A review by zmorgason
Palm-of-the-hand Stories by Yasunari Kawabata

dark emotional reflective relaxing sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

Shrouded by the smoke of forest fires and flecked with tiny drops of the fiery autumn rain, Kawabata's short fiction will chill you to the bone. Each of the dozens of stories reflects on dynamics in nature and the evolving culture of Japan over the decades of the seasoned writer's career. Containing over 70 pieces that stretch from the early 20s to the year of Kawabata's suicide in 1972, it's difficult to summarize it as a single whole, but each title within is delicately crafted. By comparison to Snow Country, which feels sparse, the compact structures allow for more explosions of vibrant color and sensory detail, while retaining a consistent icy, gloomy tone that binds everything together. If you enjoy Kawabata's novels, microfiction in general, favor tragic romances, or are looking to delve into Japanese literature, this would make a sterling entrypoint for all of the above.