A review by oofym
The Sailor Who Fell from Grace With the Sea by Yukio Mishima

reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Man, this book was something. I absolutely loved this untill the ending threw me for a complete loop, thought I had everything figured out about what the author was trying to say up untill that moment. I thought initially this whole story was a comment on Nihilism, but by the end I think it's more complicated than that.

First off, the language is beautiful, considering it's a translation I'm astounded about how poetic this is. I'm definitely going to read more of Mishima's stuff, even if I don't agree with his views the guy could certainly write.

The character I struggle with understanding the most is Ryujin the Sailor, I suppose he represents that paradoxical nature of man where we want whatever we don't have. At sea he longs for land and on land he longs for the sea. I get noboru, he's a disillusioned teenager that's fallen for the trap of nihilism, peer influence and thinking anything meaningful is cringe. I also get Fukosakos character, she just wants a non problematic and simple domestic life, yet the Sailor is the one I'm struggling to grasp really, my interpretation seems slightly flimsy.

I loved this though, its written incredibly, has complex themes and characters, a sense of looming dread the pulls you along and an ending that makes you re-evaluate every page you've read.