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160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
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About the author
Yasunari Kawabata
392?books3,650?followersYasunari Kawabata () was a Japanese short story writer and novelist whose spare, lyrical, subtly-shaded prose works won him the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1968, the first Japanese author to receive the award. His works have enjoyed broad international appeal and are still widely read today.
Nobel Lecture: 1968
Nobel Lecture: 1968
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December 30, 2021
眠れる美女 = Nemureru bijo = House of the Sleeping Beauties, Yasunari Kawabata
House of the Sleeping Beauties is a 1961 novella by the Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata. It is a story about a lonely man, Old Eguchi, who continuously visits the House of the Sleeping Beauties in hope of something more.
The titular house is an establishment where old men pay to sleep besides young girls that had been narcotized and happen to be naked, the sleeping beauties. The old men are expected to take sleeping pills and share the bed for a whole night with a girl without attempting anything of "bad taste" like "putting a finger inside their mouths".
Eguchi is presented with a different girl each time he visits the house because of the short notice of his visits. He discovers that all girls are virgins which somehow compels him to comply with the house rules. Each girl is different and the descriptions of his actions are mixed with the dreams that he has sleeping besides the girls.
???????? ??? ??? ?? ?????: ????? ????????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ???: ???????? ????????? ????? ?????? ?????: ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???2011??????
?????: ???? ????????? ????? ?????: ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???1380? ??221?? ????9645564936? ????? ????????? ????? ?? ????????? ???? - ???20?
?????: ???? ???????? ????? ???: ???????? ????????? ?????: ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ???1387? ??224?? ????9789648900897? ??? ????: ?????? ???? ?????? ???1389? ??160?? ????9789646061910? ??? ??? ???1392? ??? ???? ???1393?
???? ?? ?????? ????
?????? ??- ?????: ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????
?? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ? ??? ? ???? ??? ???? ? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????????? ??? ?? ??????? ? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ???? ? ????? ????? ? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ? ???????????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ???? ? ?? ????? ???????.?? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????? ? ??????? ?? ????? ? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ? ?? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ???????? ? ??? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?????????.?
?????? ??- ???????? ? ??????? ?????: ?????? ???? ?? ????? ? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ??????? ????? ????
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? ?????? ??- ????? ? ???????? ?????: ?? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ?? ???? ? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ? ???? ???? ?????? ...? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ????????? ????? ?? ????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ??? ??????
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??? ?? ?????????? (????? ???? ??????)? ? ???????? ?????? ? ?????????? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ? ????? ????? ????? ? ???????? ?? ????????? ????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ? ???? ????? ???? ? ?? ??????? ??? ???????? ? ??????? ???? ???? ???????? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ?????????? ? ?????? ???? ????????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ? ???? ? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?????????? ??? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ? ???? ? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???????? ????? ???? ? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ? ???? ?????????? ????? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ?????? ? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ????????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ?????????? ??????????? ??? ?????? ?? ?????? ? ??? ????? ? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ??????? ? ??? ???????? ?? ???????? ???? ??? ???? ???????? ????? ??? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?? ? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ? ????????? ???????? ?? ???? ? ???? ??? ?????? ?????
????? ?????? ????? 15/09/1399???? ???????? 08/10/1400???? ???????? ?. ???????
House of the Sleeping Beauties is a 1961 novella by the Japanese author Yasunari Kawabata. It is a story about a lonely man, Old Eguchi, who continuously visits the House of the Sleeping Beauties in hope of something more.
The titular house is an establishment where old men pay to sleep besides young girls that had been narcotized and happen to be naked, the sleeping beauties. The old men are expected to take sleeping pills and share the bed for a whole night with a girl without attempting anything of "bad taste" like "putting a finger inside their mouths".
Eguchi is presented with a different girl each time he visits the house because of the short notice of his visits. He discovers that all girls are virgins which somehow compels him to comply with the house rules. Each girl is different and the descriptions of his actions are mixed with the dreams that he has sleeping besides the girls.
???????? ??? ??? ?? ?????: ????? ????????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ???: ???????? ????????? ????? ?????? ?????: ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???2011??????
?????: ???? ????????? ????? ?????: ?????? ??????? ?????? ??? ?????? ???1380? ??221?? ????9645564936? ????? ????????? ????? ?? ????????? ???? - ???20?
?????: ???? ???????? ????? ???: ???????? ????????? ?????: ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ????? ???1387? ??224?? ????9789648900897? ??? ????: ?????? ???? ?????? ???1389? ??160?? ????9789646061910? ??? ??? ???1392? ??? ???? ???1393?
???? ?? ?????? ????
?????? ??- ?????: ???? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??????? ? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????
?? ??? ?????? ????? ?????? ? ??? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ? ??? ? ???? ??? ???? ? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ????? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ? ??? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????????? ??? ?? ??????? ? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ?? ???? ???? ??????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ???? ? ????? ????? ? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ? ???????????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ?????????? ??? ??? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ???? ? ?? ????? ???????.?? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????? ? ??????? ?? ????? ? ??????? ???? ??? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ? ?? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??????? ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ???????? ? ??? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?????????.?
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August 13, 2023
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November 8, 2024
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May 19, 2023
This is a novella, of the title, and two short stories. I have read five of Kawabata’s novels and a collection of short stories but these three stories are unlike anything I have previously read of his. All of these have an erotic flavor and one is science fiction. The blurbs call the stories erotic fantasy underlaid with longing and memories of past loves
In the title story, Sleeping Beauties, the action surely ranks up there with the doings of 'dirty old men.' Elderly men, “who aren’t men anymore,” visit a brothel where they can sleep for the night with drugged, unconscious virgins in their teens and early twenties. As he sleeps with them, the main character reflects back on women and loves he has had in the past. There’s a shocking ending.
In One Arm, the science fiction story, I’ll just give you the opening lines: “ ‘I can let you have one of my arms for the night,’ said the girl. She took off her right arm at the shoulder and, with her left hand, laid it at my knee.”
In the story Of Birds and Beasts, a man is obsessed with his pet birds and dogs. Being anti-social, he obviously prefers their company to humans. You can tell his maid thinks he’s nuts. You imagine he has a loving relationship with these animals – yes, with most -- but he also has a streak of cruelty toward them.
All three stories are disturbing, chilling, bordering on horror. A bit Stephen Kingish-ish. But good stories and, as I said at the beginning, unlike the tone of his novels I have read.
Kawabata was the first Japanese writer to win a Nobel Prize (1968). He was a mentor to Yukio Mishima, who wrote the introduction to this collection, and like Mishima may have committed suicide.
[Revised 5/19/23]
Top photo of a traditional Japanese house from house-design-coffee.com
The author from counterpointpress.com
In the title story, Sleeping Beauties, the action surely ranks up there with the doings of 'dirty old men.' Elderly men, “who aren’t men anymore,” visit a brothel where they can sleep for the night with drugged, unconscious virgins in their teens and early twenties. As he sleeps with them, the main character reflects back on women and loves he has had in the past. There’s a shocking ending.
In One Arm, the science fiction story, I’ll just give you the opening lines: “ ‘I can let you have one of my arms for the night,’ said the girl. She took off her right arm at the shoulder and, with her left hand, laid it at my knee.”
