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mandalor3960's review against another edition
2.0
I can see why it wasn't translated till now. From all of his works I have read, I would objectively rate it the lowest. A ninety page novella that felt generic in displaying a young celebrity with a disdain for fame, and infuses Mishima's darkness in the final ten pages. The plot felt static, with constant details of shoots and the introduction of characters that interacted with the protagonist, Richie, but Richie remaining undisturbed and unsympathetic through it all, until abruptly deciding that he wants to die.
I did not enjoy the celebrity centered story, and less Richie. The entire face philosophy drawn up at the end by Kayo felt rushed. The parts that I enjoyed from this book were the scenes with Kayo and the ending. Kayo is this older nihilistic woman who provides a nice physical contrast with Richie. I enjoyed her manner of tearing up the real world. With the ending, I am glad that Richie's suicide seemed putoff after meeting his older parallel, Kokura, especially with Kayo whispering into Richie's ears at the end that she will always call him "my handsome prince" even when he's sixty (94).
I was not fond of the translation. The informal short sentences, perhaps to display the youthful narrator, appears amateurish. Here is an example: "Sometimes, just to tease me, Kayo called me her "Little White Lily Bud." If anyone else messed with me like that I'd kill the asshole straightaway, but from Kayo it was nothing" (12). This style from Mishima is strange to see. I was disappointed.
The translation dialect is North American, probably American English, rather than the British English, which was used in older translations of his previous works. I prefer the later since there seems to be heavy use of American English idioms when no idioms seemed to occur in the older translations.
A two star is a balance between the three star-rated scenes of Kayo with the two and one star-rated story.
Notes
Chapter 1: Already not liking a pop idol oriented story.
On September 9, 2019, I lost my fervor for getting to read the "Sea of Tetralogy" series. I am not sure if this is because of reading the two star-rated "The Frolic of the Beasts" followed by now "Star", which isn't quite my cup of tea. Or this could have just been my natural loss of interest, as I most recently lost interest in Napoleon before Yukio Mishima became my interest.
I read up to page 53 at the end of September 9, 2019, but I forget to update my status.
My liking of Kayo has ebbed after she mimicked the overdosed actor's revitalization and now that she pretends to cough as to heave rice at a reporter's back.
December 27, 2019
Update
I have wondered why I have ranked Star above The Sound of Waves, a novel I had a difficulty in discerning whether it was a two or three star-rated book. This book did not have that difficulty, and the negative aspects of Richie pull down the three and four star-rated sections with Kayo. Kayo's character reaches the extent of a four star-rating, and leads the book slightly above a two star-rating but not near enough to a two and a half star-rating. Please consult the review for The Sound of Waves to realize the complication in its two and a half star-rating and how the solidity of Star in maintaining a rating slightly above two stars is better than the instability of The Sound of Waves.
I would like to add that my reception of the ending was mixed. Although I enjoyed Kayo's dialogue at the end, Mishima's infusion of his lust for death at a young age put me off. Richie is extremely vain and does not seem as righteous as Mishima is in his philosophy.
I also find that the original review's rating of the story at one star is harsh. A two star-rating is more appropriate.
December 28, 2019
Update
A note for the December 27, 2019, rankings from my "Yukio Mishima Rankings" document: "Star above Silk and Insight because it came down to Kayo and Komazawa as the tie-breaker. They are the respective four star-rated characters, however, Komazawa was not enjoyed until the later half, whereas Kayo was static and I enjoyed her in almost all scenes". This note was also added to the Silk and Insight review.
January 10, 2020
Update
To correct the previous update, I find this statement incorrect: "A note for the December 27, 2019, rankings from my "Yukio Mishima Rankings" document: "Star above Silk and Insight because it came down to Kayo and Komazawa as the tie-breaker"". I do not see this as correct since there appear more negatives in Silk and Insight than Star despite both books sharing the book type. Also, The Sound of Waves is rated above Silk and Insight but below Star, depicting a difference between the two books.
