Reading 'Thousand Cranes'
This morning I just finished reading Kawabata's Thousand Cranes. I now feel I need to read it again. Despite my preparation (reading books on the history and culture of Japan, reading a large collection of Japanese short stories, watching three Japanese films set in the era, and actually taking part in a tea ceremony, albeit a Chinese one), I still found the book puzzling. All the way through I kept wondering why that was said then, and the significance of the short paragraphs of natural description. Despite all this I still found the short novel one of the most intense pieces of writing I have ever read.
posted by Clare Dudman at 8:38 am
4 Comments:
Back in the eighties I used to send out my poetry to all the usual suspects in the small press world but one magazine that took them on a regular basis was Sepia. The guy who ran it called his business Kawabata Press and because of him I bought the only Kawabata novel I’ve read so far, The Master of Go. Back then I zoomed through it and didn’t much get it but I reread it a while back and was far more impressed by it. You can read my review here if you’re interested (it’s one of my shorter ones). I would like to read him again. I think I’ll go and put one of his books on my Amazon wish list before I get distracted.
Thanks Jim, I've read your review and found it extremely helpful. What you say about that book applies also to this one.
Somehow the departing-still-puzzled is appealing, isn't it? I admire the way you assault your reading with preparation, by the by.
Yes, it is, Marly. I suppose it gives the reader a chance to create too.
Post a Comment
Comments are subject to moderation.
<< Home