Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Woman in the Dunes

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Woman in the Dunes by Kōbō Abe

12 reviews

dragonlilly's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

3.0

In terms of the 'theoretical' and 'philosophical' sections of this book I only really liked two that felt like they had any real meaning or truth to them, and the rest felt useless or false. The main character is quite unlikable and only worsens as the book goes on, and his theories concerning sex and his understanding of sex I also did not care for. Strangely, I think he did not ask the woman enough important questions earlier on. However, I did like the general imagery of the sand and the final ending was done very well. Near the end, I did have a general impression for how the story would finish, but I found it to be written better than I first imagined, and was quite happy with it and the manner in which he was finally trapped. So, while I was frustrated with the main character, this ending makes me struggle to dislike the book because of how satisfying the last two pages are, as well as the general concept.

Content Warnings

isabellabruno's review

Go to review page

challenging dark sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

mnstrtrckr's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

An interesting concept in a fascinating setting driven by an unlikable protagonist who narrates his helpless imprisonment

and eventual acquiescence

like a fever dream filled with longing and regret. I wish more time had been given over to the titular woman. Read it if you like metaphors that are painful to experience.

Content Warnings

lawofeyes's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Quite a philosophical book with themes about what really drives us forward in life; what makes life worth living? I found the setting interesting with the man trapped with the woman forever to dig out sand. Not exactly a happy book; the ending has a sense of futility to it. The style is overall not my cup of tea; it's very much a book that could be read in an English purely to analyze literary writing but not really for enjoyment

Content Warnings

mondovertigo's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Content Warnings

benjiaprout's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark reflective tense slow-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

Content Warnings

booitsnathalie's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark 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? It's complicated

2.5

Exceptionally bleak capital realism. It makes a lot of sense reading about Kobo Abé's love of Kafka, as both are similarly preoccupied with the hopelessness of living under capitalism, how it alienates us from people who ought to be allies, and the seeming inexscapability of it's control. They also both utterly fail to perceive women as human beings, describing them as anywhere between silly, beautiful nothings to stupid animals.

I don't know enough about Japanese literature to fully lump this in with the dry, thematically interesting but socially upsetting western canon, but if you dislike that mode of writing this isn't going to change that. It might just be my translation, but this is written (somewhat appropriately) with the flare of an exhausted biologist recording the movement of moss.

I imagine I'd have a lot more fun discussing this in a class than actually reading it. If anyone wants to commiserate about it's highs and lows (lol, cause he's in a hole) let me know.

Content Warnings