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mariagxmez's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
emmaopaline's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, and Suicidal thoughts
remainsofabook's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual content, Drug use, and Misogyny
Moderate: Body shaming, Animal death, and Suicidal thoughts
schumacher's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent, unsettling study of paraphilia, memory, and sensation.
blchandler9000's review against another edition
3.0
(note: I was only able to obtain a copy of the title story, so my review is only about that, not the other 2 tales in this edition)
A strange tale that weaves between lovely, dark, and melancholy, sometimes from sentence to sentence. A sad, old man goes to a sort of brothel where he is allowed to sleep next to a young woman. She's been given a powerful sleeping drug, so she has no idea about who she spends the night with or how. The old man's thoughts run from nostalgic to angry to sad, all brought about by odor and minor physical details of the sleeping girls. He recalls past relationships, both with family and with lovers. He also experiences nightmares and mentally toys with strange desires.
Some of the book was quite lovely, with evocative passages—especially the more nostalgic moments. Other parts turned me off, though, like his reoccurring thoughts about hurting the girls or killing himself. But the goods outweighed the bads and my curiosity about this author's works has been piqued, so I'll be reading more from Kawabata.
A strange tale that weaves between lovely, dark, and melancholy, sometimes from sentence to sentence. A sad, old man goes to a sort of brothel where he is allowed to sleep next to a young woman. She's been given a powerful sleeping drug, so she has no idea about who she spends the night with or how. The old man's thoughts run from nostalgic to angry to sad, all brought about by odor and minor physical details of the sleeping girls. He recalls past relationships, both with family and with lovers. He also experiences nightmares and mentally toys with strange desires.
Some of the book was quite lovely, with evocative passages—especially the more nostalgic moments. Other parts turned me off, though, like his reoccurring thoughts about hurting the girls or killing himself. But the goods outweighed the bads and my curiosity about this author's works has been piqued, so I'll be reading more from Kawabata.
selenajournal's review against another edition
4.0
The title story is perfect. The two other stories in the collection are good. But nothing compares to the first story.
worstwitch's review
3.0
3.5 maybe. My first Kawabata and perhaps I shouldn't have selected his later short stories as my first. I was too intrigued by House of the Sleeping Beauties to not read it right away though. The young, virginal girls sleeping next to old men who are aged emotionally and physically by time/events/relationships reminded me so much of Humbert Humbert & Lolita. An attraction to innocence, before corruption can touch them-- a longing to be near this and possess it for a night.
My favorites were One Arm and Of Birds and Beasts though.
My favorites were One Arm and Of Birds and Beasts though.
heniaakbar's review against another edition
2.0
Probably the worst Kawabata experience for me. There's not much happening, only old man remembering his womanizing youth while being with sleeping beautiful girls.
ghosthatter's review against another edition
4.0
《睡美人》是读川端以来感觉比较别致的一篇，有点《湖》的感觉，但比《湖》更日式，“语言所表达的意淫的极致”，衰老和性又让我想到《山音》，但又比《山音》更加颓丧和邪恶。 《舞姬》是我喜欢的典型的川端风格，一如《千只鹤》《波千鸟》《山音》，是将人的日常生活剥离出细细拿给你看，读者介入得突兀，抽身时也突兀，如同从锁孔向室内的一瞥。 “每个婚姻都是非凡的”“少女爱的回忆是多么不易拂去”“在行将下沉的船里，都是各自挣扎”“所谓魔界，就是以坚强的意志去生活的世界吧”