In the story Of Birds and Beasts, a man is obsessed with his pet birds and dogs. Being anti-social, he obviously prefers their company to humans. You can tell his maid thinks he’s nuts. You imagine he has a loving relationship with these animals – yes, with most -- but he also has a streak of cruelty toward them.
All three stories are disturbing, chilling, bordering on horror. A bit Stephen Kingish-ish. But good stories and, as I said at the beginning, unlike the tone of his novels I have read.
Kawabata was the first Japanese writer to win a Nobel Prize (1968). He was a mentor to Yukio Mishima, who wrote the introduction to this collection, and like Mishima may have committed suicide.
[Revised 5/19/23]
Top photo of a traditional Japanese house from house-design-coffee.com
The author from counterpointpress.com
May 2, 2017
Αυτ? το βιβλ?ο εξωρα?ζει το θ?νατο και προσπαθε? απεγνωσμ?να να ανακαλ?ψει την ταιριαστ? συν?παρξη ανθρ?που-φ?ση?-και υπαρξιακο? χ?ου?, στα ?ρια ψυχολογικ?ν διαταραχ?ν και ασθενει?ν.
Ε?ναι βαρ? και κλειστοφοβικ?. Νοσταλγικ? σε σημε?ο μελαγχολ?α? και θλ?ψη?.
Διαπραγματε?εται θ?ματα μοναξι??,γηρατει?ν,απ?γνωση?,
ενοχ??,?ρωτα και θαν?του.
Στην πρ?τη ιστορ?α μπα?νουμε σε ?να κενοτ?φιο που θεωρε?ται ξεχωριστ?? ο?κο? ανοχ??.
Εκε? πηγα?νουν κατ?πιν ραντεβο? και υποσχ?σει? πλ?ρου? εχεμ?θεια? υπερ?λικοι ?νδρε? που ?χουν τη χαρ? του νεκρ?φιλου.
Νεκρ? η ανδρικ? του? φ?ση προσπαθε? να ανθ?σει π?νω σε ναρκωμ?να κοριτσ?στικα κορμι?.
?ταν ο θ?νατο? που ?ρχεται συναντ? τον ?πνο προσπαθο?ν να πα?ξουν αισθησιακ? παραληρ?ματα.
Η νεκρ? φ?ση με την ναρκωμ?νη ομορφι?. Αποτ?λεσμα αρρωστημ?νο με ?ρωμα βο?ρκου σαν τα μ?τια των γερασμ?νων ανδρ?ν.
Στη δε?τερη ιστορ?α προσπαθο?με μ?ταια θα ?λεγα να κατανο?σουμε
την ακαταν?ητη αλληγορικ? και στοχαστικ? αισθητικ? του φετιχιστ?.
Μπορε? και του ψυχασθεν?.
?σω? και του μοναχικο? ?νδρα που παραληρε? βγ?ζοντα? απεραντη θλ?ψη,λυρικ?τητα και παρ?νοια.
Το ακαταλ?γιστο σ?γουρα διαπν?ει τον ?ρωα μα? που προσπαθε? να καλ?ψει τη μοναξι? του ?χοντα? ω? σ?ντροφο ?να γυναικε?ο μπρ?τσο.
Αυτ?. Ναι. ?να μπρ?τσο που το ?βγαλε και του το ?δωσε μια κοπ?λα για να την ?χει μαζ? του.
?σω? ?ταν αγαπ?? πολ? να μη χρει?ζεσαι ολα τα μ?λη του σ?ματο? σου για να λειτουργ?σει? σωστ?. Κι αφο? τα δυο χ?ρια περισσε?ουν,δ?νει? το ?να στον καλ? σου να του κρατ?ει παρ?α.
Το χ?ρι χα?δε?ει. Αγκαλι?ζει. Ακουμπ?ει. Σφ?γγει. Ζεστα?νει μ?σα στη χο?φτα του ακ?μη και κρ?ε? ψυχ??.
Τρυφερ? παρανο?κ? θλ?ψη. Σκοτειν? ατμ?σφαιρα. Αποπνικτικ? αποτ?λεσμα.
(?λα πα?ζουν στο μυαλ? του ?ρωα μα? που εξομοι?νει διαταραχ? και ψυχασθενικ? ρεαλισμ?).
Και στην τρ?τη ιστορ?α μα? γηρατει? και μοναξι? ε?ναι οι πρωταγωνιστ??. Ο ?ρωα? μα?, ?να? ηλικιωμ?νο? ?νδρα? απομονωμ?νο? και λ?τρη? των ζ?ων και των πουλι?ν.
?χει στην κατοχ? του δεκ?δε? ζ?α που φροντ?ζει και αγαπ? ω? υποκατ?στατο τη? γυναικε?α? παρουσ?α?.
Τα ζω?κια και τα πουλι? του δ?νουν απεραντη χαρ?,αφοσ?ωση και συντροφι?.
Μ?σα απο τη δικ? του? ζω? μα και το θ?νατο του? λυτρ?νει το δικ? του πεπρωμ?νο,εξοικει?νεται με το θ?νατο και ξαναζε? τι? αναμν?σει? των περασμ?νων. Τα ?νειρα του τα χαμ?να. Τι? χαρ?? που δεν πολλαπλασ?ασε.
?Ο ερωτισμ?? για τον Καβαμπ?τα, δεν ε?χε ποτ? ω? κατ?ληξη την ολοκλ?ρωση, γιατ? ο ερωτισμ?? ω? ολοκλ?ρωση επιβεβαι?νει την ανθρ?πινη φ?ση. Η σαρκικ? επιθυμ?α ε?ναι αναπ?φευκτα αποσμασματικ? και εντελ?? αντικειμενικ? η κ?θε κοιμισμ?νη κοπ?λα δε λειτουργε? π?ρα μ?νο σαν απ?σπασμα του πραγματικο? τη? εαυτο?, δηλαδ? μ?νο ω? σ?ρκα, προκαλ?ντα? ?τσι τον π?θο στην μεγαλ?τερ? του ?νταση. Παραδ?ξω? ?να ?μορφο πτ?μα, απ? το οπο?ο απουσι?ζει και το τελευτα?ο ?χνο? πνε?ματο?, ξυπν?ει τα δυνατ?τερα αισθ?ματα για τη ζω?.?
Καλ? αν?γνωση!
Πολλο?? ασπασμο??.
Ε?ναι βαρ? και κλειστοφοβικ?. Νοσταλγικ? σε σημε?ο μελαγχολ?α? και θλ?ψη?.
Διαπραγματε?εται θ?ματα μοναξι??,γηρατει?ν,απ?γνωση?,
ενοχ??,?ρωτα και θαν?του.
Στην πρ?τη ιστορ?α μπα?νουμε σε ?να κενοτ?φιο που θεωρε?ται ξεχωριστ?? ο?κο? ανοχ??.
Εκε? πηγα?νουν κατ?πιν ραντεβο? και υποσχ?σει? πλ?ρου? εχεμ?θεια? υπερ?λικοι ?νδρε? που ?χουν τη χαρ? του νεκρ?φιλου.
Νεκρ? η ανδρικ? του? φ?ση προσπαθε? να ανθ?σει π?νω σε ναρκωμ?να κοριτσ?στικα κορμι?.
