Comments on: The Setting Sun by Osamu Dazai | Book Review http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osamu-dazai-book-review.html A Kiwi-Japanese family's adventures down under Sat, 03 Sep 2011 22:05:24 +0900 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Anonymous http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osamu-dazai-book-review.html/comment-page-1#comment-17321 Anonymous Sat, 03 Sep 2011 22:05:24 +0000 http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osama-dazai-book-review.html#comment-17321 Honestly, I agree with Marc. Whether or not you're used to western literature should have no affect on how you found the book. It would have been more appropriate to say that you, personally, did not connect with it. I have not read it, but I have read one of Dazai's other books, and found any cultural differences to be insignificant. Honestly, I agree with Marc. Whether or not you’re used to western literature should have no affect on how you found the book. It would have been more appropriate to say that you, personally, did not connect with it.

I have not read it, but I have read one of Dazai’s other books, and found any cultural differences to be insignificant.

]]> By: Chris Davis http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osamu-dazai-book-review.html/comment-page-1#comment-16922 Chris Davis Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:13:19 +0000 http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osama-dazai-book-review.html#comment-16922 I agree with Richard on this. To call this a book about the decline of aristocracy is easy enough, as much of the book does deal with this theme, however the "Setting Sun" refers to the nation of Japan as a whole. Japan's aristocracy really wasn't an aristocracy by western terms, so calling it as such, and comparing it as such is a bad idea. Research the term "Shinoukoushou" to learn more about this. Overall this deals with the overall social upheaval at the, yet again, redefined systems in Japan during the period, and the overall view of the country after its submission to the rest of the world. Calling this boring because it's not action-packed is much the same as calling Crime and Punishment a boring novel. While there are no violent eruptions, the writing of the book is overall very well done, and social perceptions from the time can be easily read through it. While I might not recommend it to a someone looking for a quick read, I would hardily suggest it to anyone who has the inkling to understand some of Japan's more complex modern literature. I agree with Richard on this. To call this a book about the decline of aristocracy is easy enough, as much of the book does deal with this theme, however the “Setting Sun” refers to the nation of Japan as a whole. Japan’s aristocracy really wasn’t an aristocracy by western terms, so calling it as such, and comparing it as such is a bad idea. Research the term “Shinoukoushou” to learn more about this. Overall this deals with the overall social upheaval at the, yet again, redefined systems in Japan during the period, and the overall view of the country after its submission to the rest of the world. Calling this boring because it’s not action-packed is much the same as calling Crime and Punishment a boring novel. While there are no violent eruptions, the writing of the book is overall very well done, and social perceptions from the time can be easily read through it. While I might not recommend it to a someone looking for a quick read, I would hardily suggest it to anyone who has the inkling to understand some of Japan’s more complex modern literature.

]]> By: Richard Hendricks http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osamu-dazai-book-review.html/comment-page-1#comment-16652 Richard Hendricks Thu, 02 Apr 2009 04:58:04 +0000 http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osama-dazai-book-review.html#comment-16652 I think this review is perfectly suitable for one whom is unable or incapable of read novels of this caliber on a deeper level. Suggesting that this novel is boring only reveals your inability to understand the complexity of the themes and devices at work. Although I can agree that Dazai's writing loses some of its allure in translation, to call it "as boring as your average American sitcom" may simply suggest that you lack the sensibility required to care deeply for characters whom for nuances must be drawn. Furthermore, although you were accurate in your observation that the novel takes place during a time of upheaval and alienation in postwar Japan, the novel itself is not entirely concerned with the declining aristocracy. It is more concerned with the pervasive moral attitudes (or lack of them) in the postwar period of Japan and the possibility of hope (in this case referred to as 'love') amongst the absurdity that is(was) "modern man". As for the style of the novel, comparing it to Kawabata further displays a general lack of understanding of the Japanese literary canon. Dazai's style of writing is much more western than several of his contemporaries. In "The Setting Sun", Dazai attempts to break away from conventional Japanese novelistic devices. Most of this information is found in the introduction of the book, written by Donald Keene. Ultimately, whether this book is boring or not is left up to individual taste. But you shouldn't ignore its fame in Japan as being misguided simply because of your own lack of understanding. I think this review is perfectly suitable for one whom is unable or incapable of read novels of this caliber on a deeper level. Suggesting that this novel is boring only reveals your inability to understand the complexity of the themes and devices at work. Although I can agree that Dazai’s writing loses some of its allure in translation, to call it “as boring as your average American sitcom” may simply suggest that you lack the sensibility required to care deeply for characters whom for nuances must be drawn.
Furthermore, although you were accurate in your observation that the novel takes place during a time of upheaval and alienation in postwar Japan, the novel itself is not entirely concerned with the declining aristocracy. It is more concerned with the pervasive moral attitudes (or lack of them) in the postwar period of Japan and the possibility of hope (in this case referred to as ‘love’) amongst the absurdity that is(was) “modern man”.
As for the style of the novel, comparing it to Kawabata further displays a general lack of understanding of the Japanese literary canon. Dazai’s style of writing is much more western than several of his contemporaries. In “The Setting Sun”, Dazai attempts to break away from conventional Japanese novelistic devices. Most of this information is found in the introduction of the book, written by Donald Keene.
Ultimately, whether this book is boring or not is left up to individual taste. But you shouldn’t ignore its fame in Japan as being misguided simply because of your own lack of understanding.

]]> By: simon http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osamu-dazai-book-review.html/comment-page-1#comment-15975 simon Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:16:36 +0000 http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osama-dazai-book-review.html#comment-15975 Thanks for your comment Marc. Sorry that you found the review to be narrow minded. I haven't had the pleasure of reading <em>Recherche</em> so I compared it with something I had read and I think the ennui of Waughs work fits quite nicely. Still if I every have the chance to plow through those seven volumes, I will consider it. Honestly though, <em>The Setting Sun</em>, in that translation is as boring as your average American sitcom. I used to edit the books page for a magazine in New Zealand, and one thing I noticed from that was that we always got positive reviews - one gave books to people who were interested in that topic. Here though it is what I think, so I am quite happy to call a dog a dog. Thanks for your comment Marc.

Sorry that you found the review to be narrow minded. I haven’t had the pleasure of reading Recherche so I compared it with something I had read and I think the ennui of Waughs work fits quite nicely. Still if I every have the chance to plow through those seven volumes, I will consider it.

Honestly though, The Setting Sun, in that translation is as boring as your average American sitcom. I used to edit the books page for a magazine in New Zealand, and one thing I noticed from that was that we always got positive reviews – one gave books to people who were interested in that topic. Here though it is what I think, so I am quite happy to call a dog a dog.

]]> By: Marc http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osamu-dazai-book-review.html/comment-page-1#comment-15969 Marc Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:50:18 +0000 http://www.blizzardboy.net/japan/the-setting-sun-by-osama-dazai-book-review.html#comment-15969 I find this a very narrow minded review. Comments like "for readers more used to Western etc..." speak for themselves. If one is unable to get used to other than Western novelistic forms one should perhaps not review that kind of books. And to choose an example like "Brideshead Revisited" for the declining nobility when there would be books like "In Search of Lost Time" is, well... quite... I find this a very narrow minded review. Comments like “for readers more used to Western etc…” speak for themselves. If one is unable to get used to other than Western novelistic forms one should perhaps not review that kind of books. And to choose an example like “Brideshead Revisited” for the declining nobility when there would be books like “In Search of Lost Time” is, well… quite…

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