A review by therestlessbookflea07
Confessions of a Mask by Yukio Mishima

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

It is imperative to reiterate the incredible and purposeful writing of this novel. The introduction until the final literary tapestry of self-confusion, human attraction, and social conflicts in different ages were written astoundingly. The fierce desires of the self and the wrong trajectories of life roads led readers to exchange intentions with the main character about his flaws, the flaws labeled upon him, and his inner declaration of 'human-hood' is purely fulfilling to read. Any author can create a character of sophistication and complexity to compel and convince its readers, but Yukio Mishima emancipates the beauty of contentment in character writing with their imperfections and hunger for meaning as their entire flesh.

This novel highly reminded me of Dazai's No Longer Human (which is also a personal favorite), not in terms of its main themes, but its objectives, writing (again haha), and fury to connect with its audience in a language that its society has built and taught upon them.

Good lord (lol), this is truly one of my favorites this year!