?ταν ο θ?νατο? που ?ρχεται συναντ? τον ?πνο προσπαθο?ν να πα?ξουν αισθησιακ? παραληρ?ματα.
Η νεκρ? φ?ση με την ναρκωμ?νη ομορφι?. Αποτ?λεσμα αρρωστημ?νο με ?ρωμα βο?ρκου σαν τα μ?τια των γερασμ?νων ανδρ?ν.
Στη δε?τερη ιστορ?α προσπαθο?με μ?ταια θα ?λεγα να κατανο?σουμε
την ακαταν?ητη αλληγορικ? και στοχαστικ? αισθητικ? του φετιχιστ?.
Μπορε? και του ψυχασθεν?.
?σω? και του μοναχικο? ?νδρα που παραληρε? βγ?ζοντα? απεραντη θλ?ψη,λυρικ?τητα και παρ?νοια.
Το ακαταλ?γιστο σ?γουρα διαπν?ει τον ?ρωα μα? που προσπαθε? να καλ?ψει τη μοναξι? του ?χοντα? ω? σ?ντροφο ?να γυναικε?ο μπρ?τσο.
Αυτ?. Ναι. ?να μπρ?τσο που το ?βγαλε και του το ?δωσε μια κοπ?λα για να την ?χει μαζ? του.
?σω? ?ταν αγαπ?? πολ? να μη χρει?ζεσαι ολα τα μ?λη του σ?ματο? σου για να λειτουργ?σει? σωστ?. Κι αφο? τα δυο χ?ρια περισσε?ουν,δ?νει? το ?να στον καλ? σου να του κρατ?ει παρ?α.
Το χ?ρι χα?δε?ει. Αγκαλι?ζει. Ακουμπ?ει. Σφ?γγει. Ζεστα?νει μ?σα στη χο?φτα του ακ?μη και κρ?ε? ψυχ??.
Τρυφερ? παρανο?κ? θλ?ψη. Σκοτειν? ατμ?σφαιρα. Αποπνικτικ? αποτ?λεσμα.
(?λα πα?ζουν στο μυαλ? του ?ρωα μα? που εξομοι?νει διαταραχ? και ψυχασθενικ? ρεαλισμ?).
Και στην τρ?τη ιστορ?α μα? γηρατει? και μοναξι? ε?ναι οι πρωταγωνιστ??. Ο ?ρωα? μα?, ?να? ηλικιωμ?νο? ?νδρα? απομονωμ?νο? και λ?τρη? των ζ?ων και των πουλι?ν.
?χει στην κατοχ? του δεκ?δε? ζ?α που φροντ?ζει και αγαπ? ω? υποκατ?στατο τη? γυναικε?α? παρουσ?α?.
Τα ζω?κια και τα πουλι? του δ?νουν απεραντη χαρ?,αφοσ?ωση και συντροφι?.
Μ?σα απο τη δικ? του? ζω? μα και το θ?νατο του? λυτρ?νει το δικ? του πεπρωμ?νο,εξοικει?νεται με το θ?νατο και ξαναζε? τι? αναμν?σει? των περασμ?νων. Τα ?νειρα του τα χαμ?να. Τι? χαρ?? που δεν πολλαπλασ?ασε.
?Ο ερωτισμ?? για τον Καβαμπ?τα, δεν ε?χε ποτ? ω? κατ?ληξη την ολοκλ?ρωση, γιατ? ο ερωτισμ?? ω? ολοκλ?ρωση επιβεβαι?νει την ανθρ?πινη φ?ση. Η σαρκικ? επιθυμ?α ε?ναι αναπ?φευκτα αποσμασματικ? και εντελ?? αντικειμενικ? η κ?θε κοιμισμ?νη κοπ?λα δε λειτουργε? π?ρα μ?νο σαν απ?σπασμα του πραγματικο? τη? εαυτο?, δηλαδ? μ?νο ω? σ?ρκα, προκαλ?ντα? ?τσι τον π?θο στην μεγαλ?τερ? του ?νταση. Παραδ?ξω? ?να ?μορφο πτ?μα, απ? το οπο?ο απουσι?ζει και το τελευτα?ο ?χνο? πνε?ματο?, ξυπν?ει τα δυνατ?τερα αισθ?ματα για τη ζω?.?
Καλ? αν?γνωση!
Πολλο?? ασπασμο??.
December 31, 2017
????? ??? ???????? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? (???????? ????????) ??? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ??? ????. ???? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? – ?????? "?? ??? ?????”.
???? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????? (?????? ??????? ???????). ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ????????? ???? ?? ??? ??????. ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ?????.
?????? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????.
????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????? "??????" ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? (?????) ??? ?? ????? ?????? ???????. ????? ????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ??????. ???? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????.
??? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????.
???? ?? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ????? ???? ?????? (?????? ??????? ???????). ?????? ????? ????? ???????? ????????? ???? ?? ??? ??????. ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ?? ????? ???????? ??????? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ?????.
?????? ????? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????? ?? ??? ?????.
????? ?????? ???????? ??????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ?? ?????? ???????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????? "??????" ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ??????? ??????? ???? ??? (?????) ??? ?? ????? ?????? ???????. ????? ????? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ??????. ???? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????.
??? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????.
July 11, 2018
??? ??? ????? ??? ????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ??????? ????????. ???? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????. ??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ??? (????? ????? ????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?? ???????? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ???????? ???????)? ???? ??? ????? ????.. ???? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ???????? ????????? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????? ?????? ??????. ???? ??????? ??? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???? ????.
???? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? "????" ???? ??? ????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????. ??? ??? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ????? ?????.
??? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?????. ?? ????????!
???? ????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ??? "????" ???? ??? ????? ???????? ??????? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?????. ??? ??? ????? ?? ????? ??? ??? ????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ????? ???? ????? ????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ????? ?????.
??? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?????. ?? ????????!
August 12, 2016
???? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???????? ???? ????? ??????...
September 5, 2013
I value the books whose plot has managed to stay etched in my mind. Some of the novels I've read are pleasant, but they are soon forgotten. The ones that shape me and teach me are the most valued, of course; but I keep a special place for those that I remember. Kawabata's story is one of those. And incidentally, it talks about memory, among other things. It also speaks about the fear of death and the desire to prolong one's life through the elixir of youth; about regrets and unfulfilled desires wept at the feet of high priestesses; about the wish for peace and reconciliation with one's life.
In a peculiar house, which can't really be called a brothel, beautiful virgins lie in deep slumber, naked, innocent and unconscious. Old men come to lie down beside them, awake, troubled, full of desire. They can't harm the virgins, they are not allowed to wake them. They can only touch their bodies and sleep beside them. Such defenseless bodies and oblivious minds, at the whims and mercy of old men. If you look at the picture this way, the story might make you feel contempt; and yet, it has a beautiful and poetic vein, despite its grain of ugliness.
From ancient times, old men had sought to use the scent given off by girls as an elixir of youth.
