modrockz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
monicagrace94's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
criselda's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
mystifiedbulb22's review
2.0
I am presenting everyone I know the last line of this massive novel without context.
jonathanvdh's review against another edition
5.0
Wat krijg je als je de Drie Zusters van het Russische platteland naar Ashiya verplaatst? De zussen Makioka die, net als Olga, Masja en Irina, al even langzaam ten onder gaan aan hun aangeleerde onbeweeglijkheid en het verstrijken van de tijd. Had niet gedacht dat je zo’n simpel uitgangspunt tot zulke Oorlog en Vrede-achtig proportities zou kunnen opblazen. Maar het kan. Gelukkig maar. Had het niet willen missen.
thisotherbookaccount's review against another edition
Have you ever had to summarise a book or film to somebody? Here's what you do: you take the story, strip away everything that's not plot, then retell it with a beginning, middle and end.
What you get at the end of that will look something like this: A is a middle-aged man. One day he meets B, and the two of them travel by train to some location. There, they have to find C, who has hidden something in the mountain. Along the way, they have to fight off D, run away from E and rescue F. Finally, the end up in the mountains, and then the twist is that A is actually B, but E is really the whatever-the-twist-is.
Now, imagine that applied to every single 'scene', and you will understand why The Makioka Sisters is such a frustrating book to read.
In film, they tell you to show, not tell. If you want to depict a poor family, show that they are poor (a leaking roof, unwashed pots and pans, dirty clothes) rather than telling the audience every three minutes via a narration. Maybe Tanizaki didn't get the memo on that, because the entire book is telling, not showing.
Here's a typical scene from the book:
[blockquote] Two families are seated at the dinner table. On one side is A, B and C. On the other side is D, E and F. B is in the middle because she is being introduced to E for the first time. A likes to wear Japanese clothes, and so does C. However, B prefers Western clothes. A and C both have very Japanese features, but B has Western features. B is awkward and quiet during the dinner. She eats her food slowly while others drink sake. At the end of the night, E asks B for a private meeting. It lasts for 20 minutes while the rest wait outside the restaurant. The next day, they go to the park, and the sakura is very beautiful. B is glad. [/blockquote]
Like many Japanese authors I have read, the descriptions feel stiff and obtuse, making this a very frustrating read. None of the characters have any personality to speak of, making it very hard to relate.
Another thing that frustrates me is that we are told that the Makioka family used to be wealthy and powerful, and we are told that something happened that made them no longer an influential family. However, we are not told why they were wealthy, we are not told why they were powerful, we are not told how they lost their influence, and we are not told the impact that is having on the four titular sisters. We are just told that they were one thing, and now they are the other, and they are now trying to marry the third sister off, because she's 30 years old and still hasn't found the right partner.
Speaking of that, the entire book — yes, the entire book — involves the older sisters trying to find the third sister a husband. It's a collection of men being introduced and men being rejected (OK, she's rejected at one point). This would make for a more interesting story if the entire story is told from the third sister's perspective — but no. Even though the original Japanese title of the book refers specifically to the third sister, the book is instead told from multiple perspectives, including the other three sisters, their respective lovers and husbands, etc. It is a scattered mess made worse by the fact that you never quite connect with anybody in the story.
Why is it so important that she has to get married? Why is it so important that the man comes from a good family? Why is it so important for the Makiokas to regain their glory? What is it about their previous life that they miss so much? Why did the author not give readers those information?
I did not finish this book, and I don't really care to.
What you get at the end of that will look something like this: A is a middle-aged man. One day he meets B, and the two of them travel by train to some location. There, they have to find C, who has hidden something in the mountain. Along the way, they have to fight off D, run away from E and rescue F. Finally, the end up in the mountains, and then the twist is that A is actually B, but E is really the whatever-the-twist-is.
Now, imagine that applied to every single 'scene', and you will understand why The Makioka Sisters is such a frustrating book to read.
In film, they tell you to show, not tell. If you want to depict a poor family, show that they are poor (a leaking roof, unwashed pots and pans, dirty clothes) rather than telling the audience every three minutes via a narration. Maybe Tanizaki didn't get the memo on that, because the entire book is telling, not showing.
Here's a typical scene from the book:
[blockquote] Two families are seated at the dinner table. On one side is A, B and C. On the other side is D, E and F. B is in the middle because she is being introduced to E for the first time. A likes to wear Japanese clothes, and so does C. However, B prefers Western clothes. A and C both have very Japanese features, but B has Western features. B is awkward and quiet during the dinner. She eats her food slowly while others drink sake. At the end of the night, E asks B for a private meeting. It lasts for 20 minutes while the rest wait outside the restaurant. The next day, they go to the park, and the sakura is very beautiful. B is glad. [/blockquote]
Like many Japanese authors I have read, the descriptions feel stiff and obtuse, making this a very frustrating read. None of the characters have any personality to speak of, making it very hard to relate.
Another thing that frustrates me is that we are told that the Makioka family used to be wealthy and powerful, and we are told that something happened that made them no longer an influential family. However, we are not told why they were wealthy, we are not told why they were powerful, we are not told how they lost their influence, and we are not told the impact that is having on the four titular sisters. We are just told that they were one thing, and now they are the other, and they are now trying to marry the third sister off, because she's 30 years old and still hasn't found the right partner.
Speaking of that, the entire book — yes, the entire book — involves the older sisters trying to find the third sister a husband. It's a collection of men being introduced and men being rejected (OK, she's rejected at one point). This would make for a more interesting story if the entire story is told from the third sister's perspective — but no. Even though the original Japanese title of the book refers specifically to the third sister, the book is instead told from multiple perspectives, including the other three sisters, their respective lovers and husbands, etc. It is a scattered mess made worse by the fact that you never quite connect with anybody in the story.
Why is it so important that she has to get married? Why is it so important that the man comes from a good family? Why is it so important for the Makiokas to regain their glory? What is it about their previous life that they miss so much? Why did the author not give readers those information?
I did not finish this book, and I don't really care to.
maferalav's review against another edition
5.0
“Siempre me ha gustado la primavera, y esta es la primera vez que he comprendido el otoño”
La sensibilidad es el hilo conductor que se teje a lo largo de Las hermanas Makioka: hacia a las tradiciones, al paso del tiempo, a la naturaleza y a las relaciones humanas. Cualquiera que se aleja de ella es un ser incomprendido e indeseable que pone a prueba la fuerza de las relaciones filiales y su haber en un mundo que rápidamente se transforma.
La sensibilidad es el hilo conductor que se teje a lo largo de Las hermanas Makioka: hacia a las tradiciones, al paso del tiempo, a la naturaleza y a las relaciones humanas. Cualquiera que se aleja de ella es un ser incomprendido e indeseable que pone a prueba la fuerza de las relaciones filiales y su haber en un mundo que rápidamente se transforma.
3lso_'s review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
caitlinl12's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75