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lcsmmn's review against another edition
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)
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)
prettygoose's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ifyouhappentoremember's review against another edition
4.0
The copy I picked up from the library is from 1952 and contains these stories: In a Grove, Rashomon, Yam Gruel, The Martyr, Kesa and Morito, and The Dragon. It’s an old edition and it contains a (rather hilarious) footnote clarifying to the reader what a Japanese dish known as ‘sushi’ is.
In a Grove will be the most well-known work in the collection as it was adapted into the 1950 Kurosawa film ‘Rashomon’ (it is slightly confusing as the short story Rashomon does not share any similarities with the film; only the framing and title).
What I enjoy most about this collection is that they all feel like classic Japanese folktale but have such a ‘realistic’ twist to them.
In a Grove will be the most well-known work in the collection as it was adapted into the 1950 Kurosawa film ‘Rashomon’ (it is slightly confusing as the short story Rashomon does not share any similarities with the film; only the framing and title).
What I enjoy most about this collection is that they all feel like classic Japanese folktale but have such a ‘realistic’ twist to them.
getlovequick's review against another edition
4.0
consider this rating a 4.5, with the half off because i didn’t really enjoy “the dragon” as much as the other stories. that being said, WHEW akutagawa was talented. the writing style was so descriptive and beautiful, something sorely lacking from a lot of modern literature. my favorite stories from this collection were “rashōmon,” “yam gruel,” and “kesa and moritou.”
dantastic's review against another edition
3.0
In a Grove: A man is found stabbed to death in a grove. Some people of interest and the key players give their accounts.
Yeah, I'm a fan of this. Lots of narrators with varying degrees of reliability. If the other stories are this good, this collection is going to be stellar.
Rashomon: A samurai's servant sits under the Rashomon during a rain storm, pondering whether he should become a thief or starve to death.
I didn't like this story as much as the first but it was still interesting. I never thought of making wigs in that way.
Yam Gruel: Goi, a samurai who is the butt of everyone's jokes, has a life-long craving for Yam Gruel. But what will he do when he's offered all he can ever eat?
This was an odd one, more like a fable than the previous two. I felt bad for Goi and really hoped he'd go on a killing spree but, alas, it was not to be.
The Martyr: When the umbrella maker's daughter becomes pregnant, everyone suspects, Lorenzo, the orphan raised by Jesuits.
Huh. This was an odd one about protecting the people you love at all costs.
Kesa and Morito: The tale of a love triangle from two of its participants. This was another story with unreliable narrators. It was well written and fairly twisted.
The Dragon: An old man tells the story of a big nosed priest named Hanazo and the prank he played on a village that backfired.
All in all, this was an enjoyable collection. By far, my favorite tales were In a Grove and Kesa and Morito, the two unreliable narrator tales. The others were good to mediocre. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Yeah, I'm a fan of this. Lots of narrators with varying degrees of reliability. If the other stories are this good, this collection is going to be stellar.
Rashomon: A samurai's servant sits under the Rashomon during a rain storm, pondering whether he should become a thief or starve to death.
I didn't like this story as much as the first but it was still interesting. I never thought of making wigs in that way.
Yam Gruel: Goi, a samurai who is the butt of everyone's jokes, has a life-long craving for Yam Gruel. But what will he do when he's offered all he can ever eat?
This was an odd one, more like a fable than the previous two. I felt bad for Goi and really hoped he'd go on a killing spree but, alas, it was not to be.
The Martyr: When the umbrella maker's daughter becomes pregnant, everyone suspects, Lorenzo, the orphan raised by Jesuits.
Huh. This was an odd one about protecting the people you love at all costs.
Kesa and Morito: The tale of a love triangle from two of its participants. This was another story with unreliable narrators. It was well written and fairly twisted.
The Dragon: An old man tells the story of a big nosed priest named Hanazo and the prank he played on a village that backfired.
All in all, this was an enjoyable collection. By far, my favorite tales were In a Grove and Kesa and Morito, the two unreliable narrator tales. The others were good to mediocre. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
kate66's review against another edition
5.0
I've been meaning to read Rashomon for a while now. I tend to read more modern Japanese literature but there's still that niggly list of "the classics" to be read as there is with every country.
What makes a classic? I've no clue but if they're all as wonderful as Rashomon I'm not sure I care.
The title story is that of a samurai murdered by a man who takes a fancy to the wife. It is told as witness accounts but all the accounts vary so that their version makes them out to be the most injured party. In the end you believe nobody - not even the corpse speaking through a medium.
The other stories are almost cautionary tales - Yam Gruel is the story of a pathetic samurai who loves yam gruel but makes the mistake of telling a powerful comrade that he can never get enough of the stuff. Definitely be careful what you wish for.
The Martyr is parable-like telling the story of Lorenzo who is saint-like and honest but is destined to be martyred by his religious cohorts.
Kesa and Morito is the tale of a doomed and depraved love affair. And finally The Dragon is a tale of a joke turned prophecy (just maybe).
All these stories were perfect. I am assuming it's the translation that gives them such a modern feel but either way, they were engaging, interesting and despite the obvious cultural references were pretty universal stories.
Loved it. Tale of Genji is next.
What makes a classic? I've no clue but if they're all as wonderful as Rashomon I'm not sure I care.
The title story is that of a samurai murdered by a man who takes a fancy to the wife. It is told as witness accounts but all the accounts vary so that their version makes them out to be the most injured party. In the end you believe nobody - not even the corpse speaking through a medium.
The other stories are almost cautionary tales - Yam Gruel is the story of a pathetic samurai who loves yam gruel but makes the mistake of telling a powerful comrade that he can never get enough of the stuff. Definitely be careful what you wish for.
The Martyr is parable-like telling the story of Lorenzo who is saint-like and honest but is destined to be martyred by his religious cohorts.
Kesa and Morito is the tale of a doomed and depraved love affair. And finally The Dragon is a tale of a joke turned prophecy (just maybe).
All these stories were perfect. I am assuming it's the translation that gives them such a modern feel but either way, they were engaging, interesting and despite the obvious cultural references were pretty universal stories.
Loved it. Tale of Genji is next.
angella1227's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Lovely short stories, some are 5 star, some less. I really like seeing the world through Akutagawa's eyes in these stories. I absolutely recommend!
hespio's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
medium-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? Yes
3.75
Je to dobrý ale tolik mě to nenadchlo. Nejoblíbenější povídky jsou asi Nos, V houštině a Kapesník.