Eguchi comes to the house lured by this strange kind of pleasure. On a couple of nights, in the enclosed space of a room, he contemplates the obedient, exposed bodies of the young girls. Deep slumber is reminiscent of death in a way; in their sleep, some of the girls seemed more alive than others. Life was there, most definitely, in her scent, in her touch, in the way she moved. Eguchi experiences an array of feelings and memories awaken by the sounds, the smells and the sights. He remembers his youth, his children, the women he had affairs with. He fights with melancholy, with unhappiness, but also with the urge to do harm.
In their hearts, as they lay against the flesh of naked young girls put to sleep, would be more than fear of approaching death and regret for their lost youth. There might also be remorse, and the turmoil so common in the families of the successful. They would have no Buddha before whom to kneel. The naked girl would know nothing, would not open her eyes, if one of the old men were to hold her tight in his arms, shed cold tears, even sob and wail. The old man need feel no shame, no damage to his pride. The regrets and the sadness could flow quite freely. And might not the 'sleeping beauty' herself be a Buddha of sorts? And she was flesh and blood. Her young skin and scent might be forgiveness for the sad old men.
The story impressed me to such an extent that it entered the realm of my dreams. I have one short but weird story to tell, and I write it here because I want to remember it over the years. One night, after reading the story, I woke up with the feeling that somebody was lying awake behind me, watching me in the dark, keeping a hand on my breast. I felt slightly frightened but then I fell asleep again, or maybe I was never awake in the first place. In the morning I woke up confused, because I wasn't sure if what I remembered had been a dream or reality. When I asked my boyfriend about it, he said he had been sound asleep the whole night. Weird. And yet it felt so vivid, like a lucid dream...
The strange thing about all this is that the scene I experienced is also happening in the novel. It felt like I was projected inside the sleeping girl's mind. Like I was perceiving through her skin, through her senses, even though they seemed to be asleep. Maybe they weren't, maybe she could sense what was happening to her. An unconscious yet alert consciousness.
Well, I couldn't write this review without confessing the connection I had with the story.
My review is only for House of the Sleeping Beauties. If you read this, then you should also consider and see how Márquez made use of the idea behind Kawabata's story.
In a peculiar house, which can't really be called a brothel, beautiful virgins lie in deep slumber, naked, innocent and unconscious. Old men come to lie down beside them, awake, troubled, full of desire. They can't harm the virgins, they are not allowed to wake them. They can only touch their bodies and sleep beside them. Such defenseless bodies and oblivious minds, at the whims and mercy of old men. If you look at the picture this way, the story might make you feel contempt; and yet, it has a beautiful and poetic vein, despite its grain of ugliness.
From ancient times, old men had sought to use the scent given off by girls as an elixir of youth.
Eguchi comes to the house lured by this strange kind of pleasure. On a couple of nights, in the enclosed space of a room, he contemplates the obedient, exposed bodies of the young girls. Deep slumber is reminiscent of death in a way; in their sleep, some of the girls seemed more alive than others. Life was there, most definitely, in her scent, in her touch, in the way she moved. Eguchi experiences an array of feelings and memories awaken by the sounds, the smells and the sights. He remembers his youth, his children, the women he had affairs with. He fights with melancholy, with unhappiness, but also with the urge to do harm.
In their hearts, as they lay against the flesh of naked young girls put to sleep, would be more than fear of approaching death and regret for their lost youth. There might also be remorse, and the turmoil so common in the families of the successful. They would have no Buddha before whom to kneel. The naked girl would know nothing, would not open her eyes, if one of the old men were to hold her tight in his arms, shed cold tears, even sob and wail. The old man need feel no shame, no damage to his pride. The regrets and the sadness could flow quite freely. And might not the 'sleeping beauty' herself be a Buddha of sorts? And she was flesh and blood. Her young skin and scent might be forgiveness for the sad old men.
The story impressed me to such an extent that it entered the realm of my dreams. I have one short but weird story to tell, and I write it here because I want to remember it over the years. One night, after reading the story, I woke up with the feeling that somebody was lying awake behind me, watching me in the dark, keeping a hand on my breast. I felt slightly frightened but then I fell asleep again, or maybe I was never awake in the first place. In the morning I woke up confused, because I wasn't sure if what I remembered had been a dream or reality. When I asked my boyfriend about it, he said he had been sound asleep the whole night. Weird. And yet it felt so vivid, like a lucid dream...
The strange thing about all this is that the scene I experienced is also happening in the novel. It felt like I was projected inside the sleeping girl's mind. Like I was perceiving through her skin, through her senses, even though they seemed to be asleep. Maybe they weren't, maybe she could sense what was happening to her. An unconscious yet alert consciousness.
Well, I couldn't write this review without confessing the connection I had with the story.
My review is only for House of the Sleeping Beauties. If you read this, then you should also consider and see how Márquez made use of the idea behind Kawabata's story.
August 12, 2021
How easy is it to see this little book as the fruit of a perverted mind? Indeed, 'House of the Sleeping Beauties' apparently is nothing more than the disturbing story of an old man who frequents a brothel where he is allowed to sleep with numbed, naked girls, all virgins. He may touch them, but no more than that. Let's be honest, this does stimulate the imagination, however sickly you may find it. By the way, Kawabata does not shy away from moral ambiguity: he makes his protagonist, the old, almost impotent Eguchi, consciously think about the morbid character of his behaviour.
But I don't think that's the main thrust of this story. Kawabata has the old man accurately describe all his nighttime observations and sensations, the attractive forms of the girls, the light falling on their skin, the warmth or freshness of their bodies, the sounds and movements they make in their numb sleep, and so on. In Eguchi, moreover, this awakens numerous memories of childhood sweethearts, mistresses, own daughters, and that also sets in motion a train of musings about what has been, and what could have been, inevitably ending up at the prospect of imminent death, his or the girl's (because will that ever wake up?). Apparently, there is still enough erotic power in the old man to fantasize about what he could do with the girls, and what the consequences of that could be. The old man's thoughts dart back and forth between instantaneous observations, memories, desires and possible actions and events, in short “an entire life” with all its ephemeral and opaque characteristics.
Thus, it seems to me that we should read this story primarily as an allegory, where the numbed girls are no more than instrumental metaphors for life itself, against which we snuggle ourselves, which we try to manipulate, with which we can reach ecstatic heights and miserable depths, which challenges us and at the same time remains inaccessible. I know, it's still perverse and disturbing what Kawabata has done here. But at the same time, this story is of a surprising depth and beauty.
But I don't think that's the main thrust of this story. Kawabata has the old man accurately describe all his nighttime observations and sensations, the attractive forms of the girls, the light falling on their skin, the warmth or freshness of their bodies, the sounds and movements they make in their numb sleep, and so on. In Eguchi, moreover, this awakens numerous memories of childhood sweethearts, mistresses, own daughters, and that also sets in motion a train of musings about what has been, and what could have been, inevitably ending up at the prospect of imminent death, his or the girl's (because will that ever wake up?). Apparently, there is still enough erotic power in the old man to fantasize about what he could do with the girls, and what the consequences of that could be. The old man's thoughts dart back and forth between instantaneous observations, memories, desires and possible actions and events, in short “an entire life” with all its ephemeral and opaque characteristics.
