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A review by dylankakoulli
Dandelions by Yasunari Kawabata
3.0
Dandelions is a simple, sparsely told -if slightly strange tale, that explores how individuals both suppress, process and overcome trauma and the fallibility of memory.
Kawabata’s reflective (though at times a tad repetitive) prose, is purposeful and poignant. Especially when describing the natural environment around our main characters -I found the poor, scarred and crying trees to be a particularly beautiful allegory.
Overall, this is the epitome of Japanese writing -where on the surface, not very much “happens”, but what lies within, will provoke plenty of food for thought.
3.5 stars
Only knocking off 1/2 a star as I wasn’t overly enamoured by the constant reference to the mental institution as a “madhouse” and the patients as “crazies” -dated it may be, but that didn’t (and should never) be an excuse.
Kawabata’s reflective (though at times a tad repetitive) prose, is purposeful and poignant. Especially when describing the natural environment around our main characters -I found the poor, scarred and crying trees to be a particularly beautiful allegory.
Overall, this is the epitome of Japanese writing -where on the surface, not very much “happens”, but what lies within, will provoke plenty of food for thought.
3.5 stars
Only knocking off 1/2 a star as I wasn’t overly enamoured by the constant reference to the mental institution as a “madhouse” and the patients as “crazies” -dated it may be, but that didn’t (and should never) be an excuse.