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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
adventurous
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
‘Each of us has an animal nature we must strive to tame.’
The pursuit of greatness can often bring out the worst in us, particularly when we realize that greatness might always remain out of arm's reach. Or, if you happen to be the failed poet in Atsushi Nakajima’s classic Japanese tale The Moon Over the Mountain, it remains out of paws reach. The story concerns Li Zheng, who after a quick rise and great promise, left his government job to pursue poetry, failed to achieve success and then suddenly vanished only to appear years later, cursed to be transforming into a tiger. Now I’ve written some shit poetry in my time, but thankfully the consequences weren't to be turned into a tiger. Though with the rising cost of living, maybe the joke is on me? Anyways, I was thrilled to discover Penguin’s new series, Maiden’s Bookshelf, which will combine early 20th century short stories with contemporary artwork, such as the gorgeous and arresting artwork here from [a:nekosuke|17022736|nekosuke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. I mean, check it out:
This is a brief story, the title story to one of only two collections Atsushi Nakajima published before he tragically died of asthma at the age of 33. Much of his works draw on classical Chinese stories and myths, reinvigorated with a deeply introspective flair. This story, which is also known by the title The Tiger Poet and often read in classrooms, is drawn from the Tang Dynasty. The story reunites Li Zheng with a former friend, Yuan Can, who has nearly been devoured by a tiger after failing to heed the advice of an innkeeper warning of such a man-eating beast. He hears Li Zheng’s tale and the curse that allows him to return human for waning amounts of time before he will finally be all tiger and rage. He suspects the curse was due to his arrogance, pushing away everyone and withdrawing from society to be a poet, yet so overconfident in his natural abilities he failed to seek assistance to sharpen his skills or put any real effort in:
I know Ted Lasso told us all to believe in ourselves, but not to the extent that it becomes an arrogance that tears us apart and, in fact, keeps us from our goals. And we also can’t live in constant fear that we will be found out to be an imposture (if you figure out how to do that, please let me know) or fret so much over potentially not being a genius that we never actually create.
He also realizes that his desire to save his poetry is more important to him than even letting his family know what happened to him might also indicate he is an asshole. This is a tale about an artist but you can render it to fit many parts of life and is likely what makes this such a great story for classrooms. Because ‘this arrogant shame was my inner beast: the tiger,’ and if we let our own arrogance get the best of us we too become a beast. And though the fairy tales will have you believe you can kidnap a fair maiden and if she loves you, you get to turn human again I’m going to strongly advise against trying that. Legally, morally, socially, just not a good look.
I love this little hardcover edition and the art is really gorgeous. It feels more in the spirit of the story than actually art depicting the story and often the artwork is apropos of nothing in the text on the page opposite it, but it’s so lovely it hardly matters. And the translation by [a:Asa Yoneda|15017633|Asa Yoneda|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is smooth and highly readable. I look forward to more of these editions and now I really want to read much more Atsushi Nakajima.
3.5/5
The pursuit of greatness can often bring out the worst in us, particularly when we realize that greatness might always remain out of arm's reach. Or, if you happen to be the failed poet in Atsushi Nakajima’s classic Japanese tale The Moon Over the Mountain, it remains out of paws reach. The story concerns Li Zheng, who after a quick rise and great promise, left his government job to pursue poetry, failed to achieve success and then suddenly vanished only to appear years later, cursed to be transforming into a tiger. Now I’ve written some shit poetry in my time, but thankfully the consequences weren't to be turned into a tiger. Though with the rising cost of living, maybe the joke is on me? Anyways, I was thrilled to discover Penguin’s new series, Maiden’s Bookshelf, which will combine early 20th century short stories with contemporary artwork, such as the gorgeous and arresting artwork here from [a:nekosuke|17022736|nekosuke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. I mean, check it out:
This is a brief story, the title story to one of only two collections Atsushi Nakajima published before he tragically died of asthma at the age of 33. Much of his works draw on classical Chinese stories and myths, reinvigorated with a deeply introspective flair. This story, which is also known by the title The Tiger Poet and often read in classrooms, is drawn from the Tang Dynasty. The story reunites Li Zheng with a former friend, Yuan Can, who has nearly been devoured by a tiger after failing to heed the advice of an innkeeper warning of such a man-eating beast. He hears Li Zheng’s tale and the curse that allows him to return human for waning amounts of time before he will finally be all tiger and rage. He suspects the curse was due to his arrogance, pushing away everyone and withdrawing from society to be a poet, yet so overconfident in his natural abilities he failed to seek assistance to sharpen his skills or put any real effort in:
‘Out of fear that I might turn out not to be a genius, I hesitated to polish the uncut gemstone of my own potential; but, convinced I had a gift, I was not content to remain in the rough.’
I know Ted Lasso told us all to believe in ourselves, but not to the extent that it becomes an arrogance that tears us apart and, in fact, keeps us from our goals. And we also can’t live in constant fear that we will be found out to be an imposture (if you figure out how to do that, please let me know) or fret so much over potentially not being a genius that we never actually create.
He also realizes that his desire to save his poetry is more important to him than even letting his family know what happened to him might also indicate he is an asshole. This is a tale about an artist but you can render it to fit many parts of life and is likely what makes this such a great story for classrooms. Because ‘this arrogant shame was my inner beast: the tiger,’ and if we let our own arrogance get the best of us we too become a beast. And though the fairy tales will have you believe you can kidnap a fair maiden and if she loves you, you get to turn human again I’m going to strongly advise against trying that. Legally, morally, socially, just not a good look.
I love this little hardcover edition and the art is really gorgeous. It feels more in the spirit of the story than actually art depicting the story and often the artwork is apropos of nothing in the text on the page opposite it, but it’s so lovely it hardly matters. And the translation by [a:Asa Yoneda|15017633|Asa Yoneda|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] is smooth and highly readable. I look forward to more of these editions and now I really want to read much more Atsushi Nakajima.
3.5/5
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review of Books 1 to 5 in the Maiden's Bookshelf series here.
When in pursuit of what one deems great, the worst in one often comes out upon and after realising that such greatness is out of reach.
Such is the case of Li Zheng who, instead of being the brilliant and promising bureaucrat everyone knew he’d be, sought the greatness of being immortalised as a poet. However, he was met with failure and the worst in him eventually manifested as a curse which turns him into a tiger.
Truly, what a heartbreaking but beautiful exploration of human obsession, arrogance and fear.
When in pursuit of what one deems great, the worst in one often comes out upon and after realising that such greatness is out of reach.
Such is the case of Li Zheng who, instead of being the brilliant and promising bureaucrat everyone knew he’d be, sought the greatness of being immortalised as a poet. However, he was met with failure and the worst in him eventually manifested as a curse which turns him into a tiger.
Truly, what a heartbreaking but beautiful exploration of human obsession, arrogance and fear.
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A very short read.
Each of us has an animal nature we must strive to tame. Well, this arrogant shame was my inner beast: the tiger.
The pursuit in perfection sometimes may lead us to forget what important the most, we loose the sight we are aiming leaving behind our hearts and sometimes even our sanity.
Each of us has an animal nature we must strive to tame. Well, this arrogant shame was my inner beast: the tiger.
The pursuit in perfection sometimes may lead us to forget what important the most, we loose the sight we are aiming leaving behind our hearts and sometimes even our sanity.
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The art is 10/10. The story is okay.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism
dark
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Cool artwork alongside a brilliant short story that itself feels like a work of art. I felt the short length was good so that the story did not dwell too lengthily on the philosophical parts, while saying just enough to get its point across and make you think on your own. A very succinct work that is both sad, beautiful, and thoughtful.