Scan barcode
A review by pr1y4
The Face of Another by Kōbō Abe
4.0
3.5 ish i think
firstly if you liked No Longer Human and want to read something more challenging, this book is perfect for that - the metaphor of having a ‘mask’ is more literal in this book, but in many ways it follows the same essential plot and themes.
the concept of having a mask on and essentially hiding your true self has been a really prevalent theme in my life right now (which is why i read no longer human and this back to back) and it’s interesting to see that theme being portrayed in a more straightforward, almost scientific way. it provokes a lot of thought around what it means to have a ‘face’ in society and how there are certain ‘masks’ that are more acceptable than others. the treatment of the masked person has a third entity in the book is quite interesting.
although, i don’t necessarily like the way this book ends in that it’s a pessimistic ending where the narrator has used his exclusion from normal society to become a bitter vengeful person and essentially ends up SAing his wife and then berating and blaming her for it.
anyways yeah idk good book i guess
firstly if you liked No Longer Human and want to read something more challenging, this book is perfect for that - the metaphor of having a ‘mask’ is more literal in this book, but in many ways it follows the same essential plot and themes.
the concept of having a mask on and essentially hiding your true self has been a really prevalent theme in my life right now (which is why i read no longer human and this back to back) and it’s interesting to see that theme being portrayed in a more straightforward, almost scientific way. it provokes a lot of thought around what it means to have a ‘face’ in society and how there are certain ‘masks’ that are more acceptable than others. the treatment of the masked person has a third entity in the book is quite interesting.
although, i don’t necessarily like the way this book ends in that it’s a pessimistic ending where the narrator has used his exclusion from normal society to become a bitter vengeful person and essentially ends up SAing his wife and then berating and blaming her for it.
anyways yeah idk good book i guess