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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
Unlike the other two works by Kawabata I read ([b:House of the Sleeping Beauties and Other Stories|14032|House of the Sleeping Beauties and Other Stories|Yasunari Kawabata|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397139224l/14032._SY75_.jpg|3076515] and [b:Thousand Cranes|14027|Thousand Cranes|Yasunari Kawabata|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388205415l/14027._SY75_.jpg|25753548]), this one didn’t captivate me. Yet, the opening pages are of unparalleled beauty: a man in a train carriage at night observes his fellow travelers through the reflection in the steamed glass, which at the same time shows majestic snow-capped mountains in the background. But what follows is a sequence of rather bizarre scenes in which the man interacts with a fickle girl, a geisha in a mountain resort, who is attracted to him but at the same time repels him, and who also evokes both resistance and attraction in him. I struggled to get a grip on the story, but I have the impression that this book wasn't about that at all. Quite the contrary, perhaps Kawabata wanted to highlight the elusive and enigmatic of reality, as he did so sublimely in 'House of Sleeping Beauties'. Only, here it didn't work. Maybe it was the old Dutch translation I was reading, but also his precise, very descriptive style didn't quite come into its own here. Perhaps I have missed the right reading keys to appreciate this.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Alternate title: "nothing happy happens, ever". Prose is beautiful - especially when describing landscapes, but a story about lives devoid of meaning proved a bit challenge on the reading enjoyment end of things. Changes in location often seemed lacking in transition, and so were disorienting. Cultural barriers (I still only have a half-formed idea of exactly what a geisha does) also proved an obstacle; the story lacked the universality of Kawabata's The Sound of the Mountain, which was one of the great novels I've ever read. Will hopefully write a more full review later when I have time.
3-3.5/5
3-3.5/5
reflective
sad
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:
N/A
reflective
relaxing
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
reflective
medium-paced
"The labor into which a heart has poured its whole love-where it will have its say, to excite and inspire, and when?"
It's interesting that this book relies on characterization and scenery to tell the story, and it shows/tells a beautiful and heartbreaking one. A rich, idle (i.e. lazy) married man goes to an onsen, meets a geisha, and the two have an affair. The visuals used to describe them, their relationship, and the background are stunning. It makes a simple story so much more poignant. It's more a study of human nature, showing the man's fickleness and the geisha's mercurial moods. They both know they've been drifting apart, and the geisha wants to prevent that, but at the same time let it happen because she knows the relationship won't go anywhere. The man doesn't want it to happen because it's a kind of routine even though he knows he doesn't love her. He can barely remember what she looks like when he leaves. This is the kind of story you ponder while you read, and even long after you've finished.
It's interesting that this book relies on characterization and scenery to tell the story, and it shows/tells a beautiful and heartbreaking one. A rich, idle (i.e. lazy) married man goes to an onsen, meets a geisha, and the two have an affair. The visuals used to describe them, their relationship, and the background are stunning. It makes a simple story so much more poignant. It's more a study of human nature, showing the man's fickleness and the geisha's mercurial moods. They both know they've been drifting apart, and the geisha wants to prevent that, but at the same time let it happen because she knows the relationship won't go anywhere. The man doesn't want it to happen because it's a kind of routine even though he knows he doesn't love her. He can barely remember what she looks like when he leaves. This is the kind of story you ponder while you read, and even long after you've finished.
a book about sad women and doomed love affairs and about just as tragically poetic it could be
read part of this and summaries for a class. will return to it when i dissociate from schoolwork
Like a long haiku, cold winter snow falls gently, refrigerator