Average customer rating:
- A Disquieting Picture of Teen Existentialism/Nihilism
- Elegantly wrought, memorable tale of hopes dashed tragically
- Chilling
- The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea
- One of those books that just grabs you...
|
The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea
Yukio Mishima
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Literary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Japanese
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Mishima, Yukio
| ( M )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Foreign Languages
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Spring Snow
-
Confessions of a Mask (New Directions Paperbook)
-
Runaway Horses
-
The Temple of Dawn
-
The Decay of the Angel
ASIN: 0679750150
Release Date: 1994-05-31 |
Customer Reviews:
A Disquieting Picture of Teen Existentialism/Nihilism.......2006-09-01
Plainly said, this work is dark, with segments that will chill the blood of the toughest of readers. Mishima is a master of imagery and his book is a nihilistic masterpiece. Without summarizing the plot, all I can say is: be prepared for a jolt! When you have a group of thirteen year old boys who have banded together in their belief in nothing, paired with two lonely adults who come together so they can finally believe in something--the combination is like a powder keg, truly.
What is interesting is that the nihilist persona this group of boys takes on collectively is a mask (especially upon Noboru, one of the main figures), which is a reaction to the repressed anguish caused by being either neglected or abandoned, or both.
This is a slim novel, but not necessarily an easy read. Having said that, I feel it is expertly written and belongs in the ranks with Camus and Dostoevsky.
Lastly, I work in a high school and was a bit shocked at first that this was to be compulsory reading for tenth graders...but then I decided to quit playing "Pollyanna," because quite frankly, if this book doesn't speak to the teen angst in today's world, I don't know what does.
It is my feeling that if you liked Albert Camus's "The Stranger," you will have an affinity for this piece as well.
Elegantly wrought, memorable tale of hopes dashed tragically.......2006-03-18
"The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea" is truly one of the classic works of late 20th Century world fiction, written during the final years of Mishima's life. As a harrowing tale of wayward youth and the sailor who does indeed fall from grace with the sea, this slender novel is such a riveting exploration of human relations and emotions that the reader does not need to know anything about the author. But knowing that Yukio Mishima was a staunch idealistic militarist who sought Japan's renewal and spiritual redemption from its "glorious" early 20th Century imperialist past, committing seppuku (ritual suicide) as a public protest of Japan's pacifist leanings certainly is quite useful in informing the reader about Mishima's intentions and perhaps his raison d'etre for writing this novel.
In "The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea", Mishima sets up a riveting, unexpected climax between the sailor and a young boy who idealizes him at first for his masculinity, before discovering the sailor's "weak", almost feminine, side to his personality. The young boy is a member of a band of vagabond boys who share too his enthusiasm for the sailor at first, and who help set in motion a fascinating series of events which will have dire consequences for all. Mishima excels in exploring both the Western and Japanese notions of male-female bonding, especially in his description of the boy's relationship to his mother, and to her suitor, the sailor. Rarely have I've come across a novel as intriguing as Mishima's slender tome; its gripping tale will linger in my memory for a long, long time.
Chilling.......2006-01-18
A quick background on how I got my hands on this novella: I was enrolled in an Asian Literature class that was regrettably cancelled. However, the syllabus outlined the novels we were to read over the course of the semester. With a 1 1/2 hour chunk of time now free in my schedule, I decided to read the assigned books. One of the books was Yukio Mishima's ~Temple of the Golden Pavilion,~ which was good enough to lead me to the rest of Mishima's body of work.
This novella is not much different from the other Mishima books I have read: cold, objective, and beautiful in its imagery. Being less than 200 pages, the characters are not as three-dimensional as one would typically expect from a Mishima novel. However, the thematic elements of the book are further realised by the "caricaturization." Being a comment on the Japanese mindset of a not-so-bygone era, each character represents a facet of life, and quite convincingly.
~Sailor~ is as dichotomous as the author, simultaneously filled with humor and terror, beauty and ugliness, calm and torrent. A fascinating read, this book should be experienced with an eagre and open mind.
The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea.......2006-01-09
Yukio Mishima's 'The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea' is a short novel but, due to its tight plot, brevity is not an issue. Published in 1963, seven years before he committed ritual suicide, the novel explores motivation and the factors that can cause someone to abandon their passions and resume their life embracing the dreams of another.
