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A review by zakcebulski
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
<spoilers>
So... this book is the second that I have read by Yukio Mishima and it is one that left me feeling a few different ways, overall, it is conflicting.
The book follows a sailor, as well as a widowed mother and her son who is a member a gang of young men. These young men object to the society that they live in, and instead embrace their own set of ideals.
The boy, Noboru, has an obsession with the sea and when his mother-Fusako- starts a romantic relationship with a sailor- Ryuji Noburo immediately idolizes the sailor because of his connection with the sea.
Now, this book read at face value comes off as a young man dealing with growing up and the machinations that comes with the nuance of not having a father, and with having your mother remarry.
But, at the basis of this novel is the idea of strife that I think is perfectly illustrated to have been felt by Japanese traditionalists after the conclusion of the Second World War.
It is well known that Yukio Mishima is a Japanese traditionalist in his own beliefs, and I think that it is fascinating to read a novel that likely takes his beliefs in to account and forms a semi-autobiographical exploration of them.
I think that the conflict between Noboru and his gang and their views on morality and the inexistence of it is fascinating to read.
I thought that the nuanced approach to creating the tension between Ryuji and Noboru was exquisitely well done.
The reader knows Noboru's stance on morality and as such, when his new father comes in and tries to impose a moral lesson on him, it is the greatest transgression possible. I thought that this was fucking amazingly written.
I think that the philosophical bent of this book was endlessly interesting to read through. I thought that it was interesting the clear inspiration drawn from something like the Oedipal complex where Noboru spies on his mother and Ryuji during sex. He as well goes to murder Ryuji- not dissimilar to how Oedipus Rex kills his father in order to marry his mother.
Going further, reading about the internal conflict of identity where Noboru wants to be a seafaring adventurer like Ryuji while also wanting to have the apathetic worldview of the chief is really well written. I think that the constant battling to reconcile these 2 worldviews is amazingly written.
I also like the way that it is subtly conveyed to show that Ryuji's staying behind and not continuing as a sailor not only separates him from his own identity, but as well adds a strike against him in Noboru's view. This was a fantastic way to build internal tension within the characters.
As with all of Mishima's works, this book is amazingly and vividly written. It is akin to other novels like Le'Tranger by Camus, where the more you think about it, the more there is to think about.
It is a novel that will certainly benefit from a second or third or fourth reading.
</spoilers>
So... this book is the second that I have read by Yukio Mishima and it is one that left me feeling a few different ways, overall, it is conflicting.
The book follows a sailor, as well as a widowed mother and her son who is a member a gang of young men. These young men object to the society that they live in, and instead embrace their own set of ideals.
The boy, Noboru, has an obsession with the sea and when his mother-Fusako- starts a romantic relationship with a sailor- Ryuji Noburo immediately idolizes the sailor because of his connection with the sea.
Now, this book read at face value comes off as a young man dealing with growing up and the machinations that comes with the nuance of not having a father, and with having your mother remarry.
But, at the basis of this novel is the idea of strife that I think is perfectly illustrated to have been felt by Japanese traditionalists after the conclusion of the Second World War.
It is well known that Yukio Mishima is a Japanese traditionalist in his own beliefs, and I think that it is fascinating to read a novel that likely takes his beliefs in to account and forms a semi-autobiographical exploration of them.
I think that the conflict between Noboru and his gang and their views on morality and the inexistence of it is fascinating to read.
I thought that the nuanced approach to creating the tension between Ryuji and Noboru was exquisitely well done.
The reader knows Noboru's stance on morality and as such, when his new father comes in and tries to impose a moral lesson on him, it is the greatest transgression possible. I thought that this was fucking amazingly written.
I think that the philosophical bent of this book was endlessly interesting to read through. I thought that it was interesting the clear inspiration drawn from something like the Oedipal complex where Noboru spies on his mother and Ryuji during sex. He as well goes to murder Ryuji- not dissimilar to how Oedipus Rex kills his father in order to marry his mother.
Going further, reading about the internal conflict of identity where Noboru wants to be a seafaring adventurer like Ryuji while also wanting to have the apathetic worldview of the chief is really well written. I think that the constant battling to reconcile these 2 worldviews is amazingly written.
I also like the way that it is subtly conveyed to show that Ryuji's staying behind and not continuing as a sailor not only separates him from his own identity, but as well adds a strike against him in Noboru's view. This was a fantastic way to build internal tension within the characters.
As with all of Mishima's works, this book is amazingly and vividly written. It is akin to other novels like Le'Tranger by Camus, where the more you think about it, the more there is to think about.
It is a novel that will certainly benefit from a second or third or fourth reading.
</spoilers>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death