Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Kokoro by Natsume Sōseki

8 reviews

reila's review against another edition

Go to review page

mysterious reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

"A man capable of love, or I should say rather a man who was by nature incapable of not loving; but a man who could not wholeheartedly accept the love of another--such a one was Sensei." p.12

A university student comes across an older gent---a prickly and mysterious man. The narrator's curiosity (and ideas) about Sensei make it a formative summer, becoming a secondary father figure (and someone to impress). 

"I learned to judge others harshly, but not myself. I thought that, in the midst of a corrupt world, I had managed to remain virtuous." p.238

Masculine loneliness, self-centeredness, and (old-fashioned) misogyny; women are seen an object of contempt, but also a pure ideal removed from the "sins" of man.

...true love is not so far removed from religious faith. Whenever I saw Ojosan's face I felt that I had myself become beautiful. Whenever I thought of her, I felt a new sense of dignity welling up inside me. If this incomprehensible thing that we call love can either bring out the sacred in man or, in it's lowest form, merely excite one's bodily passions, then surely my love was of the highest kind. I am not saying that I was not like other men. I am made of flesh too. But my eyes which gazed at her, and my mind which held thoughts of her, were innocent of bodily desire." p.155

Loneliness, compounded by guilt and resignation from one's self-induced punishment, is a hell of a drug. Voluntarily isolating yourself and not owning up to your actions have long-lasting consequences; lessons from young to old in a transitionary time. There are plenty of insightful bits scattered throughout all three parts.

"I have decided that no matter how many books I may read, I shall never be a very much better man that I am now." 

"I used to consider it a disgrace to be found ignorant by other people. But now, I find that I am not ashamed of knowing less than others, and I am less inclined to force myself to read books. In short, I have grown old and decrepit." p.54

"When a man dies suddenly, his estate causes more trouble than anything else." p.60

Note to self: get started on a last will and testament. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jellyjilli's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-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? It's complicated
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

potterpav's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

genuinely gutted im only giving this two stars. i always feel bad dunking on classics but then in the next breath i must be true to myself. i had such high hopes for this book at the start and really enjoyed the first part! when it got to part 2 i started to lose interest and when part 3 started, i had hope it would pick up again .. sadly i was mistaken. i think its because what was going to happen was pretty obvious as soon as he started talking abt the woman's daughter that it just stopped interesting me. this book is a classic but in my experience, classics aren't really my thing LOL! anyway yeah this book is gonna pass by with a "omg i forgot i read that!" at the end of the year x
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

chinola's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

aeaeawitch's review

Go to review page

slow-paced
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

travisppe's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.0

The structure was very intriguing, especially in Part III from Sensei’s letter. Look, this book is dense and parts of it are a slog but it is beautifully written and thoughtful, even if the characters are not particularly relatable. Highly recommended for folks interested in Japanese literature and culture. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

katievh's review

Go to review page

reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sherbertwells's review

Go to review page

emotional mysterious 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

4.0

As the Meiji Era draws to a close, a young student uncovers the tragic past of an older man known only as “Sensei.” Meredith Mckinney’s clean, beautiful translation sweeps over Sōseki’s quiet little story like a searchlight scanning the soft underside of a stormcloud—and damn, what a storm!

“Now I will wrench open my heart and pour its blood over you. I will be satisfied if, when my own heart has ceased to beat, your breast houses new life” (124)

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...