Thus, it seems to me that we should read this story primarily as an allegory, where the numbed girls are no more than instrumental metaphors for life itself, against which we snuggle ourselves, which we try to manipulate, with which we can reach ecstatic heights and miserable depths, which challenges us and at the same time remains inaccessible. I know, it's still perverse and disturbing what Kawabata has done here. But at the same time, this story is of a surprising depth and beauty.
July 7, 2015
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!!!???? ?? ?? ???? ? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ??????
.......
?? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ???!?
???????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ? ????? ????? ???? ???? ????.???? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????
?? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ???
??? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ???
?? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ???????
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?????? ???? ?? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ??? ???? ???.?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??? ? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??????? ? ?????? ????? ?? ?? ???.???? ????? ?? ?? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ????.????? ?? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ??????? ??? ????.???? ???? ??? ??? ??????
??????? ? ??????? ????
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???? ?????? ???????? ?? ?? ?????? ???? ? ?? ???? ???? ?????????? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?? ?????? ??? ???? ? ????? ?? ??? ???? ? ???? ???? ??? ?? ???
??? ???? ?? ???? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??? ???????? ?????.??? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ?? ???? ????? ? ???? ?????? ????.??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ??? ? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ?? ?????? ????
??? ???? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ?????? ???.????? ??????? ? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ???
???? ???????? ????
?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ????: ???? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ???
????? ?? ????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ???? "?????? ??????? ??????? ??" ????? ???
....
????????? ?????? ?? ???? ????????? ???? ?? ????? ????? ???? ??????? ?????? ????
????? ???? 67 ???? ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?? ???????? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ????????? ????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ?????
? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??? ? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?????
??? ?? ????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ?? ???????? ??? ???? ? ????? ????????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ?? ?????
? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ?????
?? ?????? ??? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ???? ????? ??? ????? ???? ??????
??? ?? ?? ????? ????: ????? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??????? ?? ???????
!!!???? ?? ?? ???? ? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ??? ??????
.......
?? ?? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ???? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ???!?
???????? ??? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ? ????? ????? ???? ???? ????.???? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ?????
?? ????? ??????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ?????? ???
January 21, 2020
Second reading. I have no memory of the first, which is unusual for me.
In “House of the Sleeping Beauties” an elderly man frequents a house near the sea where he sleeps with attractive young unclothed women who’ve been heavily sedated.
In “One Arm” a man borrows a girlfriend’s limb for the night and takes it to his room where he tries it on for size; it talks to him and comments on the decor.
In “Of Birds and Bees,” an animal fancier, perhaps unintentionally, kills many birds and dogs in pursuit of a kind of lonely oneness with nature.
In “House of the Sleeping Beauties” an elderly man frequents a house near the sea where he sleeps with attractive young unclothed women who’ve been heavily sedated.
In “One Arm” a man borrows a girlfriend’s limb for the night and takes it to his room where he tries it on for size; it talks to him and comments on the decor.
In “Of Birds and Bees,” an animal fancier, perhaps unintentionally, kills many birds and dogs in pursuit of a kind of lonely oneness with nature.
September 16, 2013
???? ?? ??? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????
???????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ????? ??????? ???????
???? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ????????
????? ?? 140 ???? ???? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??????
?? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ????? ???????
?????? ???? ????? ??? ???? ????? ????? ???????? ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ?????? ?????
?????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ??? ??? ?????? ??????? ???? ??? ??????????? ?????
??? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ??????!!!
?? ???? ?????? ???????? ???
???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ??? ?? ???????
????? ????? ????...????? ???? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ??????
?? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ??????
?????? !!!
March 14, 2024
????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ???.....
July 18, 2016
"?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ????? "
???? ????? ??? ??? ???? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?????? ??????
-??? ????? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ?????? ? ????? ???????..?? ??? ???? ???????? ????????.
"? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ??????? ???????? ?? ??? ??? ????"
?????? ?????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ???????? ??? ?? ????? ??? ???? ????? ??????..??? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ??????..??? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ??????..? ?? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ????? ?? ??? ??? ??? ???..
???? ??????? ??? ??????..
?????? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ? ??????..???? ????? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????? ?????..???? ????? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ?????..???? ????? ????? ? ??? ????????? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ? ???? ??? ?????? ????..
????? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ? ?? ??????..?? ?????? ?? ?????? ? ?? ?????..???? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ???????? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ???????..??????? ??????? ???? ???? ?? ???? ?? ??????..?? ?????? ?? ?????
?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ??? :)
?? ???? ?????? ??????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ????..????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???? ?????? ???? ??? ? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ????? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ????? ?????? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ????.
?????? ?? ????? ??????? ? ????? ??????? ????? ?? ???????..
"?? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?? ??? ???? ? ????? ????? ?? ???? ???? ?????"
??? ???? ??? ??? ? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ..
?? ???? ???? ??? ???????? ???????? ?? ??? ????? ???????? ?????? ????? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ???? ????????..
???? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ? ?? ?? ???? ?????..?? ???? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?????? ? ???? ?? ?????? ????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ???????? ??? ?? ????? ?????? ??????..
??? ??? ??? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ???? ????????.
??? ?????? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ???
????? ????..?? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ??? ???? ?? ????? ? ????? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ??????..
??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ?????? ????????? ???? ???? ????? ?????? ???? ??? ??????.. :)
16-9-2014
December 2, 2019
Nemureru Bijo = House of the Sleeping Beauties and Other Stories, Yasunari Kawabata
In the three long tales in this collection, Yasunari Kawabata examines the boundaries between fantasy and reality in the minds of three lonely men. Piercing examinations of sexuality and human psychology —and works of remarkable subtlety and beauty— these stories showcase one of the twentieth century’s great writers —in any language— at his very best.
????? ?????? ?????: ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? 2002 ??????
?????: ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ???????: ???????????? ???????????? ???????: ?????????? ????????? ????????: ????? ?????????? 1380? ?? 221 ?? ????: 9645564936? ?????: ????????? ????????? ????? - ??? 20 ?
?????: ???? ???????? ????? ???????: ???????? ????????? ???????: ??? ??????? ?????: ????? 1387? ?? 224 ?? ????: 9789648900897?
?? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???: ????? ?????? ????: ?????? ????? ?????? ???: ???????? ? ??????? ?????? ? ?????? ???: ????? ???????? ?????. ?? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ? ??????????????? ????? ?????. ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???. ?? ?? ????? ???? ???? ???? ? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ?? ???? ? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?????????.?
?? ?????? ????? ?????? ? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??????. ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ? ??? ? ???? ??? ???? ? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ????. ???? ?????? ? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???. ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ????????. ??? ?? ??????? ? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??????. ??? ?? ?? ????? ???? ? ????? ????? ? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ? ??????????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??????. ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????? ??????: ?????????? ??? ?? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ? ?? ????? ???????.?? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????? ? ????? ?? ????? ? ?????? ???? ??? ???. ??? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ? ?? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ? ?? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??????. ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????? ? ??? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?????????.?
?? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ???????. ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ? ???? ??????? ????. ??? ????? ??????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??? ? ???? ? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????. ???? ???? ? ????? ?? ?????? ????????. ?? ??????? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??????. ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ? ?? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ???. ??????? ?? ????? ? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ????. ???? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???????? ? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???.?
?? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ? ??????? ? ??????? ???. ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???? ? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ? ????????? ??????? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ???????. ???? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????. ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ? ??????? ????????. ?? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ? ????? ????? ? ????? ?? ?????? ???????.?
