Sayaka Murata… 'Fuck the system' in Japanese. I read it in a day and was blown away by her boldness and way of presenting the idea. It’s insane. SickeSayaka Murata… 'Fuck the system' in Japanese. I read it in a day and was blown away by her boldness and way of presenting the idea. It’s insane. Sickening. Uniquely grotesque, yet still incredibly talented....more
Initially, I was intrigued by the fact that the author of the book is a professor of criminal psychology at the University of Criminal Police. But alaInitially, I was intrigued by the fact that the author of the book is a professor of criminal psychology at the University of Criminal Police. But alas, all these psychological setups do not really save the text. The characters are extremely naive and live by the rules necessary for the author to bring his plot to life. The story is narrated by a Chinese student, not a very pleasant (leave me alone, I'm so mysterious) moderate sociopath with pronounced PTSD. The local police can't handle the seasonal influx of maniacs and constantly pull our hero out of class to have him close his eyes and profile the killer, and immediately tell them where to find him. Meanwhile, every time the hero sees a corpse, he cries and throws up. The abundance of details: dismembered bodies and blood mixed with milk in a glass, etc, all of which look like props for a second-rate slasher. All these tired clichés: "Guess the maniac, prevent the murder," "the five-pointed star is the trademark of the famous Night Stalker," "the criminal suggests playing a game" — overall, no comment. This was my Saturday sermon, peace and goodness to all....more
At the beginning of the 17th century, a Dutch shipwreck occurs off the coast of Japan. Surviving crew members are captured and accused of piracy. AmonAt the beginning of the 17th century, a Dutch shipwreck occurs off the coast of Japan. Surviving crew members are captured and accused of piracy. Among the prisoners is an experienced navigator, an Englishman named John Blackthorne, who possesses a strong character and extensive knowledge of geography and military tactics.
Hold on, hold on…
When I began reading the book, I initially believed that the English sailor was indeed the main character of the novel. However, upon closer examination, I realized that he is merely expendable material for the Japanese politics of that time, a pawn for influential Japanese figures. John Blackthorne neither influences the historical narrative nor the plot of the book. Therefore, he is undoubtedly a secondary character. Moreover, the novel is titled "Shogun," implying, of course, Toranaga.
I decided to read this novel in order to delve deeper into the nuances and better understand certain aspects of the intricate political game played by the main characters. Essentially, it's a historical novel with real prototypes in Japanese history, which adds special value to it. John Blackthorne also had a historical prototype, an English sailor named William Adams, after whom a district in Tokyo, Anjin-chō, was named. The voluminous text, two thousand pages long, turned out to be captivating, with a wealth of interesting information presented in a very accessible language within the context of the plot....more
“We’re born kind, but it slips away as we age. Remember how fervently we searched for the truth when we were kids?”
A crime was committed during the C“We’re born kind, but it slips away as we age. Remember how fervently we searched for the truth when we were kids?”
A crime was committed during the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Through the memories of two protagonists, written in the first person, the story of three generations is depicted.
Кокон от Чжан Юэжань
«Папа с детства был мерзавцем. Не окончив начальную школу, спутался с компанией хунвэйбинов и творил всевозможные зверства. Лихие времена прошли, но папу было уже не остановить.»
Во времена китайской культурной революции было совершено преступление. Через воспоминания двух героев, написанных от первого лица, показана история трёх поколений.
Небольшой отрывок, как пример, чем мне нравится этот роман:
«Однажды утром, проснувшись после лакричного сна, я увидел, что в комнате пусто – мама исчезла. Она ушла второпях, ничего с собой не взяла, но казалось, что все ушло вместе с ней. Мне остались только двa гнилых зуба, испорченных леденцами.
Не знаю, почему мама не взяла меня с собой. Может, я чем-то ее разочаровал и она решила меня бросить. Но я еще очень долго не верил, что это всерьез. Я думал, что мама обязательно за мной приедет, вот только устроится на новом месте. Мне не хотелось переезжать к бабушке, я предпочел бы дожидаться маму дома. Но папа и не собирался спрашивать мое мнение. Он хотел одного – скинуть меня на кого-нибудь и забыть о моем существовании.
Весенним вечером я стоял у двери и смотрел, как папа, не церемонясь, заталкивает все мое имущество в два плетеных нейлоновых мешка. Небо постепенно гасло, темнота заполняла опустевшую комнату, и белые стены, лишившиеся рамочек и фотографий, уже не так бросались в глаза. Я сел на корточки и незаметно вытащил из груды старья, которую папа собирался отвезти на свалку, жестяную лягушку на пружинке и несколько стеклянных шариков. Папа привязал к багажнику мешки с моими вещами, и мы отправились к бабушке: он сел на велосипед, мне велел бежать следом. Сначала он ехал медленно, но в рыночной толчее потерял терпение и налег на педали. Я бежал за ним со всех ног, чуть не опрокинул прилавок с фруктами, налетел на какую-то девочку, выбил вертушку у нее из рук. Стеклянные шарики выскочили из кармана и покатились по земле. А я из последних сил бежал, потому что теперь и папа в любую секунду мог исчезнуть.»
Kobo Abe's existential novel The Woman in the Dunes is an allegorical work about the journey to attain personal freedom. The main character, an urban sKobo Abe's existential novel The Woman in the Dunes is an allegorical work about the journey to attain personal freedom. The main character, an urban schoolteacher dreaming of discovering a new species of insects, disappears without a trace during his vacation. He becomes a prisoner in a strange village constantly engulfed by sand. The novel abounds with symbols and metaphors — the woman, water, slavery, and perhaps the most significant of them all, the sand, which in its continuous movement transforms from an inconspicuous sixteenth of a millimeter into an overpowering force of nature.
One of the layers of the novel that attracted me is the exploration of human identity and the influence of existential conditions on it. Initially, the hero's meaning of life is quite, literally hunting flies in the desert. This may seem like a whim, but for the hero, his fascination with insects is more important than anything else; he works to take time off to pursue his passion. This is the psychology of the modern person who tries to earn money and carve out time for their hobbies, instead of directly engaging in what they love. But in the sands, where more basic needs are pressing, such a hobby becomes absurd, and eventually forgotten.
The space of personal freedom in the novel is an environment where a person's physical desires and beliefs enter an irresolvable conflict. In a situation where the protagonist begins to be manipulated through basic needs, he stoically retains the concept of personal freedom within himself. It's endearing, of course, the protagonist's firm conviction in the protection provided by the institutions of state law and order. But when the protagonist realizes that no one will investigate his disappearance, the past ceases to hold great significance for him. It's precisely in this position that there arises a need to take a different path, opening up unexplored territory of personal freedom....more
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