A review by funeraryarts
The Box Man by Kōbō Abe
5.0
This is a weird book both in subject matter and in construction. Structurally it is postmodern and experimental working with a large variety of styles and making use of dream narratives, hallucinations, surreality, non-linearity, unreliable narrators, all kinds of POV (1st, 2nd, 3rd), pictures spread through the book and even elements of metatextuality and what could be thought of as 4th wall breaking. It's Abe showing of his writing skills and it looks like an acid trip where the fabric of reality is subject to change from chapter to chapter and even from one paragraph to the next.
Abe's writing was as weird as it was schockingly beautiful at times. The Box Man concerns itself with themes of isolation, identity, being an outcast, the complexities of perception (the delight of seeing/the shame at being seen), voyeurism, desire, the mutual influence between mind/body and their effect on reality, storytelling in a great meta way, love, endings, inner change effected by struggle, etc.
His somatic descriptions are haunting and grotesque but perfect at explaining the real sensations we experience bodily and mentally. His writing never failing to connect abstract and lofty emotions with pin point accuracy to corporeal sensations. He shows that our bodies connect with the truth of our minds and hearts in the flaming of our senses and that in language the physical can give an eloquent voice to authentic internal experience:
"My whole body began to wither away, leaving only my eyes".
"The pores of my whole body opened their mouths at the same time, and tongues dangled limply from them"
"Compared to the You in my heart, the I in yours is insignificant."
"Marvelous forests of words and seas of desire... time stops just by touching your skin lightly with my fingers, and eternity draws near. "
The Box Man is the work of a master of disorientation, unease and insight; a sharer in the spirit and power of Kafka, Hedayat and Donoso intent on entertaining his readers by the weirdness and dynamism of the book itself. Trying to tie neatly some plot points in a coherent narrative misses the forest for the trees in the appreciation of such a creative work.
Abe's writing was as weird as it was schockingly beautiful at times. The Box Man concerns itself with themes of isolation, identity, being an outcast, the complexities of perception (the delight of seeing/the shame at being seen), voyeurism, desire, the mutual influence between mind/body and their effect on reality, storytelling in a great meta way, love, endings, inner change effected by struggle, etc.
His somatic descriptions are haunting and grotesque but perfect at explaining the real sensations we experience bodily and mentally. His writing never failing to connect abstract and lofty emotions with pin point accuracy to corporeal sensations. He shows that our bodies connect with the truth of our minds and hearts in the flaming of our senses and that in language the physical can give an eloquent voice to authentic internal experience:
"My whole body began to wither away, leaving only my eyes".
"The pores of my whole body opened their mouths at the same time, and tongues dangled limply from them"
"Compared to the You in my heart, the I in yours is insignificant."
"Marvelous forests of words and seas of desire... time stops just by touching your skin lightly with my fingers, and eternity draws near. "
The Box Man is the work of a master of disorientation, unease and insight; a sharer in the spirit and power of Kafka, Hedayat and Donoso intent on entertaining his readers by the weirdness and dynamism of the book itself. Trying to tie neatly some plot points in a coherent narrative misses the forest for the trees in the appreciation of such a creative work.