Noboru Kuroda, a thirteen year old on the cusp of an adult world, is part of a savage gang whose members, despite their exemplary grades at school, have rebelled against the adult world they deem hypocritical. Under the tutelage of Noboru's friend, also thirteen, they condition themselves against sentimental feelings - a goal they call `objectivity' - by killing stray cats.
Ryuji Tsukazaki, a merchant seaman, has been granted two days' shore leave and has spent the time romancing Noboru's widowed mother, Fusako. Noboru likes the sailor at first, his commitment to the sea and all the manly stories he has to tell. But, as Ryuji falls for Fusako, Noboru feels betrayed by the man's burgeoning romanticism and, with the help of his gang, feels that action should be taken against the man who has replaced his father.
The first thing I noticed while reading this novel was that the characters are rich with life and history. Noboru, at thirteen, has strong feelings for his mother that manifest through voyeuristic sessions at night when, peeking into her room through a spy-hole, he watches her undress, entertain, and sleep. Ryuji, the sailor, knows he has some purpose at sea and continues his life off the land in the hope that one day he will learn his place in life. And Fusako, five years widowed, displays certain strength as she runs her own business, mixes with a richer class of citizen, while trying to raise he son as best she can.
The way the characters develop from this introduction is fast yet believable - the book, in fact, is split into two sections, 'Summer' and 'Winter', to show that enough time has passed to be plausible. Noboru's respect for Ryuji wanes as he becomes the worst thing, based on his gang's beliefs, a man can be in this world: a father. Ryuji's abandonment of his life's passion is, of course, the main thread of the novel and it is a tragic decision he makes to give up the destiny waiting for him at sea in order to embrace the world of Fusako and the new direction she has planned for him.
The best thing about this novel is the language. The translator, John Nathan, has done a wonderful job and not a page passes without hitting you with a warm wash of sea-spray. Metaphors and similes are drenched with watery goodness as they add to the novel's appeal. The prose is warm during the 'Summer' section but as the book turns to 'Winter' the turns of phrase become icier and tend to sting more. The dialogue is nice and realistic and doesn't smart of stereotypical Japanese honour; the way the characters interact completely plausible.
I hadn't heard of Mishima until I picked up this novel and, given that he had three Nobel nominations in his lifetime, I will certainly look out for more of his work. His concise prose, realistic characters, and the way his voice carries the sea makes him a rare find. If books were shells, I would hope to hear Mishima in every one.
One of those books that just grabs you..........2005-08-25
I'm not exactly sure why this book caught my attention so well. I'm not exactly sure why I enjoyed it so much. I'll do my best to explain it.
Mishima's main character Noboru is most likely the reason that this book caught my attention so much. Noboru is unlike any other protagonist I've read in a long time. Noboru is violent but innocent. He's a two-faced psychological junk yard that the reader loves and hates at the same time. There's the one side of him where he is an innocent pubescent boy, wanting to know what it's like to be a sailor and having a deep relationship with his mother. There is this other side of him that is quite the opposite. He's violent and rebellious. He disects a cat, watches his mother undress through a peephole, writes down his "charges" against his stepfather and conspires to commit an act of violence so horrible but the law will put him of the hook because of his age. Noboru is the most interesting part of this book that makes it such an interesting read.
As for the other aspects, Mishima's writing is simple, but effective. He uses parallel structure and crisp descriptions, not overly eloquent ones. There is some sort of a minimalist twinge on some parts of his writing and a very descriptive, in depth look at other parts in the book. Nevertheless, Mishima's symbolism and engaging characters make for a very enjoyable, but slightly disturbing read. This story is not for the faint of heart. The only cute cuddly kitty in the story is slaughtered and disected shortly after its introduction. So if you're up for an intriguing, meaty read, I would highly recommend Sailor Who Fell From Grace With The Sea.
Customer Reviews:
Subtle complexity.......2007-10-10
This book is deceptively simple and straightforward. It is also powerful and unsettling. I recommend it for its storytelling qualities--it's an engaging narrative--and for the way it will stay with you and talk to you long after you've put it down.
Product Description
Strong, nicely bound convenient collection of 3 popular works by this author.
Product Description
3 novels in one paperback.
