This book was my introduction to the works of Mishima and while I had a very weird enjoyment of this novel, I sort of wish I'd started with something else of his that's maybe shorter or focuses more on one idea so I could feel him out better. But that's just a personal preference and doesn't take away from 'Spring Snow' itself.

Even though I had a great dislike of the MC, my boy Kiyoaki, for his fickle, childish, and borderline narcissistic attitudes he displays at the beginning (and then passionate delusions at the end), I was super invested in his story and how he suffers, (which I knew he would considering the gloomy foreshadowing is extremely heavy - even without my glasses I would've seen it coming a mile away).

Each theme of the book is explored deeply and is woven into a complex webbing where each point is interconnected. It's quite beautifully done. There's the transition of boyhood into manhood (or the perception of, and how it falters), the changing of an era and being born during in-between times, that there are people born now who fit better into the era of the past and those born who fit into an era to come, that passion is the epitome of youth and of life - that once it's realized and passes, the best part of life is now behind you.

I did have a good time reading about mens' nipples and chest hair, though, I've been told this is typical for Mishima and I have to say I appreciate it. ( )

Cày quyển này được vài chục trang thì đớ người nhận ra nó đúng là Haru no yuki, bộ phim mà mình rất rất không thích. Buồn chán quá bỏ luôn không muốn đọc nữa =.=

Thật ra là bỏ hơn nửa năm rồi nhưng giờ mới nhớ vô đây note lại =))

This book was possibly the most beautiful book I have read in what feels like such a long time. Not only was this a tragically beautiful story, Mishima's writing is always, as I can see, perfect. He writes like he a sword cutting into the skin. Although, Spring Snow is probably less violent from his other stuff, don't be fooled with Mishima's style. He'll stab you with his words at any given moment. To me, he is the definition of a fantastic writer.

Spring Snow is a coming-of-age story with boy named Kiyoaki set in the early Taishō of Japan. Kiyoaki then falls in love with this girl named Satoko, but she then gets married to another man and their relationship becomes a tragic affair. The outcome of all of this is something I thin only Mishima readers would understand or predict. I would say this is a romance, but a very tragic one similar to Romeo and Juliet, but perhaps more selfish.

Besides Spring Snow being a romance, this book also covers a ton of other genres. This is a historical fiction, a political and family drama, and even covers religious philosophy. This is the first book of a four part series. Over all the series is about a Japanese man named Honda who witness the reincarnation of his friend Kiyoaki four times, thus each book is about the four reincarnations. I'm assuming the ton of each book changes too.

I really fell in love with this book though. There are so many beautiful passages that I think will stick with me until the end of time. There was a part about a man looking at naked drawings on a screen and studying them with intent. Another part were Honda tells Kiyoaki that people will look at them in the future as one person; if you think about this concept we do it all the time making people from the same era as one type of person. My favorite little side story was Honda telling Kiyoaki about a Buddhist monk sleeping in a cemetery and waking up one night drinking from a cut skull, later not caring what he drank for as long as he had water.

If you are like me, this book will make you think about yourself, other people, and how the world works. I suggest you don't read anything by Mishima if you expect some entertaining story that Hollywood makes a movie about. For me his books are entertaining with the way he writes, but in order to read this you have to take it seriously to get the material. If you do that, then even the littlest scenes about things like snapping turtles and autumn leaves reflecting on the water would make you fall in love with the power of Mishima.

NOTE: This is only the second book I've read that was translated from Japanese (unless you count some some short stories or manga). The only other Japanese novel I've read was Battle Royal, that was so-so in my opinion, but Spring Snow is far better written, shorter, and actually has a point to the story. It amazes me how little people either read or know anything about Mishima. His life was amazing, yet most of his works are unknown to most unless, like me, you read him in college for an international literature class. Mishimia wrote what he wanted to write even though he was controversial at his time because of his openness to sex and sexuality, his ideas on death and suicide, and his radical politics.

I recommend this book to anyone, but just be aware that Mishima will write about things that others might not want to read. He didn't write these either to shock people but he wrote them because they needed to be heard. He wants to be heard and remembered. ( )

I'm half way through and I cannot decide if the author has successfully portrayed a a very shallow, self absorbed and unstable character or if it's just the author that is shallow, or if the Japanese culture seems for an outsider to be shallow in some regards.

I'll keep going, so I can make up my mind. ( )

Mageles - Octubre/1984 ( )