A review by cheryl1213
An Artist of the Floating World, by Kazuo Ishiguro
4.0
This is the second of the two Ishiguro books I recently purchased after revisiting Remains of the Day. As with the other, this is a fairly short book. Set in Japan, it is narrated by an aging artist who is reflecting on his potential involvement in the movements that led Japan to WWII. He revisits a good deal of his life, spurred by the marriage negotiations (the book's phrase...it is still more a deal between families than a love-based concept) for his younger daughter and concern about how his past might reflect in the current light.
I enjoyed the book. Ishiguro really likes to see how individual people are impacted by national upheaval and how they come to terms, especially when they are on the "wrong side" of history. I didn't really love it, but I looked forward to the book at night and was compelled to keep reading. As with many of my preferred books, there are no perfect characters here and the narrator does contemplate his own flaws (though I think he misses a big one...but that's fine since I think the author helps u see it, partly through comments from his daughters).
I'd give it 3.5 stars and would round up to make the "full star only" rating site folks happy.
P.S. Won a second Goodreads drawing!! And three Harper books en route!
P.P.S. I am exhausted after so many health challenges but seem to be avoiding any new ones (knock on cyberspace). I am taking it easy this week, letting myself rest in bed extra and cutting down the cardio. I need some self-TLC.
I enjoyed the book. Ishiguro really likes to see how individual people are impacted by national upheaval and how they come to terms, especially when they are on the "wrong side" of history. I didn't really love it, but I looked forward to the book at night and was compelled to keep reading. As with many of my preferred books, there are no perfect characters here and the narrator does contemplate his own flaws (though I think he misses a big one...but that's fine since I think the author helps u see it, partly through comments from his daughters).
I'd give it 3.5 stars and would round up to make the "full star only" rating site folks happy.
P.S. Won a second Goodreads drawing!! And three Harper books en route!
P.P.S. I am exhausted after so many health challenges but seem to be avoiding any new ones (knock on cyberspace). I am taking it easy this week, letting myself rest in bed extra and cutting down the cardio. I need some self-TLC.