My plan to read the Sea of Fertility series by Mishima was thwarted.
I did however finish the first book, Spring Snow, The Amber Spyglass, and read a few Borges stories. I excuse my inability to finish the SoF series because I was writing in earnest most of the month for my new novel.
That aside, now that I've read the work, I took the time to read a few non-professional reviews. I do see the political significance of Mishima's work - the time period in which he choses to begin his series - but beyond that is a sort of desperation, frustration, and his personal idea that one must die to prove their point and sacrifice for their ideals.
I am going to finish the SoF series and read Scott-Stokes biography on Mishima - I chose not to read the other way around because I don't want to have too much on my mind as I read.
The work itself is beautifully written (I have the Charles Tuttle edition) and so very moving that in times the sadness that pervades the novel gets its hands on you and I had to stop. What Mishima does try to do he does with the aid of a love story gone wrong and knowing that it can never be righted is a sorrow that lingers with you.
The ending did not tie up all the loose ends, so those who say it's possible to read the books out of order or read one and then stop - I can't yet disagree with them. But since one of the main characters has a novel of his own in the series, I'm suspecting that this might not be possible. It's a lot of reading, but the first book was in itself what I would call a masterpiece.
Read more >>
I did however finish the first book, Spring Snow, The Amber Spyglass, and read a few Borges stories. I excuse my inability to finish the SoF series because I was writing in earnest most of the month for my new novel.
That aside, now that I've read the work, I took the time to read a few non-professional reviews. I do see the political significance of Mishima's work - the time period in which he choses to begin his series - but beyond that is a sort of desperation, frustration, and his personal idea that one must die to prove their point and sacrifice for their ideals.
I am going to finish the SoF series and read Scott-Stokes biography on Mishima - I chose not to read the other way around because I don't want to have too much on my mind as I read.
The work itself is beautifully written (I have the Charles Tuttle edition) and so very moving that in times the sadness that pervades the novel gets its hands on you and I had to stop. What Mishima does try to do he does with the aid of a love story gone wrong and knowing that it can never be righted is a sorrow that lingers with you.
The ending did not tie up all the loose ends, so those who say it's possible to read the books out of order or read one and then stop - I can't yet disagree with them. But since one of the main characters has a novel of his own in the series, I'm suspecting that this might not be possible. It's a lot of reading, but the first book was in itself what I would call a masterpiece.
