Comments on: Yasunari Kawabata – Snow Country

By: Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata | Books of Mee

Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata | Books of Mee — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:13:14 +0000

By: verbivore

verbivore — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 06:13:50 +0000

Litlove – thank you! I think you would enjoy the subtlety and restraint in a lot of Japanese literature – I’d love to hear your thoughts if you ever get your hands on one of these lovely books.

By: litlove

litlove — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:44:10 +0000

You write about this book so beautifully, verbivore! I am definitely being tempted towards reading something Japanese. Your descriptions are every bit as lovely as the quotation you include from the novel!

By: verbivore

verbivore — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:38:08 +0000

Dorothy – I really love In Praise of Shadows. Some of what he says is a little dated but otherwise it is just so beautiful. I would like to read more Kawabata now.

Logophile – I’d love to know what you think of Seven Japanese Tales! And I need to do the reverse and up my time spent with contemporary Japanese fiction

By: Logophile

Logophile — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 15:40:09 +0000

This sounds so good. I think I’m going to add Seven Japanese Tales to my reading list, as dark and sensual stories are right up my street. I’ve really only read contemporary Japanese fiction, so would really like to add some depth to my knowledge!

By: Dorothy W.

Dorothy W. — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:26:04 +0000

I read this book a while ago and remember it being very beautiful, although I didn’t remember the details — so thanks for reminding me! I read the In Praise of Shadows essay too and found it fascinating. I should read more in Japanese literature!

By: verbivore

verbivore — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:14:44 +0000

Ann – The Tanizaki essay should be pretty easy to find. It was published in a book format translation in 1977 so most libraries should have it. I know that Amazon has it as well. You might enjoy his collection Seven Japanese Tales. It is one of my favorites, very dark and sensual.

Amateur Reader – That is interesting, I hadn’t thought of his work like that. As I mentioned in my comment to Ann, his Seven Japanese Tales is one of my favorite collections…I hadn’t thought about there not being much ’story’ to them per se, as they tend to be overflowing with mood or style.

Stefanie – It was lovely reading this book when outside the house was very similar and it definitely added to the feel of the book.

Dewey – That’s funny. Yes, Japan gets snow almost everywhere…even in the south in the winter they get snow. Less obviously than in Hokkaido but enough to feel like a real winter!

By: Dew

Dew — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:01:43 +0000

I once had a Japanese exchange student stay with me, and I was so surprised when he said it snowed where he was from. I hadn’t realized any parts of Japan were snowy!

By: Stefanie

Stefanie — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:30:47 +0000

Oh this sounds wonderful! I always think that reading about snow and cold in the winter would make me cold, but it sounds like it adds to the feeling of the book. I don’t think I will get to this book this winter, but maybe next winter.

By: Amateur Reader

Amateur Reader — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:03:56 +0000

Very intersting. I know some people are intimidated by Kawabata because his stories have so little incident. Your description should help a reader focus on what’s really there.