Customer Reviews:
Possibly the Funniest Book I Have Ever Read.......1998-03-26
When I was a child in the 60s, my parents owned this little book (obviously an earlier edition). Even though it was written for adults and I was only 9 or 10, I literally laughed out loud every time I read it, and I read it many times. When I wanted something fun to read, I could pull out the Dr. Spock book. I have never forgotten it in the 30 years since then and have been wanting to get my own copy for some time now. As with the previous reviewer, I remember well the curse of Vesuvius Bladder, along with other childhood horrors, such as Eddie Arcaro's Ride...I should keep quiet, so that search list for copies doesn't get too long.
Wonderful, hilarious depiction of children's ways of life........1997-09-13
I spotted this little-known book in the library at VA Tech
and have been trying to get my own copy ever since.
Numerous humorous drawings are used to enhance the tongue-in-cheek
descriptions of various diseases, such as Vesuvius Bladder.
This disease can be spotted when young male babies
release their bladders while on the changing table.
This book should be turned into a calendar.
Book Description
A diary someone would kill to keep secret...
It promises to be the find of the century: documents by famed diarist Samuel Pepys rumored to be in the U.S. — which is where publisher Alex Plumtree and his fiancée, Sarah, are headed for his college reunion.
Then bizarre things start happening ... a Royal accident imperils the succession and fiery violence rocks London, mimicking Pepys’s chronicles of seventeenth-century England.
Things get even more curious when the archivist who stumbled on the uncatalogued papers vanishes. Then a centuries-old scandal surfaces that could bring down the modern monarchy.
Soon Alex begins to suspect that the diaries may not have been penned by Pepys after all — but by someone whose shocking actions may have altered the course of history....
Customer Reviews:
A welcome addition to the Plumtree series.......2002-06-26
Once again Julie Kaewert brings us back to the world of Bibliomysteries and to the world of publisher Alex Plumtree. Readers of the series who have followed Alex's rise in the world of publishing as well as his blossoming love affair with Sarah will be delighted to see both his career and his personal life on the rise.
Uncatalogued begins with Alex and Sarah deciding to elope and get married in America right before their college reunion at Dartmouth. To make things more interesting, Alex's college sweetheart calls to ask him for some advice on some historical papers she may have found in the newly acquired archives. For Alex, the invitation to look for lost and possibly found papers written by Samuel Pepys, 17th-century diarist and friend of the royal family, is too good to pass up as he is one of a select few Pepys scholars. He is also asked by the publishing society he belongs to in England to get these possibly incriminating papers back as they are rumored to contain some not-so-nice royal gossip that could do serious harm to England if it came to light.
Fans of this series will not be surprised to read all of the twists and turns that this book contains - Alex and Sarah's near death experiences as well as the fun, historical references - even if the action is somewhat over the top - readers will find it all in good fun.
If you pick this or any of Julie Kaewert's "Plumtree" books up and you won't be disappointed, more likely you will be hooked. Alex Plumtree is a bibliophile's dream come true. This is the sixth book in her series and I certainly hope there are many more to come.
Somewhat disappointing.......2002-03-10
Julie Kaewert's Booklover's Mystery series (the "Un" series) is fun reading on the whole, especially for those who are into British bibliophile mysteries and plots which are adventurous though quite unlike real life. Uncatalogued, number six and the latest in the series, is somewhat of a disappointment, definitely not the best yet. For one thing, the setting is almost entirely in the United States instead of England, which is fine in itself but is not in keeping with the charm and uniqueness of the series. For another, the plot unfolds very slowly. Also, the author's pattern of making modern day events in the protagonist's life mirror the contents of a rare book involved in the mystery is overdone this time as every chapter has multiple unlikely comparisons between the ancient writing and current happenings. And finally, the explanation of the mystery as it unravels seems to be very labored, some aspects of the explanation being repeated (unless I missed some subtleties along the way).
The diary of the 17th century Samuel Pepys, whose writings Alex Plumtree did post-graduate work on, is rumored to have a missing section which may contain a story scandalizing the British monarchy. While Alex and Sarah are at Dartmouth College for their college reunion, they end up locating what could be this very document in some uncatalogued materials recently donated to the college library. They do what they have to in order to secure these papers for safekeeping since someone (with a British accent) has been willing to murder to obtain them. Back in England the queen has an accident and seems on the verge of death, some feel Prince Charles should not be her successor, and there are terrorist bombs and fires all over London, just like in the days of Pepys as recorded in his diary. Alex's life is endangered multiple times, once even being left for dead on an impossibly narrow ledge on the side of a mountain. Somehow, he and Sarah must find a way for the newly discovered Pepys diary pages to be saved for posterity without harming the reputation of the monarchy?
