Unsettling writing, flawed reading

I can only agree with a previous reviewer. The novel itself is very moving and exquisitely done. It has a fluid, effortless flow, and at the same time is unrelentingly brutal (and really not for the faint of heart). In some aspects it reminded me of "The Lord of the Flies", of "Crime and Punishment" and Sartre's "The Nausea". In one of the strongest scenes in the book, a group of boys kill and "dissect" a stray kitten in order to train themselves in "perfect lack of feeling" -- I had a very hard time listening to this. But the most striking thing is the seeming ease with which the writing shifts between points of view, between past and present, between events and reminiscences. It could have been an outstanding audiobook.

But unfortunately it isn't, and that is due to the reader. It's a shame, because Brian Nishii reads very clearly and pronounces all the Japanese names correctly. But for some reason he almost always seems to emphasize the wrong part of the sentence. It's as if he reads every sentence separately, with no notion of context. In the end, it was possible to follow and enjoy the writing, but I had to overcome the flaws in the narration to do that. And that's the exact opposite of what an audiobook narrator should do.

Bottom line: recommended, but proceed with caution.

25 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Good Book

PewDiePie recemended this book through a video he uploaded a while ago, So I bought the book and and go ahead and got the audio book to make it easier on myself to read it. The voice is good and all the words are pronounced correctly (even the names which are Japanese).

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17 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

And....I'm done with Mishima

This is not a bad book. If you're new to Mishima, or you're a die hard fan of Mishima's style, this book will be great for you. This is my 3rd Mishima novel, and the third that follows an outsider who feels empty and misplaced, a sadistic sidekick, and a slow story that ends with a premeditated act of violence. It was interesting the first time. Less the second. Even less so this time.

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Don't make this your first Mishima Novel

Although the novel is relatively short, the style and detailed poetic descriptions of EVERY SINGLE MOMENT, feels less inspiring and more like a chore to get through.

I think I'm at fault for undertaking this one not knowing of the poetic and slow paced structure of the novel.

The general plot is simple to the point of being boring up until the last few chapters, it is worth the wait if you're mindful of this

There is something great here and I need to revisit this sometime in the future after maybe reading some of his other work.

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Even the killing of a kitten is brute poetry

This is not for the tender hearted. Yukio Mishima's prose is brilliant but Brian Nishii is a master at drawing the characters, especially the sociopathic Chief.

2 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Excellent reading

This is the third Mishima work read by Brian Nishii that I've listened to now. He has really grown on me. His subdued style works well and does not become intrusive. As a student of Japanese, I appreciate that he actually knows how to pronounce

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Beautiful writing, very troubling story.

What did you love best about The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea?

I enjoyed Mishima's prose. He is a master.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Hearing about post-war Japan.

What about Brian Nishii’s performance did you like?

He reads with real authenticity. Doesn't trip over Japanese names or words.

If you could rename The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea, what would you call it?

Birth of a serial killer.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Glory.

Mishima's works are so beautifully written, you don't even notice the plot. A plot that could be written in ten pages is caught amongst a surging atmosphere so intricately described. Mishima's stories are often fairly elementary, but it doesn't even matter. It's like an angsty teen was given the ability to write better than anyone else.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Not Much To It

One wonders why this is even remembered, let alone revered in any way. It covers similar ground to Lord of the Flies, but is less well written and visually memorable. Maybe something's lost in the translation (it's definitely lost in the bland reading), but it was just ... eh ... so what. Years and years ago I saw the film version (with the setting and characters relocated to the UK rather than Japan). That wasn't that interesting either but it was more interesting than this. Easy pass on this one. I didn't feel transported into their world ever. It was plodding and pedestrian without much in the way of thought provoking ideas or memorable situations or imagery or mood.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile

Mishima's craftsmanship as a writer is fantastic

Mishima's writing is so expertly precise that it could be compared to the craftsmanship of a master watch maker. Mishima leads us like clock work to the ultimate unfolding of his story but fooling us on the way with poetic and literary meanderings. Like no other writer, he pulls us inside the characters' heads and their thinking. Like no other writer, he manages to elevate the banal and the routine of daily lives into more complex perspectives. It's a beautifully written book.

1 personne a trouvé cela utile