An Artist of the Floating World
Registered by Deepswamp of Björkhagen, Stockholm Sweden on 8/16/2008
This book is in a Controlled Release!
4 journalers for this copy...
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.
"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.
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 Deepswamp 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
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Happy 3-year! On your wishlist!
Happy 3-year! On your wishlist!
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.
That's a brilliant BC-bday present, Deepswamp. Once again, thanks sooo much! I'm really looking forward to reading this book.
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 :))
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 :))
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent to ApoloniaX as part of a trade! Thanks for trading with me. I hope you enjoy the book :))
Sent to ApoloniaX as part of a trade! Thanks for trading with me. I hope you enjoy the book :))
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 ApoloniaX at Wishlist Surprise, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, May 16, 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!
I started reading this book last night.
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.
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.
I'm listing this book on BookMooch today! :)
I’m releasing this book by mail to a BookMoocher in El Cajon, California.
--------------------
Welcome to BookCrossing, where we make the whole world a library!
If you have not already done so, please make a journal entry so I know this book has found a new home. I encourage you to join BookCrossing (free!) so that you can follow this book's future travels. It's fun, and your personal information will never be shared or sold. If you decide to join, consider listing me, "SqueakyChu", as your referring person.
Take your time reading the book. When you finish, make another journal entry to record your thoughts about it. This book is now yours so you can keep it or share it with someone else. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let us know where you left it.
Happy reading!
--------------------
Welcome to BookCrossing, where we make the whole world a library!
If you have not already done so, please make a journal entry so I know this book has found a new home. I encourage you to join BookCrossing (free!) so that you can follow this book's future travels. It's fun, and your personal information will never be shared or sold. If you decide to join, consider listing me, "SqueakyChu", as your referring person.
Take your time reading the book. When you finish, make another journal entry to record your thoughts about it. This book is now yours so you can keep it or share it with someone else. If you pass it along, please make a release note to let us know where you left it.
Happy reading!