I would not recommend reading this one as an introduction to the series. The main characters have been developed in earlier mysteries which means you miss a lot if you start with this one. I still find Untitled to be the most intriguing and fast paced of the series, and if a person were to read only one Untitled should be it. Uncatalogued, however, like the others, has both entertaining and educational elements, the latter due to the research and knowledge of the author in the realms of publishing and rare books.
Missed the Jubilee.......2002-01-27
Kaewert is usually convincing in making the reader believe she is a British writer writing from Britain, but this time she blew her cover. She sets the story in the summer of 2002, with the Royal family, and especially the Queen essential to the plot. Unfortunately, the hijinks she assigns to the Windsors would/could never take place at that time, it is the Queen's Golden Jubilee, with a myriad of celebrations and festivities promoting her Majesty and her family. It's too bad Kaewert doesn't pay closer attention to her supposed site. The Jubilee would have been a perfect vehicle for moving her plot, much more believable than the one she concocts. If this author intends to set her tales in a specific time, I hope in the future she'll check and see what's going on that might impact her plot, or that her chracters would reasonably be expected to know about and comment upon. That said, its a fair tale, but the weakest of the "Un" mysteries so far. Plumtree was more endearing as a bumbling loner than he is married to a spy.
A special treat.......2002-01-03
Alex Plumtree, owner of Plumtree Publishing in England, is on his way to America to marry his one and only love Sarah Richardson in Nantucket. After a brief honeymoon, the couple plans to visit to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire to participate in the 1986 reunion.
The honeymoon is perfect but what comes next has them fighting for their lives. Alex is a bibliophile who is an expert on Samuel Pepyss the diarist. He isn't a hero with super power but in the past his love of literature has gotten him into adventures that could have gotten him killed. Both Sarah and Alex think this is one such adventure because Alex had a hint that there were more papers from the Pepyss diary hidden in Dartmouth. His friend Mattie, also an alumni of the class of '86, calls him in England to tell him that she has knowledge of the Pepyss paper. When they are in the area where the papers are supposed to be, Alex is beaten and tied up and is on the run from people who speak with British accents.
UNCATOLOGUED is a fantastic book lovers' mystery because the actions of the characters ring true. The teamwork of the honeymooners seems precise and hooks the audience while serving as an indication that Sarah might have a bigger role in future works. Julie Kaewert is a fabulous writer who appeals to both the American and British amateur sleuth audience.
Harriet Klausner
Average customer rating:
|
Greenberg's Guide to Lionel Trains 1945-1969: Uncatalogued Sets
Paul V. Ambrose , and
Joseph P. Algozzini
Manufacturer: Greenberg Pub. Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Reference | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Toys | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Model Trains | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reference | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0897782828 |
Average customer rating:
|
Iter Italicum: A Finding List of Uncatalogued or Incompletely Catalogued Humanistic Manuscripts of the Renaissance in Halian and Other Libraries, Vo (Iter Italicum)
Paul Oskar Kristeller
Manufacturer: Brill Academic Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
General | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Renaissance | Movements & Periods | History & Criticism | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Bibliographies & Indexes | Publishing & Books | Reference | Subjects | Books
History | Bibliographies & Indexes | Publishing & Books | Reference | Subjects | Books
Art & Photography | Bibliographies & Indexes | Publishing & Books | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9004094555 |
Average customer rating:
|
Iter Italicum: A Finding List of Uncatalogued or Incompletely Catalogued Humanistic Mss of the Renaissance in Italian and Other Libraries (Iter Italicum)
Paul Oskar Kristeller
Manufacturer: Brill Academic Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
General | Italy | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Movements & Periods | History & Criticism | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | Arthurian Romance | Beat Generation | General | Gothic Revival | Medieval | Modernism | Postmodernism | Renaissance | Romanticism | Surrealism | Victorian
General | Bibliographies & Indexes | Publishing & Books | Reference | Subjects | Books
History | Bibliographies & Indexes | Publishing & Books | Reference | Subjects | Books
Art & Photography | Bibliographies & Indexes | Publishing & Books | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 9004012540 |
Book Description
The Iter Italicum is intended to provide a list of Renaissance manuscripts (1350-1600), mostly in Latin or Italian, of philosophical, scientific, philological or literary content. The list is arranged by countries, cities, libraries, collections and shelf-marks. Some manuscripts are listed on the basis of handwritten inventories (descriptions). Collections for which good printed catalogues are available are omitted in most cases. The purpose is to call attention to unknown writings of the period or to unknown copies of known works. All the volumes serve as useful reference works for scholars in the history of philosophy, the sciences, classical learning, grammar and rhetoric, Neolatin literature, historiography of the theory of the arts and of music and related subjects. By scanning the volume or through its index, scholars will be able to find source material for individual writers as well as for certain subjects, problems or themes.
