Reviews tagging 'Kidnapping'

The Woman in the Dunes by Kōbō Abe

12 reviews

remy716's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Kidnapping

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Vomit, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Miscarriage

oozakazoo's review

challenging dark tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Kidnapping

isabellabruno's review

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Kidnapping

maurits's review against another edition

reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

Now that's depressing. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Rape, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Violence

Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Pregnancy

booitsnathalie's review against another edition

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.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Kidnapping

Moderate: Misogyny and Sexual content

Minor: Child death and Pregnancy

Attempted rape. The woman gets away before it happens but it's still very upsetting. If you want to avoid reading it,

in Part III skip to the end of the chapter as soon as he starts talking about asking about being let up for a walk.

novelyon's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Kidnapping

Minor: Child death

waybeyondblue's review against another edition

dark medium-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Sexism, Sexual content, Slavery, and Kidnapping

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death

jennasalley's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping

Moderate: Gore, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Homophobia

archer_sloane's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This is a great book to start on Abe. It was the first book I read of his, and I'm glad for that. Abe's prose is deliberate and exact, and while the translation is starting to show its age, I think it still stands up well. Definitely not a book you want to give as a gift. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Kidnapping