Comments on In Spring it is the Dawn: 'Kokoro' by Natsume Sōseki (JLit Book Group)

Owl here. Inspringthedawn, it is always a pleasur...

2011-11-27T13:54:30.096+09:00

Owl here.

Inspringthedawn, it is always a pleasure to read what you think about Japanese novels. Kokoro is a must read for all the Japanese high school students:) I have read Kokoro so many times since high school, I don't know if I like it or not:) But it is a very well written novel and not so difficult to read: very good introduction to Japanese literature. For first Soseki, Kokoro is the best, I think.

My favorites of Soseki so far are Sanshiro, Kusamakura and The Gate. Sanshiro does not deal with such a heavy theme as Kokoro. Its ending is not so clear cut either but I enjoy reading it again and again. Kusamakura is hardly a novel: it is a long poem, a haiku, or a picture. I didn't enjoy it when younger, but I like it very much now. His later works after Sanshiro, including Kokoro and The Gate are heavier. The Gate is not as compact as Kokoro and the ending is very unclear, but I like the way Soseki describes the protagonist and his wife, which is a little similar to Sensei and his wife in Kokoro.

Ouch, I haven't even started reading yet and w...

2011-11-26T19:31:43.167+09:00

Ouch, I haven't even started reading yet and we've come to the discussion date! ;) *puts it on top of Mt TBR*

Not read this, although have Botchan on my kindle....

2011-11-26T05:42:35.559+09:00

Not read this, although have Botchan on my kindle.

My review of Kokoro can be found here. I really enjoyed the novel. I hadn't read any of Sōseki's works before but am certainly interested in reading others because I liked Kokoro so much.

I read Kokoro last year, but unfortunately, I was ...

2011-11-26T00:47:35.008+09:00

I read Kokoro last year, but unfortunately, I was not too good at reviewing, and my review does not say much about my personal thoughts on this book, though I remember enjoying it very much. BUT I just read 1Q84, and I have a much better review, I enjoyed so much that book: http://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/80-review-1q84/. Looking forward for the discussion on this one!
I have been doing the Japanese Literature Challenge this year, you can see my recap with links to reviews of books I read for it here - scroll down until you get to the Japanese Literature Challenge picture: http://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com/my-reading-challenges/
And I'm planning on doing it again next year. On top of my list is the Tale of Genji

'Kokoro' is a lovely book, and Natsume Sos...

2011-11-25T14:10:24.380+09:00

'Kokoro' is a lovely book, and Natsume Soseki is much more accesible than Mishima and Oe. I think 'Kusamakura' and 'Sanshiro' are my favourites so far - on the cusp of his early lighter touch becoming more serious :)