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_tabby_'s review
- 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
4.0
Mishima delves into the dark and obsessive nature of a Japanese school boy who simultaneously delights in and struggles with his sexuality as a result of his intense obsessions over what he finds to be the definition of beauty. Throughout, he compares his current obsessions with those of his childhood crushes such as Antonious and Joan of Arc (before he found out she was a woman) and holds them to an almost biblical standard.
Art and beauty run his life.
The beginning half of the book is very expected (very true to the description) as it focuses on the obsessions I listed above as he finds himself in his youth and convinces himself that his desires are sub-human. A VERY common theme in Mishima's books. Needless to say, this half of the book was my favourite.
However, I couldn't rate it 5☆ because I felt like the second half of the book diverted a bit too much. Yes, the main character is now an adult and his views have matured but to me it felt like he almost went out of character and I found myself rather bored with his new personality
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Stalking
Moderate: Chronic illness and Misogyny
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
sleepyriv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Blood, War, Body horror, and Violence
Moderate: Cannibalism, Suicidal thoughts, and Chronic illness
yutrobog's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence
Moderate: War, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Body horror
Minor: Cannibalism and Chronic illness
deadlizard's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Cannibalism, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, War, Violence, Blood, and Gore
larseneiii's review
- 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
3.5
Graphic: War, Blood, Body horror, Death, Cannibalism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Chronic illness and Bullying
Minor: Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicidal thoughts
vasilyenjoyer's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Homophobia and War
Minor: Blood, Chronic illness, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
ejb44's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts