Reviews

"Rashomon and Other Stories" by Akutagawa presents a captivating exploration of human nature through a collection of tales set in feudal Japan. Akutagawa's masterful storytelling delves into themes of morality, perception, and the complexity of truth. Each narrative is intricately woven with rich cultural details, offering profound insights into the human psyche.

The titular story, "Rashomon," is a haunting examination of the subjectivity of truth, famously adapted into film by Akira Kurosawa. Other stories such as "In a Grove" and "The Nose" further showcase Akutagawa's ability to dissect the darkest corners of the human soul with precision and depth.

Akutagawa challenges readers to confront their perceptions of reality and morality through his timeless prose, leaving a lasting impression long after the stories have been read. "Rashomon and Other Stories" stands as a timeless masterpiece, cementing Akutagawa's legacy as one of Japan's greatest literary figures.

keld1602's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ybbmel's review against another edition

Go to review page

akutagawa is such an amazing story teller, the translator really helped bring these stories to life. :)

mirrorofneptune's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

I found each of the short stories interesting and I enjoyed reading them as a collection– there were definitive themes of rumination on human nature. A couple stories I think I’ll understand better after reading more about the time period, but that’s true for a lot of classic literature.

My version had:

Rashōmon
Tobacco and the Devil
The Nose
The Handkerchief
Lice
The Pipe
The Spider’s Thread
The Wine Worm

noranie's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark tense fast-paced

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

2.0

lcsmmn's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

Rashomon (5/5)
La Nariz (4/5)
Kesa y Morito (3/5)
En el Bosque (4/5)
El Biombo del Infierno (2/5)
Un Cuerpo de Mujer (3/5)
Sennin (2/5)

More...