Scan barcode
A review by sisa_moyo
The Temple of the Golden Pavilion by Yukio Mishima
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I was so excited to read this one given that I’ve made it a goal to read all of Mishima’s works that have been translated to English. This is the second of his works I’ve read, Star having been mind numbingly disappointing.
It took me so long and so much mental strength to finally finish this book. I don’t regret having picked it up but there were some parts, like internal monologues and such that I think were so unnecessary for the overall effect of the book and the story. However, it was a great and unique lens into the dark mind of this young Buddhist acolyte and his thoughts, a vivid yet fever dreamlike exploration into beauty, what is it and means, and into obsession.
I think so much time was devoted to building up to the final act, that the climax of the book came much too late with the tension of it all having been lost much earlier.
It also read very much like a classic, and a translated one at that and so it’s a bit hard to get into in the first few pages, but after a while Mishima’s lyrical writing begins to shine through.