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grayjay's review against another edition
2.0
Having enjoyed The Tale of Genji, I thought I'd tackle it's twin classic, The Pillow Book, as well. Unfortunately, I didn't do any translation research before I ordered a copy, and I ended up with Arthur Waley.
Waley, having translated The Tale of Genji (not the one I read), created interest in Japanese translations and decided to extend his success by translating The Pillow Book.
I was disappointed to learn that he deemed only a quarter of it worthy of translating. The rest he found either too dull to bother with or too complicated to explain to his readers. His version contains nearly as much commentary as actual translation and is full of evaluative editorializing like, "Shonagon's reply...contains puns and ineguities, which it would be tedious to explain."
It is hard for me to assess my enjoyment of Shonagon's actual writing so I'll save that for an opportunity to read a better translation.
Waley, having translated The Tale of Genji (not the one I read), created interest in Japanese translations and decided to extend his success by translating The Pillow Book.
I was disappointed to learn that he deemed only a quarter of it worthy of translating. The rest he found either too dull to bother with or too complicated to explain to his readers. His version contains nearly as much commentary as actual translation and is full of evaluative editorializing like, "Shonagon's reply...contains puns and ineguities, which it would be tedious to explain."
It is hard for me to assess my enjoyment of Shonagon's actual writing so I'll save that for an opportunity to read a better translation.
casparb's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
When we read texts older than about half a century, I tend to find that it's the details, the human details that work best. Hector's bathtub in the Iliad, Launcelot's 'clattering' in Le Morte D'Arthur, Bashō's poetry and the geographies in Phaedrus speak to this. Sei Shōnagon's Pillow Book is composed perhaps entirely of such details. It's entirely beautiful. The zuihitsu genre impresses me deeply as a conversation between poetry and prose, and I do wish to see more engagement with it in the West - Oli Hazzard's new book aims to do exactly that (I am informed).
The book opens with the pinkness of a sunset from a millennium ago. Details - temporality everywhere.
[257] "Things that give you pleasure -
-It's very pleasing when someone you don't know well mentions an old poem or story that you haven't heard of, and then it comes up again in conversation with someone else. If you come across it later in something you're reading, there's the delightful moment when you cry, 'Oh, is that where it comes from!', and you enjoy recalling the person's mention of it.
-Then there's the pleasing moment when you've heard that someone who matters a lot to you and who's far from you - perhaps in some distant place, or even simply elsewhere in the capital - has been taken ill, and you're worrying and wringing your hands over the uncertainty, when news arrives that the illness has taken a turn for the better.
-Someone you love is praised by others"
She's a spectacular writer and poet. O translation.
When we read texts older than about half a century, I tend to find that it's the details, the human details that work best. Hector's bathtub in the Iliad, Launcelot's 'clattering' in Le Morte D'Arthur, Bashō's poetry and the geographies in Phaedrus speak to this. Sei Shōnagon's Pillow Book is composed perhaps entirely of such details. It's entirely beautiful. The zuihitsu genre impresses me deeply as a conversation between poetry and prose, and I do wish to see more engagement with it in the West - Oli Hazzard's new book aims to do exactly that (I am informed).
The book opens with the pinkness of a sunset from a millennium ago. Details - temporality everywhere.
[257] "Things that give you pleasure -
-It's very pleasing when someone you don't know well mentions an old poem or story that you haven't heard of, and then it comes up again in conversation with someone else. If you come across it later in something you're reading, there's the delightful moment when you cry, 'Oh, is that where it comes from!', and you enjoy recalling the person's mention of it.
-Then there's the pleasing moment when you've heard that someone who matters a lot to you and who's far from you - perhaps in some distant place, or even simply elsewhere in the capital - has been taken ill, and you're worrying and wringing your hands over the uncertainty, when news arrives that the illness has taken a turn for the better.
-Someone you love is praised by others"
She's a spectacular writer and poet. O translation.
kotohira's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
5.0
Hilarious. Good introduction to Heian culture. But above all just really funny. Also heartbreaking at times. This book certainly has range.
sara_shocks's review against another edition
4.0
4/5 stars
A delightful translation of a Heian period diary/humblebrag-list-of-sick-burns. Would highly recommend reading when traveling to Kyoto, for historical color on some of the places that many tourists visit (Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari, etc.).
The translator did a nice job of conveying Sei Shonagon's wit, which, as explained, would have been highly situational. I wish some of the endnotes had been better integrated into the main text (perhaps as footnotes), because I found myself flipping back and forth frequently. But I suppose if I pick this up to read it again, the lack of footnotes on the main pages will keep the text flowing.
A delightful translation of a Heian period diary/humblebrag-list-of-sick-burns. Would highly recommend reading when traveling to Kyoto, for historical color on some of the places that many tourists visit (Kiyomizudera, Fushimi Inari, etc.).
The translator did a nice job of conveying Sei Shonagon's wit, which, as explained, would have been highly situational. I wish some of the endnotes had been better integrated into the main text (perhaps as footnotes), because I found myself flipping back and forth frequently. But I suppose if I pick this up to read it again, the lack of footnotes on the main pages will keep the text flowing.
eriynali's review against another edition
5.0
heartbreakingly beautiful
had to read in a sort of meditative trance, took a long time to read
the notes in my edition were impressive and very detailed, but i was missing some organisation and context for several of the lines in the text, as well as some accuracy (i noticed specifically a reference of a star in an incorrect constellation)
had to read in a sort of meditative trance, took a long time to read
the notes in my edition were impressive and very detailed, but i was missing some organisation and context for several of the lines in the text, as well as some accuracy (i noticed specifically a reference of a star in an incorrect constellation)
kanatori's review
5.0
The Pillow Book by Sei Shonagun is one of my favourite course books I’ve ever been asked to read.
Shonagun being an elegant and esteemed lady of her time can still capture such precise and beautiful moments centuries later and evoke emotions and paint vivid imagery from her time for us today who come from such different times and cultural heritage.
I recommend this book to all of my friends who have an interest in poetry or Japanese history/culture for a sneak peak at the life of an esteemed woman of the court during the Heian period. For modern readers, the translator of this edition has managed to maintain the wit of the original authors work and will leave you with much to think about and laugh at the woes of women both from our time and the authors.
Shonagun being an elegant and esteemed lady of her time can still capture such precise and beautiful moments centuries later and evoke emotions and paint vivid imagery from her time for us today who come from such different times and cultural heritage.
I recommend this book to all of my friends who have an interest in poetry or Japanese history/culture for a sneak peak at the life of an esteemed woman of the court during the Heian period. For modern readers, the translator of this edition has managed to maintain the wit of the original authors work and will leave you with much to think about and laugh at the woes of women both from our time and the authors.