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愛と死
友人野々村の妹夏子は、逆立ちと宙がえりが得意な、活発で、美しい容貌の持主。小説家の村岡は、野々村の誕生会の余興の席で窮地を救ってもらって以来、彼女に強く惹かれ、二人は彼の洋行後に結婚を誓う仲となった。ところが、村岡が無事洋行を終えて帰国する船中に届いたのは、あろうことか、夏子急死の報せであった……。至純で崇高な愛の感情を謳う、不朽の恋愛小説である。 --このテキストは、文庫版に関連付けられています。
312 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1939
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 1, 2018
This book is a compilation of different works by Saneatsu Mushanokouji of which the first, "愛と死" (Love and Death) is probably the most famous. It is an interesting and entertaining compilation, but nothing that you haven't seen before.
The books consists of seven stories. The first and the one that gives the title to the story is the love story between two young people, and the connections to the author's own life seem pretty clear in the story (like Lucia Berlin's short stories, for another example of someone I have read lately). It is one of those cute, telegraphed stories where you know everything that will happen, but that it still holds the interest of the reader (on top of offering a view of another era). It is good but not particularly memorable.
The other stories contain some works for the stage, the tale of a first love, or the author and his relationship with his grandson (probably the best one, with the quiet, relaxed writing style of someone who has seen a lot). As with the first, they are all interesting enough, and if you are a fan of the author, they offer a look into different of his works. But none of them is a great work of art (and the 'older' writing style make them a little bit difficult to read for nowadays tastes). There is also the problem that there isn't any kind of connection within the different stories and the tonal shifts in the book are great (not that this will stop the reader from enjoying one or another story). There is also some ambiguous nationalistic comments, that can be taken on a more positive light (we can all learn from different cultures) or a more negative (Japan doesn't have to envy anything from anyone, Japan is the best).
All in all, not the best book if you want to get into Japanese literature. But not a bad one either.
The best: the humanism; they are small, cute stories; trying to offer a look into a person's fears and desires.
The worst: The compilation is all over the place; none of the stories is groundbreaking; the ambiguous 'nationalistic' tone.
Further reading: "友情" (Friendship) by the same author is a more well rounded work in my opinion, but both come from the same mold. If you like one, you'll probably like the other. Soseki or Tanizaki are other authors that are not so far away in style and topics.
6/10
(Original Japanese)
The books consists of seven stories. The first and the one that gives the title to the story is the love story between two young people, and the connections to the author's own life seem pretty clear in the story (like Lucia Berlin's short stories, for another example of someone I have read lately). It is one of those cute, telegraphed stories where you know everything that will happen, but that it still holds the interest of the reader (on top of offering a view of another era). It is good but not particularly memorable.
The other stories contain some works for the stage, the tale of a first love, or the author and his relationship with his grandson (probably the best one, with the quiet, relaxed writing style of someone who has seen a lot). As with the first, they are all interesting enough, and if you are a fan of the author, they offer a look into different of his works. But none of them is a great work of art (and the 'older' writing style make them a little bit difficult to read for nowadays tastes). There is also the problem that there isn't any kind of connection within the different stories and the tonal shifts in the book are great (not that this will stop the reader from enjoying one or another story). There is also some ambiguous nationalistic comments, that can be taken on a more positive light (we can all learn from different cultures) or a more negative (Japan doesn't have to envy anything from anyone, Japan is the best).
All in all, not the best book if you want to get into Japanese literature. But not a bad one either.
The best: the humanism; they are small, cute stories; trying to offer a look into a person's fears and desires.
The worst: The compilation is all over the place; none of the stories is groundbreaking; the ambiguous 'nationalistic' tone.
Further reading: "友情" (Friendship) by the same author is a more well rounded work in my opinion, but both come from the same mold. If you like one, you'll probably like the other. Soseki or Tanizaki are other authors that are not so far away in style and topics.
6/10
(Original Japanese)
May 19, 2024
タイトルがネタバレなので話がわかったけど、死んだって分かったところあっけなくて、まあそれが現実よなってなった。
パリにいると常に差別されてるというか部外者感あるけど帰ってきて日本で歩くのは何の心配もなく安心するってとことかの外国で暮らすところと帰ってきたところがわかる〜ってなった
パリにいると常に差別されてるというか部外者感あるけど帰ってきて日本で歩くのは何の心配もなく安心するってとことかの外国で暮らすところと帰ってきたところがわかる〜ってなった
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews