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_tabby_'s review
dark
fast-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
4.0
"Confessions of a mask" is the second book by Mishima that I have read and its safe to say that it held up expectations from my initial impressions of his work that "life for sale" left me with.
Mishima delves into the dark and obsessive nature of a Japanese school boy who simultaneously delights in and struggles with his sexuality as a result of his intense obsessions over what he finds to be the definition of beauty. Throughout, he compares his current obsessions with those of his childhood crushes such as Antonious and Joan of Arc (before he found out she was a woman) and holds them to an almost biblical standard.
Art and beauty run his life.
The beginning half of the book is very expected (very true to the description) as it focuses on the obsessions I listed above as he finds himself in his youth and convinces himself that his desires are sub-human. A VERY common theme in Mishima's books. Needless to say, this half of the book was my favourite.
However, I couldn't rate it 5☆ because I felt like the second half of the book diverted a bit too much. Yes, the main character is now an adult and his views have matured but to me it felt like he almost went out of character and I found myself rather bored with his new personality
Mishima delves into the dark and obsessive nature of a Japanese school boy who simultaneously delights in and struggles with his sexuality as a result of his intense obsessions over what he finds to be the definition of beauty. Throughout, he compares his current obsessions with those of his childhood crushes such as Antonious and Joan of Arc (before he found out she was a woman) and holds them to an almost biblical standard.
Art and beauty run his life.
The beginning half of the book is very expected (very true to the description) as it focuses on the obsessions I listed above as he finds himself in his youth and convinces himself that his desires are sub-human. A VERY common theme in Mishima's books. Needless to say, this half of the book was my favourite.
However, I couldn't rate it 5☆ because I felt like the second half of the book diverted a bit too much. Yes, the main character is now an adult and his views have matured but to me it felt like he almost went out of character and I found myself rather bored with his new personality
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Chronic illness and Misogyny
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
nerdkitten's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and War
Moderate: Cannibalism, Acephobia/Arophobia, Blood, Classism, and Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Infidelity, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Racism, Sexism, Suicide, Terminal illness, Gore, Violence, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Pedophilia
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