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This is one of my favorite books but the embarrassing part is that I still have a hard time understanding the very last page. It is driving me crazy. The 500+ pages of beautiful writing was like a beautiful piano piece and all of a sudden, Tanizaki said Screw Everything! and slammed the piano on the very last page. Can anyone make sense of what I am not seeing clearly? Including the poem and the wacky last sentence.

Klaas Roggeman I don't know why he ended it so abruptly but in the afterword by the Dutch translator it says that the last sentence could signify that the marriage w…尘辞谤别I don't know why he ended it so abruptly but in the afterword by the Dutch translator it says that the last sentence could signify that the marriage will not be a lucky one. Apparently the whole book is highly autobiographical, if fictionalised, about the sisters of Tanizaki's second or third wife. The sister who compares to Yukiko apparently was married to the illegitimate son of a viscount. But after the war the gentry was abolished (all titles) and her husband died early. So it was indeed not a happy marriage. The book appeared in three stages so he might have known the end by the eh end.(less)

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Does anyone know the story behind how the English title was chosen? The direct translation of the Japanese title is "light snow" and not Makioka Sisters.

Mateus Levi There's a brief explanation for this on the Wikipedia page for the book:

"The novel's title, Sasameyuki (細雪), means lightly falling snow and is also us…尘辞谤别There's a brief explanation for this on the Wikipedia page for the book:

"The novel's title, Sasameyuki (細雪), means lightly falling snow and is also used in classical Japanese poetry. The image suggests falling cherry blossoms in early spring—a number of poets confess to confusing falling cherry blossoms with snow. Falling cherry blossoms are a common symbol of impermanence, a prevalent theme of the novel. The "yuki" (雪, snow) in Sasameyuki is the same as the yuki in Yukiko's name, suggesting that she is the central character of the novel.

These nuances do not translate well into English. The translator, Edward Seidensticker, struggled over the title. Translations like "Fine Snow" and "Snow Flurries" do not convey the elegance or layers of meaning in the Japanese title."(less)

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is this book appropriate for older teens? i cant tell from the reviews how mature it actually is

Beelove I read it for the first time when I was 17, on the recommendation from a good friend.

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Is there any objectionable (sexual) content in this book? From what I've read I'm afraid there is some...

Andrew Noselli No, Tanizaki only alludes to sexual matters in a subdued, reflective manner. The expressions of love are rather veiled, really, in keeping with the te…尘辞谤别No, Tanizaki only alludes to sexual matters in a subdued, reflective manner. The expressions of love are rather veiled, really, in keeping with the tenor of this Japanese novel about a group of women living, somewhat precariously, on the borders of big-city life.(less)

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Based on the character descriptions, does anyone have guesses as who each sister is on the cover? (Vintage International edition)

Janet I imagined, clockwise, Tsuruko upper left, Sachiko upper right, Yukiko lower right, Taeko lower left.... But it might surprise you that commonly, illu…尘辞谤别I imagined, clockwise, Tsuruko upper left, Sachiko upper right, Yukiko lower right, Taeko lower left.... But it might surprise you that commonly, illustrators don't read the book they're assigned to design! Normally they are given a brief explanation of what the book is 'about' and let loose to design what's in their heads... But this one looks like the illustrator did try to picture each sister individually.
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