An Artist of the Floating World

by Kazuo Ishiguro | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 057114716x Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingDeepswampwing of Björkhagen, Stockholm Sweden on 8/16/2008
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4 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingDeepswampwing from Björkhagen, Stockholm Sweden on Saturday, August 16, 2008
Nr 230 1001 books

"An Artist of the Floating World" is a beautiful little novel, written in typical Ishiguro style, with the calm surface waters belaying the rapid current that flows beneath. It is an interesting style that attempts to ape classical Japanese literature, infusing it with Ishiguro's innate Brittishness, coming from being born of Japanese parents but raised in Britain.

As with his other novels, and part of his style, a knowledge of historical events is taken for granted on the part of the reader. Allusions are made to once-famous or infamous events and people, and names are dropped with the understanding that everyone is intimately familiar with WWII and the cultures of Japan and England.

The title is a bit misleading, as the "Floating World" is usually associated with the Edo period of Japan, and not with the Fascist era of Showa. Anyone expecting Geishas and Samurai will be disappointed.

A very quick and quiet read, "An Artist of the Floating World" is something than can be read over a weekend with a cup of green tea. It contributes a viewpoint, and a necessary one, to WWII Japan and paints a human face onto a troubled period of history. Love and family and duty are on display here, along with good intentions leading down dark paths, and the righteousness of actions and re-actions.

Like "Remains of the Day," "An Artist of the Floating World" is an intimate, beautiful character sketch. Very much worth the limited time needed to enjoy the book.

Journal Entry 2 by wingDeepswampwing from Björkhagen, Stockholm Sweden on Friday, September 5, 2008
A lovely book; a lot of history that I didn't know and a view on social change post-war in Japan

Journal Entry 3 by wingDeepswampwing at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Friday, September 5, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (9/5/2008 UTC) at A fellow BookCrosser, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases

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Happy 3-year! On your wishlist!

Journal Entry 4 by yogie from Stockholm, Stockholm Sweden on Thursday, September 11, 2008
Thanks so much! Kazuo Ishiguro is one of my favourite authors all-time. There's something special about his writing that doesn't require it to be fantasy to make it magical!
That's a brilliant BC-bday present, Deepswamp. Once again, thanks sooo much! I'm really looking forward to reading this book.

Journal Entry 5 by yogie from Stockholm, Stockholm Sweden on Tuesday, December 15, 2009
This book reminded me a lot of the Remains of the Day, which is one of my all time favourite books. The main character in this book is disillusioned in a similar way to the main character in the Remains of the Day. He tries to come to terms with his past and becomes slightly paranoid, thinking everybody is focusing on that aspect of him because he himself is doing it.
The twist in this book is not as unexpected as in Ishiguro's other books, in particular Never Let Me Go and A Pale View of Hills, but if I'm not mistaken, this is one of Ishiguro's early works (is it not his first novel?). It is a very beautiful novel in any case, if maybe a bit more slow than his other ones. Nevertheless it is a fantastic read and whatever slowness one may experience is well paid off after reading it!

Thanks Deepswamp for sharing it :))

Journal Entry 6 by yogie at Umeå, Västerbotten Sweden on Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (12/15/2009 UTC) at Umeå, Västerbotten Sweden

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Sent to ApoloniaX as part of a trade! Thanks for trading with me. I hope you enjoy the book :))

Journal Entry 7 by wingApoloniaXwing from Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin Germany on Saturday, December 19, 2009
Received it today, thank you very much, yogie!
I read two books by Ishiguro, which I enjoyed a lot - his style is brilliant. So I'm looking forward to reading this one....
Hope my part of the trade arrives soon, I sent off the package about two weeks ago...

Journal Entry 8 by wingApoloniaXwing from Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin Germany on Sunday, May 16, 2010
An amazing character study and at the same time a portrait of pre- and post-war Japan, very subtle, refined, restrained, and beautifully written. I didn't expect anything less from Ishiguro...

Journal Entry 9 by wingApoloniaXwing at Wishlist Surprise, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, May 16, 2010

Released 13 yrs ago (5/17/2010 UTC) at Wishlist Surprise, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases

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Spotted this on your wishlist...
Happy reading!

Journal Entry 10 by wingSqueakyChuwing from Rockville, Maryland USA on Saturday, May 22, 2010
What a delightful and sweet surprise this was! Coming home today, I found this RABCK in the mail along with another book on my wishlist. Thank you for making my day!

Journal Entry 11 by wingSqueakyChuwing at Rockville, Maryland USA on Friday, April 26, 2013
I started reading this book last night.

Journal Entry 12 by wingSqueakyChuwing at Rockville, Maryland USA on Friday, May 3, 2013
Following World War II, Masuji Ono, father of two grown daughters, slowly reflects on his life as an artist though he is now retired. Setsuko, the older of his daughters is married with one son. Noriko, the younger of his daughters has recently been rejected by the family of man to whom she would have been given in marriage. As time draws near again for marriage negotiations with another man, hence with a second family, there is speculation that things might go awry because of Ono's past as an artist.

What follows is a very quiet, subtle story of family, art, friendship, tutors, and passion. It is told gently, mostly through conversation and recall. It's the kind of story that holds you in its murmurings, but doesn't quickly or overtly reveal what you more and more ache to know. The beauty of the way this story unfolds is its special charm and what has made it by far my favorite of the four books I've now read by this native Japanese, British author.

Journal Entry 13 by wingSqueakyChuwing at Rockville, Maryland USA on Friday, June 7, 2013
I'm listing this book on BookMooch today! :)

Journal Entry 14 by wingSqueakyChuwing at Rockville, Maryland USA on Sunday, June 16, 2013

Released 10 yrs ago (6/16/2013 UTC) at Rockville, Maryland USA

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I’m releasing this book by mail to a BookMoocher in El Cajon, California.

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