theunwelcometagalongs's review
5.0
This novel is not for the faint of heart. While the subject is uncomfortable at times, the presentation is phenomenal and is arguably one of the best novels I've read that really criticizes how men treat women in a way that feels authentic. Everything in the novel feels real, like it could actually happen and that's what makes it so good. I look forward to reading more of his books
ngominh's review
5.0
Nửa đầu cuốn này làm mình khá chán nản. Nó cứ chậm rãi, đều đều đúng như những tác gia Nhật khác như Natsume Soseki vậy; nhưng khi bước vào giai đoạn đấu tranh, phân tích nhân vật thì Endo Shusaku chứng minh mình không có đối thủ. Vẫn là những trăn trở về thiện - ác, sự tồn tại của một niềm tin duy nhất - Chúa trời; xã hội Nhật Bản hiện lên đầy đau đớn và tan thương của những thân phận nhỏ bé. Đọc cuốn này của Endo có cảm giác như bản thân đang đi trên con đường dài, phía trên đầu là mây xám, hai bên là bão cát cuốn lên; và khi Misu bị tai nạn, cũng là khi mọi thứ đi đến hồi kết. Thật sự nể phục.
hotsake's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was a beautifully written book centering around two people, the unlikable but relatable Yoshioka, and the sweet but frustrating Mitsu. This is a story about these two finding a path to walk in the journey through life.
readingtrying82's review
5.0
This was the most poignant novel I’ve read in years.
This is my favorite Endo novel so far. There is a simplicity to the charters and story which allows a transparency to the meaning and feelings Endo explores.
Much like I found Of Mice and Men to be Steinbeck's most moving book even as it was one of his simplest and least sophisticated.
On reading:
“The important thing in this life is to link your sadness to the sadness of others.”
my initial reactions was intellectual: but it’s just as important to share happiness with people….but then the idea worked on me through the novel and I came to feel that sadness allows an intimacy and earthiness which must precede deeper happiness which is transparent to all things. Not a happiness opposed to sadness/pain, but a happiness deeper then sadness yet able to contain it. At that level we can be with people simply, happily, and sadly. This is one of the many things I felt Morita Mitsu came to live in this novel toward the end.
The other main charter, Yoshioka Tsutomu, isn’t a particularly bad guy. In many other modern novels I could easily see him portrayed as the hero and this a nostalgic and bittersweet coming of age story. In fact that’s kind of what I expected given the title and the early chapters, but here he becomes more problematic as the book goes on. He too seeks happiness but not through empathy, but by seeking things and situations to get what he wants.
He easily separates people he has to be concerned about and people he can use/ignore. A kind of “how to influence people and make friends” + “the power of positive thinking” philosophy to life combined with a fairly amoral approach to interacting with people, especially women. He slowly gets most of what he dreams of getting in his life, including a certain level of contentment, but he is nagged by feelings of loneliness/discontent which he doesn’t understand.
A loneliness not because he is alone, but a loneliness that is his way of being with others.
He begins to realize: “[A]ll our dealings with others, however trivial, are not just destined to vanish like ice in the sun. I was unaware that, even though we may distance ourselves and banish thoughts of a fellow human being to the recesses of our minds, our actions cannot simply disappear without leaving traces engraved in the depths of our hearts”
Highly recommended!
This is my favorite Endo novel so far. There is a simplicity to the charters and story which allows a transparency to the meaning and feelings Endo explores.
Much like I found Of Mice and Men to be Steinbeck's most moving book even as it was one of his simplest and least sophisticated.
On reading:
“The important thing in this life is to link your sadness to the sadness of others.”
my initial reactions was intellectual: but it’s just as important to share happiness with people….but then the idea worked on me through the novel and I came to feel that sadness allows an intimacy and earthiness which must precede deeper happiness which is transparent to all things. Not a happiness opposed to sadness/pain, but a happiness deeper then sadness yet able to contain it. At that level we can be with people simply, happily, and sadly. This is one of the many things I felt Morita Mitsu came to live in this novel toward the end.
The other main charter, Yoshioka Tsutomu, isn’t a particularly bad guy. In many other modern novels I could easily see him portrayed as the hero and this a nostalgic and bittersweet coming of age story. In fact that’s kind of what I expected given the title and the early chapters, but here he becomes more problematic as the book goes on. He too seeks happiness but not through empathy, but by seeking things and situations to get what he wants.
He easily separates people he has to be concerned about and people he can use/ignore. A kind of “how to influence people and make friends” + “the power of positive thinking” philosophy to life combined with a fairly amoral approach to interacting with people, especially women. He slowly gets most of what he dreams of getting in his life, including a certain level of contentment, but he is nagged by feelings of loneliness/discontent which he doesn’t understand.
A loneliness not because he is alone, but a loneliness that is his way of being with others.
He begins to realize: “[A]ll our dealings with others, however trivial, are not just destined to vanish like ice in the sun. I was unaware that, even though we may distance ourselves and banish thoughts of a fellow human being to the recesses of our minds, our actions cannot simply disappear without leaving traces engraved in the depths of our hearts”
Highly recommended!
naddie_reads's review
3.5
This reminded me of Tokyo Ueno Station & Sweet Bean Paste in terms of how it talks about topics that would otherwise be buried beneath the surface. Endou's writing is immaculate as always, though I got really irritated by the main character in this.
n_li_re's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
3.0
Me empezó a gustar poco antes del final.
tesschair's review
3.0
"Een mens kan niet met andere mensen omgaan zonder sporen in hun leven achter te laten."
swdancer's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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