??? ?? ????? ????? (????? ???? ??????) ? ???????? ?????? ? ????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ? ????? ????? ????? ? ???????? ?? ????????? ????? ??? ??? ???. ?? ????? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ? ???? ????? ???? ? ?? ??????? ??? ???????? ? ??????? ???? ???? ???????. ??? ??????? ?? ????? ?????????? ? ?????? ???? ????????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ? ???? ? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?????????. ??? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ? ??? ? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???????? ????? ??? ? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??????. ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ? ???? ?????????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ????????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ? ?????? ?? ???????. ?? ?????????? ??????????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ? ??? ???????? ?? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ???????. ????? ??? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?? ? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ? ????????? ???????? ?? ???? ? ???? ??? ????? ???. ?. ???????
In the three long tales in this collection, Yasunari Kawabata examines the boundaries between fantasy and reality in the minds of three lonely men. Piercing examinations of sexuality and human psychology —and works of remarkable subtlety and beauty— these stories showcase one of the twentieth century’s great writers —in any language— at his very best.
????? ?????? ?????: ??? ??? ??? ?????? ??? 2002 ??????
?????: ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ???????: ???????????? ???????????? ???????: ?????????? ????????? ????????: ????? ?????????? 1380? ?? 221 ?? ????: 9645564936? ?????: ????????? ????????? ????? - ??? 20 ?
?????: ???? ???????? ????? ???????: ???????? ????????? ???????: ??? ??????? ?????: ????? 1387? ?? 224 ?? ????: 9789648900897?
?? ???? ?????????? ?? ?????? ??????? ???: ????? ?????? ????: ?????? ????? ?????? ???: ???????? ? ??????? ?????? ? ?????? ???: ????? ???????? ?????. ?? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ? ??????????????? ????? ?????. ???? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ???. ?? ?? ????? ???? ???? ???? ? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ?? ???? ? ???? ??? ????? ?? ????? ?????????.?
?? ?????? ????? ?????? ? ??? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????? ??????? ? ?? ?? ???? ???? ??? ??????. ??? ?? ???? ?? ????? ? ??? ? ???? ??? ???? ? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ????. ???? ?????? ? ?????? ?? ??? ?? ???. ??????? ?? ??????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?? ?? ?? ??? ????????. ??? ?? ??????? ? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ?????? ???? ??????? ? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??? ?? ??? ???? ??????. ??? ?? ?? ????? ???? ? ????? ????? ? ????? ???????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ??????? ? ??????????? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ? ?? ???? ??? ???? ???? ??????. ???? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????? ??????: ?????????? ??? ?? ?? ?????? ????? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ????? ????? ????? ????? ? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ? ??? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ? ?? ????? ???????.?? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ??? ?? ?? ?? ????? ? ????? ?? ????? ? ?????? ???? ??? ???. ??? ?? ????? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??????? ? ?? ?? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ? ?? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?? ??? ?? ?????? ??????. ??? ?? ?????? ?? ???????? ????? ??????? ???? ???????? ?? ??????? ? ??? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??? ?????????.?
?? ?????? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?? ??????? ????? ???????. ?? ???? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ? ???? ??????? ????. ??? ????? ??????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ??? ? ???? ? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ???????? ?????? ?????. ???? ???? ? ????? ?? ?????? ????????. ?? ??????? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??????. ?? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ???????? ? ??? ?? ??????? ???? ???? ? ?? ??????? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ???. ??????? ?? ????? ? ????? ??????? ????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ? ?????? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ????. ???? ??? ??????? ?? ????? ???? ???????? ? ?????? ?? ?????? ??????? ?? ?? ??? ???? ????? ???.?
?? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ? ???? ????? ?????? ??? ??? ? ??????? ? ??????? ???. ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???? ? ????? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ???????? ?????? ? ?? ???? ?? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ? ????????? ??????? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ???????. ???? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ???????? ????? ?????. ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ???? ?????? ????? ? ??????? ????????. ?? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ?????? ? ?????? ???? ?? ????? ?? ?? ????? ?? ?? ?? ????? ??????? ?? ????? ? ????? ????? ? ????? ?? ?????? ???????.?
??? ?? ????? ????? (????? ???? ??????) ? ???????? ?????? ? ????????? ???? ?????? ?????? ???????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ? ????? ????? ????? ? ???????? ?? ????????? ????? ??? ??? ???. ?? ????? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ???????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??????? ? ???? ????? ???? ? ?? ??????? ??? ???????? ? ??????? ???? ???? ???????. ??? ??????? ?? ????? ?????????? ? ?????? ???? ????????? ??? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???? ? ???? ???? ???? ??????? ? ???? ? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?????????. ??? ?? ???? ????? ???????? ?????? ???? ?? ?????? ? ??? ? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ???????? ????? ??? ? ???? ??? ?? ???? ??????. ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ? ???? ?????????? ????? ?? ?????? ?? ?????? ?????? ? ????? ?? ?????? ?????? ??? ????? ???????? ? ????? ?? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ? ?????? ????? ??????? ?? ????????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ? ?????? ?? ???????. ?? ?????????? ??????????? ??? ?????? ?? ????? ? ??? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?? ?????? ? ??? ???????? ?? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ???????. ????? ??? ???? ?????????? ?????? ?? ? ??????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???????? ? ????????? ???????? ?? ???? ? ???? ??? ????? ???. ?. ???????
April 18, 2024
Many years ago, I spent one dollar at a library book sale on a book I had never heard of, , by an author I had never heard of, Yasunari Kawabata. I’m not sure what attracted me. Surprisingly, I read it. It lodged itself in my mind. It made me feel outside of the world. It did not occur to me to seek out more books by Kawabata. Why would it? Does a bittersweet vacation in Rome demand that you take your next vacation in Florence? I returned, I think—if I have the event rightly placed in my reading life—to Octavia Butler, then an obsession.
Last fall, House of the Sleeping Beauties came across my goodreads feed, and I thought: Snow Country! and took it out of the library. All winter, it waited patiently in a stack of library books. Now it is spring. Surprisingly, I read it.
It is an ugly, lovely, questionable book. I did not find it very disturbing—but that in itself is disturbing. It is convincingly enough about death that it is hard to get worked up about its failure to consider so much of life. I don’t know that I want to say much more. That is why I have written this review that is not a review, I guess.
Last fall, House of the Sleeping Beauties came across my goodreads feed, and I thought: Snow Country! and took it out of the library. All winter, it waited patiently in a stack of library books. Now it is spring. Surprisingly, I read it.
It is an ugly, lovely, questionable book. I did not find it very disturbing—but that in itself is disturbing. It is convincingly enough about death that it is hard to get worked up about its failure to consider so much of life. I don’t know that I want to say much more. That is why I have written this review that is not a review, I guess.
August 13, 2013
“The aged have death and the young have love, and death comes once, and love comes over and over again”.
To love is a game of a brave heart. To die; a desire of a sullen heart; a definite verb for the inevitable. Akin to the broken heart sitting by the sea, pleading the waves to carry it like a child; the loneliness of old age seeks the black sleet of death. The “ugliness of old age” that whispered in , roars in this book like the stormy waves Eguchi hears as he nestles in supple breasts of youth. A virginal body of a maiden in the pristine state as the day she was born, slept peacefully as it teased Eguchi’s aged physicality. Day after day, the smell of the untainted youth in all its unfazed beauty, the warmth and the tenderness of an unpolluted woman brought a surge of sorrow in Eguchi’s empty existence. The symbolic virginal magnificence encompasses both the freedom of an unadulterated youth and the possibility of its violation.
