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A review by polyreader
In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
2.0
Tanizaki's 'essay' (which I would argue is more an opinion piece than an essay) has some beautiful meditative points, though it just didnt quite reach the depths I was expecting. I hold Japanese culture close to my heart, so I was expecting to feel a little more connected to In Praise of Shadows.
I quite enjoyed his descriptions of such topics as: simplistic, authentic Japanese food, outdoor, mediative toilets, dim, candlelit dining and shadows as an important aspect of beauty. Though I did get a little bored of his 'everything new should be replaced with the old' repetitions, and the analysis of women's appearance, skin tone and objectification.
I was tossing and turning between 2 and 3 stars, but as it was written so long ago, by a man who was in his later years and lived a completely different life to me, I gave him a little more credit.
I quite enjoyed his descriptions of such topics as: simplistic, authentic Japanese food, outdoor, mediative toilets, dim, candlelit dining and shadows as an important aspect of beauty. Though I did get a little bored of his 'everything new should be replaced with the old' repetitions, and the analysis of women's appearance, skin tone and objectification.
I was tossing and turning between 2 and 3 stars, but as it was written so long ago, by a man who was in his later years and lived a completely different life to me, I gave him a little more credit.