the foolishness and passion of youth and loss of innocence that turns out to be many times more complex once you read into the author’s life and background. I have to give him credit - the ability to depict the complex feelings of imperial Japan bending to western powers and globalization via a tragic romance written in a Jane Austin-like style without directly making such commentary was something I didn’t think could be achieved, and yet this book did it. And the writing, oh the writing! There were so many passages that were just jaw-droppingly gorgeous that I had to read some of them repeatedly to really take them in for both imagery and symbolism! As controversial as Mishima is, I have to give him (and the translator) kudos for this brilliant piece of work.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Elegant.
"One of the snowflakes blew in and lodged itself on Kiyoaki's eyebrow. It made Satoko cry out, and without thinking, Kiyoaki turned toward her as he felt a cold trickle on his eyelid. She closed her eyes abruptly. Kiyoaki stared at the face with its closed lids; only the subdued crimson of her lips glowed in the shadows, and because of the swaying of the rickshaw, her features, like a flower held between trembling fingertips were softly blurred."
"One of the snowflakes blew in and lodged itself on Kiyoaki's eyebrow. It made Satoko cry out, and without thinking, Kiyoaki turned toward her as he felt a cold trickle on his eyelid. She closed her eyes abruptly. Kiyoaki stared at the face with its closed lids; only the subdued crimson of her lips glowed in the shadows, and because of the swaying of the rickshaw, her features, like a flower held between trembling fingertips were softly blurred."