Sophia C. reviewed on 6/14/2009 + 289 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

I can see how someone could find this early work by Yukio Mishima boring. The all-too-familiar plot progresses slowly: a poor boy and rich girl fall in love to the disapproval of townspeople and those who want each for him- or herself. But I thoroughly enjoyed this sparse novel by one of Japans most famous writers. The story of Shinji and Hatsue, set in a remote fishing village of post-war Japan, seems timeless, perhaps because of how the narrative is infused with nature. I also admire the lovers as people; each refreshingly exudes an ethic of hard work, modesty, and virtue. Indeed a masterpiece from one of the last people known to have performed seppuku (ritual suicide).

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