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seaweed657's review
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
It’s not that I disliked it, I just didn’t quite understand the rave reviews that I saw around it. It kind of gives Hemingway vibes but with more one-dimensional characters in that at the end of the day it’s about a Strong Stoic Man who gets what he deserves because he’s Honorable and True. It’s enamored with tradition. And it’s not even that I expect it to conform to today’s views of gender - that would be useless… it’s just that it felt like the characters were kind of flat because they were set up to personify specific virtues and little else. Shinji is young but good, and then brave and true. He does The Right Thing. Hatsue is beautiful and just happens to be wealthy, and is kind of framed as this ideal that is meant to be Shinji’s because he’s earned it. Good things? I loved the description of the setting, and I enjoyed the atmosphere that Mishima created. I felt like I could smell the sea and was walking along with the characters on the paths of the village (like I felt like I was being navigated quite well through the world, if that makes sense). It felt immersive in this regard, and with little details about tradition and the natural setting/weather… it felt like a portrait in time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
zakcebulski's review
emotional
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-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
3.75
This year is already starting off with a bang as this is my 14th book of the year, but, it holds the distinction of being the first book which I have read by Japanese author Yukio Mishima.
This review will not be a discussion of Mishima's political standings as I know that they indeed are controversial. Rather, this will be a discussion of the absolutely amazing writing within this book.
The Sound of the Waves is a 1954 novel by Yukio Mishima translated by Meredith Weatherby. The novel is a coming-of-age romance story from the perspective of Shinji- who is a fisherman who falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy ship owner- her name being Hatsue.
The story is as old as time- frequently reminiscent of the tale of Romeo and Juliet, wherein societal and financial standings are prohibitive of a budding romance to fully bloom.
I fully believe that this book would have been just another run of the mill romance story had it not been for the wonderful way which Mishima weaved the complex narrative and character intentions into the story.
Aside from the principal couple there are many ancillary characters who play a massive role in the story's progression and conclusion. Specifically, there is Yasuo who is a well off but arrogant and later attempted rapist of Hatsue. There is also Chiyoko who is the daughter of the lighthouse keeper who suffers from horribly low- nearly inexistent self-esteem. Chiyoko loves Shinji, but he has fallen for Hatsue, and, as a result, Chiyoko spreads a rumor to try and break them up. She later regrets this after Shinji tells her that she is beautiful- which means so much coming from him as she has intense feelings for him and has no self-esteem to speak of. This is such a nicely layered example of a proto-typical love triangle that it breathes new air into it. These people both have their hands in throwing wrenches in the romance of Shinji and Hatsue. I thought that the illustrations of character intentions and desires, even for secondary characters was expertly done. They were fleshed out to the point wherein you can understand why they are acting in a certain way. This primarily stems from jealousy and a desire to maintain the natural order which they perceive. These characters, even if they are fucking terrible people- like Yasuo- are written in such a way that you can understand their motivations for their actions. They may be disagreeable, but you can understand them.
I have to say that Shinji may be one of my favorite characters I have read recently. He is such a good person. He is born into lower financial means and is put in the position to work his ass off in order to help support his mother- who acts as a pearl diver- after his father is killed during the second world war. He proves time and again that he is not averse to extremely hard work, and doesn't have aspirations to break out of the social caste which he is in. However, the hard work which he endures has cultivated a person who is truly good at heart, which is nice to read.
I loved reading about his and Hatsue's relationship starting off, as they are very awkward with each other, yet there is a palpable connection even if it is not openly discussed.
I have to say that there are some truly stunning passages in this book. Mishima's command over language to convey images of the ocean and nature is absolutely breathtaking. I as well believe that there is so much symbolism within this book that a whole additional read through could be warranted just to cover all of the symbols.
I had the image while reading of the deification of the ocean as an all-powerful figure. Shinji, his mother, Hatsue, and the others who reside on the island are all there and require their sustenance from the ocean. The ocean giveth and the ocean taketh away, type of idea. Toward the end of the book there is the instance wherein Shinji (the best fucking dude) risks his life by diving into an ocean filled with turmoil to attach a lifeline. I got the feeling that this was a test by the ocean to prove Shinji's worthiness and to test the strength which the ocean helped to cultivate over years of hard labor. This later comes it as the case as it turns out that Hatsue's father put, he and Yasuo on a boat together to see which one would be worth marrying his daughter off to.
The more I think about this book, the more blown away I am by every detail about it. I am extremely excited to read more Mishima in the future and am glad to have read this now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Minor: Rape
hugo_pc's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
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