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charliebuttle's review
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beachy123's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
A novella about a bitter film star working in a seemingly cruel industry. Not much plot! A story with no redeeming characters.
readingtheother's review against another edition
dark
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? It's complicated
3.75
i like my books short and weird and star by yukio mishima ticks both those boxes. this is very ✨no plot just vibes✨ exploration of the way fame and stardom alienates celebrities from reality. a celebrity’s job is to create a fantasy world for the audience - their actions have no real consequences, everything they say is mediated by a PR team, and their own image is the most important thing, no matter what happens behind the mask. in this novella, Rikio is an up and coming actor who is starting to feel the strain of this constant artifice. he finds sanctuary in Kayo, his assistant who consciously subverts the standards of the film industry in her own fuck you to the pretense she helps create. rikio doesn’t know what he’s looking for - while his relationship with kayo helps offset some of the alienation, he is still longing for something to change. we don’t know if he finds it, but experiencing his detachment is just chefs kiss
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
rosiereading's review
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use and Suicidal thoughts
snow45's review against another edition
5.0
existe algo sobre literatura moderna japonesa que é bué comforting
notenchanted's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bluestarfish's review
4.0
Twenty-three-year-old Rikio Mizuno is a famous film actor who is reflecting on his life and fame and persona as someone who is always perceived. We are on set with him and the director is setting up various shots so there are some moments to rest and think. He feels strained by the work and feels like he's on the cusp of it all being over. The descriptions of him slipping between the acting and the non-acting states are mesmerising and this really is all about the emotions and feelings and descriptions of the moments that he perceives (including being perceived) rather than much plot in the short novella.
Translated by Sam Bett.
Translated by Sam Bett.