Reviews

Beauty and Sadness by Yasunari Kawabata

javi42's review

challenging reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

blue150123's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

naivewildflower's review

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

0.25

karinlib's review

3.0

Kawabata's prose is really beautiful, and in this book, the prose is better than the story itself. I didn't like the characters, but after letting it settle a bit, I did like how the story ended

staypositive's review

emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

3.75

gryndlepuffpaste's review

i did like it but it was far too sympathetic to oki, far too clueless about women

as_butterfly's review against another edition

1.0

horrible. Je l'ai choisis parce que le titre semblait lyrique mais c'est pervers et manipulateur. Je ne le recomande pas du tout

arj_51's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Kawabata's writing style is hypnotic and dreamlike. He has such an incredible command of time, as it feels time has frozen while the characters are talking. Very evocative and gorgeous.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, and Miscarriage

shailendraahangama17's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nielsc's review against another edition

2.0

Tristesse et... tristesse

La lecture de ce livre a été douloureuse. Les descriptions de paysages se voulant poétiques mais s'avèrent plus pompeuses qu'autre chose. La psychologie de certains personnages est tellement "particulière" que l'on a beaucoup de mal à y croire. On a l'impression que le dramatique est poussé à l'extrême. Cela en devient même exaspérant au fur et à mesure que les dialogues s'enchaînent.