Had he not come to this house seeking the ultimate in the ugliness of old age.....”
Why did it seem like Eguchi’s existence was somehow vacant? He had lived a full life, as living would be defined. Like Shingo (Sound of the Mountain), he was a father, husband and a grandfather and had his share of affairs, yet when he slept besides the naked ‘sleeping beauties’ hearing the ocean, a beauty whom he could not violate , Eguchi was claustrophobic by the chaos of his own emotions. What makes a man to lose the very being of his existence for a woman? Is a penile erection the only viable proof for a man’s existence? In the fight between the old and the young, at which point does a man find himself standing on the edge of humanity and inhumanity? Does the impotency of old age find an illusionary sanctuary in the potency of the youth?
True to his beliefs in Zen Philosophy, Kawabata puts the idea of ; the emptiness that becomes necessary for a man to achieve freedom from emotional corruptibility. But, the author being known for his brilliance in the sinister caricatures of the deepest human sentimentalities uses his protagonists’ (Eguchi, Kikuji, Gimpei. etc...) minds as the prime internal sensitive organ by showing the desperation of achieving the ‘purity of life’ through haunting ideas of eroticisms and death. The menacing sorrow of loneliness suffered by all the actors in this novel comes from the emptiness of being unable to achieve the ‘unattainable’. To sleep like a child, serene, devoid of monstrous dreams is a novelty to a restless mind. To sleep with no dreams, no guilt, no trepidation; to sleep like the dead. The man who never knew the feeling of a tender, sweet sleep until, the warm, clean blood from a round and plump womanly arm flowed through his veins. However, in that blissful moment, the idea of his filth soiling the wholesomeness of another life form repulsed his existence at that very moment.
“The clean blood of the girl was now, this very moment, flowing through me, but would there not be unpleasantness when the arm was returned to the girl, this dirty male blood flowing through it?”(One Arm)
Through morbidness of death festers the thought of contemplative possession of death. In ‘Of Birds and the Beasts’, the misanthropic living of the protagonists, again reflect and urge to achieve the unattainable – purity of life in its true form. It seems that the birth of animals brought elation to the protagonists as it was an “untainted life”, with no mistakes and then when by putting the young ones with the old ones, the stark differences of life stages, brought certain viciousness to the permutation of events that made seem like a salvation from a foreseeable ugliness of life.
“Husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, the bonds were not easily cut even with the most unsatisfactory people”..... “On the other hand a certain sad purity in making playthings of lives and the habits of animals”...."
The commotion that arises from the man’s desperate need to breed and kill animals once again delineates the lingering theme of passivity of a vacant existence of human conscious that sometimes shatter the fine line between humane and inhumane environments.
What are memories? They are reflections of our past actions, the passivity of existence that metamorphoses into inexhaustible shame. Kawabata emphasizes on this factor of human mind to accentuate the relationship of an individual with the existential world. The reflections of our past, the mistakes of our life, always come running back at the brink of death. And then, how we desperately yearn for that impossible chance of grabbing our youth, even for a briefest moment, to relive a clean existence. An impossible chance to experience youth shamelessly. What if? The toughest part about life is living it. And, sometimes when I think about the possibilities of being marred by sorrowful loneliness for not having a full existence , I hide amongst the cerulean depths of the pool , avoiding to reach the surface, swimming for hours till I can no longer hear my thoughts. However, I crave to hear Kawabata even after the pages are closed because in his surreal depictions I find warm repose just like Eguchi did in the purity of the beauties.
Coming, all is clear, no
doubt about it. Going, all is
clear, without a doubt.
What, then, is all?
---Hosshin, 13th century.
To love is a game of a brave heart. To die; a desire of a sullen heart; a definite verb for the inevitable. Akin to the broken heart sitting by the sea, pleading the waves to carry it like a child; the loneliness of old age seeks the black sleet of death. The “ugliness of old age” that whispered in , roars in this book like the stormy waves Eguchi hears as he nestles in supple breasts of youth. A virginal body of a maiden in the pristine state as the day she was born, slept peacefully as it teased Eguchi’s aged physicality. Day after day, the smell of the untainted youth in all its unfazed beauty, the warmth and the tenderness of an unpolluted woman brought a surge of sorrow in Eguchi’s empty existence. The symbolic virginal magnificence encompasses both the freedom of an unadulterated youth and the possibility of its violation.
Had he not come to this house seeking the ultimate in the ugliness of old age.....”
Why did it seem like Eguchi’s existence was somehow vacant? He had lived a full life, as living would be defined. Like Shingo (Sound of the Mountain), he was a father, husband and a grandfather and had his share of affairs, yet when he slept besides the naked ‘sleeping beauties’ hearing the ocean, a beauty whom he could not violate , Eguchi was claustrophobic by the chaos of his own emotions. What makes a man to lose the very being of his existence for a woman? Is a penile erection the only viable proof for a man’s existence? In the fight between the old and the young, at which point does a man find himself standing on the edge of humanity and inhumanity? Does the impotency of old age find an illusionary sanctuary in the potency of the youth?
True to his beliefs in Zen Philosophy, Kawabata puts the idea of ; the emptiness that becomes necessary for a man to achieve freedom from emotional corruptibility. But, the author being known for his brilliance in the sinister caricatures of the deepest human sentimentalities uses his protagonists’ (Eguchi, Kikuji, Gimpei. etc...) minds as the prime internal sensitive organ by showing the desperation of achieving the ‘purity of life’ through haunting ideas of eroticisms and death. The menacing sorrow of loneliness suffered by all the actors in this novel comes from the emptiness of being unable to achieve the ‘unattainable’. To sleep like a child, serene, devoid of monstrous dreams is a novelty to a restless mind. To sleep with no dreams, no guilt, no trepidation; to sleep like the dead. The man who never knew the feeling of a tender, sweet sleep until, the warm, clean blood from a round and plump womanly arm flowed through his veins. However, in that blissful moment, the idea of his filth soiling the wholesomeness of another life form repulsed his existence at that very moment.
“The clean blood of the girl was now, this very moment, flowing through me, but would there not be unpleasantness when the arm was returned to the girl, this dirty male blood flowing through it?”(One Arm)
Through morbidness of death festers the thought of contemplative possession of death. In ‘Of Birds and the Beasts’, the misanthropic living of the protagonists, again reflect and urge to achieve the unattainable – purity of life in its true form. It seems that the birth of animals brought elation to the protagonists as it was an “untainted life”, with no mistakes and then when by putting the young ones with the old ones, the stark differences of life stages, brought certain viciousness to the permutation of events that made seem like a salvation from a foreseeable ugliness of life.
“Husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, the bonds were not easily cut even with the most unsatisfactory people”..... “On the other hand a certain sad purity in making playthings of lives and the habits of animals”...."
The commotion that arises from the man’s desperate need to breed and kill animals once again delineates the lingering theme of passivity of a vacant existence of human conscious that sometimes shatter the fine line between humane and inhumane environments.