I did not enjoy the celebrity centered story, and less Richie. The entire face philosophy drawn up at the end by Kayo felt rushed. The parts that I enjoyed from this book were the scenes with Kayo and the ending. Kayo is this older nihilistic woman who provides a nice physical contrast with Richie. I enjoyed her manner of tearing up the real world. With the ending, I am glad that Richie's suicide seemed putoff after meeting his older parallel, Kokura, especially with Kayo whispering into Richie's ears at the end that she will always call him "my handsome prince" even when he's sixty (94).
I was not fond of the translation. The informal short sentences, perhaps to display the youthful narrator, appears amateurish. Here is an example: "Sometimes, just to tease me, Kayo called me her "Little White Lily Bud." If anyone else messed with me like that I'd kill the asshole straightaway, but from Kayo it was nothing" (12). This style from Mishima is strange to see. I was disappointed.
The translation dialect is North American, probably American English, rather than the British English, which was used in older translations of his previous works. I prefer the later since there seems to be heavy use of American English idioms when no idioms seemed to occur in the older translations.
A two star is a balance between the three star-rated scenes of Kayo with the two and one star-rated story.
Notes
Chapter 1: Already not liking a pop idol oriented story.
On September 9, 2019, I lost my fervor for getting to read the "Sea of Tetralogy" series. I am not sure if this is because of reading the two star-rated "The Frolic of the Beasts" followed by now "Star", which isn't quite my cup of tea. Or this could have just been my natural loss of interest, as I most recently lost interest in Napoleon before Yukio Mishima became my interest.
I read up to page 53 at the end of September 9, 2019, but I forget to update my status.
My liking of Kayo has ebbed after she mimicked the overdosed actor's revitalization and now that she pretends to cough as to heave rice at a reporter's back.
December 27, 2019
Update
I have wondered why I have ranked Star above The Sound of Waves, a novel I had a difficulty in discerning whether it was a two or three star-rated book. This book did not have that difficulty, and the negative aspects of Richie pull down the three and four star-rated sections with Kayo. Kayo's character reaches the extent of a four star-rating, and leads the book slightly above a two star-rating but not near enough to a two and a half star-rating. Please consult the review for The Sound of Waves to realize the complication in its two and a half star-rating and how the solidity of Star in maintaining a rating slightly above two stars is better than the instability of The Sound of Waves.
I would like to add that my reception of the ending was mixed. Although I enjoyed Kayo's dialogue at the end, Mishima's infusion of his lust for death at a young age put me off. Richie is extremely vain and does not seem as righteous as Mishima is in his philosophy.
I also find that the original review's rating of the story at one star is harsh. A two star-rating is more appropriate.
December 28, 2019
Update
A note for the December 27, 2019, rankings from my "Yukio Mishima Rankings" document: "Star above Silk and Insight because it came down to Kayo and Komazawa as the tie-breaker. They are the respective four star-rated characters, however, Komazawa was not enjoyed until the later half, whereas Kayo was static and I enjoyed her in almost all scenes". This note was also added to the Silk and Insight review.
January 10, 2020
Update
To correct the previous update, I find this statement incorrect: "A note for the December 27, 2019, rankings from my "Yukio Mishima Rankings" document: "Star above Silk and Insight because it came down to Kayo and Komazawa as the tie-breaker"". I do not see this as correct since there appear more negatives in Silk and Insight than Star despite both books sharing the book type. Also, The Sound of Waves is rated above Silk and Insight but below Star, depicting a difference between the two books.
joseph_gournay's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
scarlettsb's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
3.75
I enjoyed how short the book was. It was just long enough to get a sense for the dark themes and be left with the message that Mishima wanted to get across. Rikio is completely not self aware due to the mask he needs to wear and warped perception of time he has to live under. This is balanced with a woman who is completely authentically taboo, the person he loves the most. I enjoyed how the book made me feel and the intentional simultaneous mundanity of the language used with how methodical it was, if that makes sense.
gabivitale's review against another edition
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
3.0
smb04's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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