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idenise's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
anxious_brown_girl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
acertaineh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
javinki_'s review
3.0
On paper (ha!) this could not be more up my street. Mental health problems AND gay? Sign me up! Oh wait! Someone already did haha!
Some pretty striking insights into the mental gymnastics people are pushed through in order to convince themselves that they are now normal / cured of their 'defect', and finally able to start 'living' in a beautifully 'conservative' ''society''. Got a bit bored of all the gory imagery though, and it honestly felt like the first 160 pages of a ~350 page novel because the narrative structure was a bit of a mess. He's an interesting chap, though...
Some pretty striking insights into the mental gymnastics people are pushed through in order to convince themselves that they are now normal / cured of their 'defect', and finally able to start 'living' in a beautifully 'conservative' ''society''. Got a bit bored of all the gory imagery though, and it honestly felt like the first 160 pages of a ~350 page novel because the narrative structure was a bit of a mess. He's an interesting chap, though...
andrewwwwww's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
5.0
ezrasupremacy's review against another edition
dnf at 48%
first dnf of the year, and something i only rarely do.
i find the subject matter and perspective of a gay man in 1930s-ish japan really interesting, but this was so painfully boring, i can’t keep trying to push through.
not particularly interested in reading more from mishima due to his political views, so this will most likely be my only encounter.
first dnf of the year, and something i only rarely do.
i find the subject matter and perspective of a gay man in 1930s-ish japan really interesting, but this was so painfully boring, i can’t keep trying to push through.
not particularly interested in reading more from mishima due to his political views, so this will most likely be my only encounter.
katiesphone's review against another edition
hes one sick fuck.
but i like this quote, it really speaks to me about my own feelings on gender.
"In the woodblock prints of the Genroku period one often finds the features of a pair of Lovers to be surprisingly similar, with little to distinguish the man from the woman. the universal ideal of Beauty and Greek sculpture likewise approaches a close resemblance between the male and female. might this not be one of the secrets of love? might it not be through the innermost recesses of love that causes an unattainable longing in which both the man and the woman desires to become the exact image which other? might not this longing drive them on, leading at last to a tragic reaction in which they seek to attain the impossible by going to the opposite extreme."
but i like this quote, it really speaks to me about my own feelings on gender.
"In the woodblock prints of the Genroku period one often finds the features of a pair of Lovers to be surprisingly similar, with little to distinguish the man from the woman. the universal ideal of Beauty and Greek sculpture likewise approaches a close resemblance between the male and female. might this not be one of the secrets of love? might it not be through the innermost recesses of love that causes an unattainable longing in which both the man and the woman desires to become the exact image which other? might not this longing drive them on, leading at last to a tragic reaction in which they seek to attain the impossible by going to the opposite extreme."
doseogwan's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
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
3.5
magmaa's review against another edition
5.0
10/10
I seem to be enjoying books with main characters that are outcasts and idk what it means
Also Mishima is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors with every book I read
This one is no exception, with a very beautiful language Mishima portrays queer identity during adolescence with no fault and perfection
I seem to be enjoying books with main characters that are outcasts and idk what it means
Also Mishima is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors with every book I read
This one is no exception, with a very beautiful language Mishima portrays queer identity during adolescence with no fault and perfection