Average customer rating:
|
Uncatalogued
Julie Kaewert
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000S8IS8K |
Customer Reviews:
Perfect gift for a new parent.......2006-05-04
This book is written in a dry pseudo medical terminology. If you have kids you may laugh so hard you cry, if you don't.... consider this information a useful warning for what to expect.
Book Description
The Iter Italicum by P.O. Kristeller constitutes the most comprehensive finding list available of previously uncatalogued or incompletely catalogued Renaissance humanistic manuscripts found in libraries and collections all over the world. Published by E.J. Brill in six volumes between 1963 and 1992, it is an essential tool for any scholar working in the fields of classical, medieval and Renaissance studies. In response to the demands of many users, E.J. Brill, in conjunction with Dr Luciano Floridi (Wolfson College, Oxford), is now publishing a digital version of the Iter Italicum on CD-ROM, providing full, quick and easy access to the vast body of invaluable information contained in Professor Kristeller's opus magnum. In the course of a few seconds, the user can search through the 6.000 pages comprising over 22 million characters to find the information they need. The CD-ROM offers a wide range of search possibilities. Using Boolean operators, you can search not only on country, place, library and collection, but also on any key word or combination of key words. With this facility, you can obtain virtually instant access to a wealth of information on themes and subjects, MS titles, incipits, and persons (authors, translators, patrons and dedicatees) in the hundreds of collections and thousands of manuscripts listed and excerpted in the Iter Italicum. You can save and load your queries, save the results of searches, and mark, edit and transfer information for use in your own documents or Windows databases. Other helpful features include contexts searches and a built-in dictionary of spelling variants of certain words (which is invoked during queries). You are also able to add your own systems of bookmarks and notes to the text of the Iter Italicum (and to save them to disk for use in later work sessions on the CD-ROM), so that even when used in library setting the Iter Italicum on CD-ROM becomes a personalised research tool. The Iter Italicum on CD-ROM allows you to make full use of the potential of this mine of information. It offers access to types of information that were not easily available in the printed volumes. It therefore facilitates immensely the first state of independent study of the Renaissance and Later Scholasticism and the identification of sources, and as such provides the starting point for any research in the field.
Book Description
This work provides the essential information on twenty-three previously uncatalogued Ethiopic manuscripts in England: fourteen in the Bodleian Library of Oxford University, two in the Cambridge University Library, three in the John Rylands University Library of Manchester, and four from the private collection of Dr. Ian MacLennan (London). In addition to the cataloguing information, this work provides complete quire maps and notes, information from additional sources in the Bodleian Library of Oxford University, a study of Bodleian MS Aeth, b.2, several indices (shelfmark, date, works, names), and at least one color image of each manuscript.
Books:
- The Serpent's Shadow (Elemental Masters, Book 1)
- The Smoke Jumper
- The Touch Of Fire
- The Vanished Man (A Lincoln Rhyme Novel)
- Transamerican Literary Relations and the Nineteenth-Century Public Sphere (Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture)
- Upright: The Evolutionary Key to Becoming Human
- Valley of Horses, The (Earth's Children®)
- Vittorio, the Vampire
- Voices In Summer
- When the Devil Holds the Candle (Inspector Sejer Mysteries)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Satellite Communications
- Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations
- Fractals in Chemistry, Geochemistry, and Biophysics: An Introduction
- Fons & Porter Presents Quilts from the Henry Ford: 24 Vintage Quilts Celebrating American Quiltm
- History: Fiction or Science
- Medical Entomology: A Textbook on Public Health and Veterinary Problems Caused by Arthropods
- Little Chapel on the River: A Pub, a Town and the Search for What Matters Most
- Steinlen Cats
- Give your child a superior mind: A program for the preschool child
- Flora of Madagascar Forty-Ninth Family-Orchids
