Reviews

Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata

8797999's review against another edition

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5.0

My second reading of this, first time as an audiobook and it really enriches the experience. I don't know what it is but for me this book grasped me from the off and is my favourite out of all the Kawabata's I have read thus far.

chelseareads's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

elnaann1313's review against another edition

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3.0

Beautifully written. Could not put it down, but was disappointed by the ending.

sulfuricpictures's review against another edition

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reflective 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

johnhodges's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

laurans's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad 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

haruharoo's review against another edition

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emotional sad slow-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

4.0

karinlib's review against another edition

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4.0

Kawabata uses the Tea Ceremony almost as a character in Thousand Cranes, because it is the setting for which most of the book takes place. We first meet Kikuji Mitani on his way to a Tea Ceremony that is in memory of his father, given by one his father's mistresses, Chikako. At this ceremony we meet all the characters in the book, and we feel the tension between them almost immediately. Chikako is not only hosting the Tea Ceremony but is acting as a matchmaker between Kikuji and her student in the tea ceremony, Yukiko. Another of Kikuji's father's mistress is also at the Tea Ceremony with her daughter, and so the story begins. It is a story of traditional customs, and those traditions dying when new customs break through.

sevyair's review against another edition

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slow-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

3.5

kimminy's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I wish I knew more about the tea ceremony, but even with no knowledge I found a lot of deeper meaning. Good, short read.