A review by arj_51
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I still don't know what to make of this book. On the one hand it's a beautifully written and a really fascinating study of masculinity, as a boy idolises a sailor who embodies his ideal of rugged cold-hearted masculinity, and the sailor who has felt disappointed with that life and wants to leave it behind. On the other hand, it is insanely fucked up and a heavy read. It's also hard to know what to make of it knowing Mishima has his own very complex political leanings so I can't quite tell if this is a critique or an endorsement of the toxic masculinity present in the book. 

Regardless, it's really stuck with me and I think I gained some insight into the nebulous concept of masculinity from it, so I'm glad I've read it.
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