The Woman in the Dunes by Kōbō Abe

The Woman in the Dunes

Kōbō Abe with E. Dale Saunders (Translator), Machi Abe (Illustrator)

256 pages • first pub 1962 (editions)

fiction classics literary magical realism dark reflective slow-paced

Description

One of the premier Japanese novels in the twentieth century, "The Woman In The Dunes" combines the essence of myth, suspense, and the existential novel. In a remote seaside village, Niki Jumpei, a teacher and amateur entomologist, is held captive ...

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Community Reviews Summary of 2,095 reviews

Moods

dark 77%
reflective 60%
tense 47%
mysterious 41%
challenging 36%
sad 22%
emotional 17%
adventurous 5%
funny 2%
informative 2%

Pace

slow 58%
medium 33%
fast 7%

Plot- or character-driven?

Character: 54% | A mix: 32% | Plot: 12% | N/A: 1%

Strong character development?

It's complicated: 37% | Yes: 31% | No: 28% | N/A: 2%

Loveable characters?

No: 71% | It's complicated: 25% | N/A: 2% | Yes: 1%

Diverse cast of characters?

No: 75% | It's complicated: 10% | N/A: 7% | Yes: 7%

Flaws of characters a main focus?

Yes: 53% | It's complicated: 30% | No: 14% | N/A: 2%

Average rating

3.66

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Content Warnings

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