Darby’s Comments (group member since Oct 08, 2020)

Darby’s comments from the YHS Class of 2023 group.

The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story revolves around a young boy named Noboru, his widowed mother Fusako, and a sailor named Ryuji Tsukazaki. Set in a small coastal Japanese town post world war II. Noboru, who is fascinated with ships, drags his mother down to the port to see one of the larger ships arrive. It is at this ship where Fusako and Noboru first meet Ryuji. Fusako is infatuated with Ryuji. Strong, self-assured, destined for greatness. Their relationship evolves In the days and nights the ship is docked. Noboru, faced with a conflict of boyish admiration for the sailor and hatred for his feelings towards such a simple man. This dilemma largely influenced by his "gang" like friend group. Noboru's friends are a group of highly intellectual teenagers. The chief instructs the members to do tasks that prove they're enlightenment from such earthly things as emotion and desire. Ryuji leaves days after his arrival concluding the summer section. As abrupt as his initial arrival, Ryuji arrives again at the port. Ryuji decides to give up his life as a sailor and ask for Fusako's hand in marriage. Noboru is horrified when he hears of Ryuji's and his mother's engagement. He feels as though the man he had seen above all others has been humanised in the worst way possible. His friends believe fathers to be the villains, representing the absolute acceptance of mundanity. Soon after Noboru consulted with his friends they decide to fulfil Ryuji's glory they have to kill him. The boys invited Ryuji for tea and ask him to tell them stories of the sea, however, the tea they give Ryuji is poisoned. The book ends inconclusive but the reader is lead to believe they were successful in their plot.

This has been my favourite book to date. The way Yukio Mishima writes is really hard to describe but it's so smooth to read. The exception for me is that I'm not a very fluent reader and sometimes find myself even having to re-read sections to completely understand Mishima's idea. I think it's difficult to explain Mishima's writing because of how fluid it is. He is able to walk the line between beautiful simplicity and an almost formal complexity with layers of intention and purpose. The books setting, a gorgeous Japanese port city in the ripe of summer displays Mishima's versatility and ability to encapsulate entire landscapes, ideas, emotions. I would suggest this book to anyone. I think that most of the truths of the book would relate most to young men. The ideas of destiny, fulfilment, humility, and the desire to be accepted. It would be seemingly hard to relate to any of the boys from the group I feel like Noboru displays just enough hesitation to warrant sympathy from the reader. Rather than a heartless boy detached from emotion Noboru is simply trying to be that. His polarizing demonstrations of commitment to the group rather show his desire for companionship. I give this book a 5 out of 5. its story was amazing and its execution was phenomenal. There is struggle in all the beautifully crafted characters. The pacing was engaging and allowed for rising and falling action. Arguably, the book is a little inappropriate but I honestly think this book is for anyone.