What are memories? They are reflections of our past actions, the passivity of existence that metamorphoses into inexhaustible shame. Kawabata emphasizes on this factor of human mind to accentuate the relationship of an individual with the existential world. The reflections of our past, the mistakes of our life, always come running back at the brink of death. And then, how we desperately yearn for that impossible chance of grabbing our youth, even for a briefest moment, to relive a clean existence. An impossible chance to experience youth shamelessly. What if? The toughest part about life is living it. And, sometimes when I think about the possibilities of being marred by sorrowful loneliness for not having a full existence , I hide amongst the cerulean depths of the pool , avoiding to reach the surface, swimming for hours till I can no longer hear my thoughts. However, I crave to hear Kawabata even after the pages are closed because in his surreal depictions I find warm repose just like Eguchi did in the purity of the beauties.
Coming, all is clear, no
doubt about it. Going, all is
clear, without a doubt.
What, then, is all?
---Hosshin, 13th century.
July 23, 2017
I've got mixed feeling about this book. The first story was okay, with some good messages that the author had to share about the fear of getting old and the way people experience their sexuality. Though, the base of this story was repeated tiringly too much, with the old man visiting the place with the sleeping girls too much for it to keep being interesting. Actually, in the end, the author didn't have anything new to add when the man was recalling old lovers or observing the girls' bodies. Then again, there was the second story. All I can say about it is this : What have I just read?!? The whole arm thing was wierd and never actually explained. Finally, the third story was nice, with the man and his pets, an easy read after the two others. So, 2 out of 5.
July 13, 2020
"Στα μισανοιχτα χειλη τη? κοιμισμ?νη? κοπ?λα? ο γ?ρο? εβλεπε τη νιοτη"
Οι Ιαπωνε? ειναι περιεργοι. Σε ολε? τι? εκφανσει? τη? Τεχνη?, αλλα και τη? ζωη?, νομιζω. Περιεργοι, συγκριτικα με μα? εννοω: Οταν σπουδαζα στο Βερολινο και ερχομουν συχνα σ επαφη με Ασιατε? στην εστ?α ? στο πανεπιστημιο, παντα με εντυπωσιαζε το ποσο εκ διαμετρου αντιθετε? ειναι οι κουλτουρε? μα?.
ειναι τοσου? κοσμου? μακρια, που του? ενιωθα λιγο σαν εξωγηινου?. Και νομιζω το ιδιο και αυτοι εμα?.
Λογικ?.
Στη Λογοτεχνια του? καθε φορα αυτη η αισθηση μου επιβεβαι?νεται. Γραφουν σαν μεσα σε ονειρο, καπω? υποτονικ?, λιγοτερο θορυβωδ?? απο την δικη μα? κουλτουρα, αλλα καθολου βαρετ?. ΚΑι μετα μπουμ, κατι φοβερο συμβαινει. Και μετα παλι σαν ψιθυρο? η αφηγηση.. Ο Καουαμπατα μου αρεσε και λιγο περιοσσοτερο απο αλλου? απω ανατολιτε? συγγραφει? που διαβασα προσφατα. Το σπιτι των κοιμισμενων κοριτσιων μου εδινε την αισθηση του αρρωστημενου αλλα και του γοητευτικου ταυτοχρονα, μια περιεργη συμπτυξη ελξη? και απωθηση? ταυτοχρονα, που μου γεννουσε τρομερ? αντιφατικα συναισθηματα.
+
Η υπεροχη γλωσσα του
Τα μαγητικα πεδια γυρω απ τη γραφη που δημιουργει ο Καουαμπατα.
Ο αισθησιασμο? μεσα απο την αθωοτητα
Η συνειρμικ? γραφ? και ο εγκιβωτισμ?? τη? σκ?ψη? που σε οδηγει σε λαβυρ?νθου?
Η αλληγορια του κυκλου τη? ζωη? και το αναποτρεπτο του θανατου.
Το φυσικο και ηρεμο του θανατου στου? ηλικιωμενου? και το συγκλονιστικο και βιαιο του θανατου στου? νεου? ανθρωπου?
Το ομορφο αισθητικα και το αποδεκτο ηθικ?, δυο εκ διαμετρου αντιθετε? εννοιε?
η μια φυσικη κι εμφυτη, η αλλη τεχνητ?, κατασκευασμ?νη κοινωνικ?.
Ολ αυτα, και περισσοτερα σκεφτομουν σ ολη τη διαρκεια αναγνωση? τη? νουβελα?. Και αλλα.
Ολη αυτη η διαδικασι τη? σκεψη? και οι προεκτασει? που δημιουργησε αυτο το βιβλιο, σηματοδοτουν ενα εργο μεγαλο, που το κανει οικουμενικο, που το καταστε? κλασσικ?.
+θελω να πω για την εξαιρετικ? μεταφραση που ?ρεε και εβγαζε νοημα παντου, παρ ολη τη δυσκολια τη? γλωσσα?, κατι που βρισκω σπανια σε εργα γιαπωνεζικα.
Και πω? και οι αλλε? ιστοριε? που εμπεριεχονταν στο βιβλιο ηταν επιση? υπεροχε?.
Εξαιρετικ??
"Μπορω να σου δανεισω ενα απο τα μπρατσα μου για μια νυχτα" ε?χε πει το κορ?τσι. ?βγαλε το αριστερο τη? χερι απ τον ωμο και με το δεξι τη? χερι το ακουμπησε στα γ?νατ? μου''.
(Εισαγωγικ? απ?σπασμα απ? 'Το μπρ?τσο?)
-----------------
Οι Ιαπωνε? ειναι περιεργοι. Σε ολε? τι? εκφανσει? τη? Τεχνη?, αλλα και τη? ζωη?, νομιζω. Περιεργοι, συγκριτικα με μα? εννοω: Οταν σπουδαζα στο Βερολινο και ερχομουν συχνα σ επαφη με Ασιατε? στην εστ?α ? στο πανεπιστημιο, παντα με εντυπωσιαζε το ποσο εκ διαμετρου αντιθετε? ειναι οι κουλτουρε? μα?.
ειναι τοσου? κοσμου? μακρια, που του? ενιωθα λιγο σαν εξωγηινου?. Και νομιζω το ιδιο και αυτοι εμα?.
Λογικ?.
Στη Λογοτεχνια του? καθε φορα αυτη η αισθηση μου επιβεβαι?νεται. Γραφουν σαν μεσα σε ονειρο, καπω? υποτονικ?, λιγοτερο θορυβωδ?? απο την δικη μα? κουλτουρα, αλλα καθολου βαρετ?. ΚΑι μετα μπουμ, κατι φοβερο συμβαινει. Και μετα παλι σαν ψιθυρο? η αφηγηση.. Ο Καουαμπατα μου αρεσε και λιγο περιοσσοτερο απο αλλου? απω ανατολιτε? συγγραφει? που διαβασα προσφατα. Το σπιτι των κοιμισμενων κοριτσιων μου εδινε την αισθηση του αρρωστημενου αλλα και του γοητευτικου ταυτοχρονα, μια περιεργη συμπτυξη ελξη? και απωθηση? ταυτοχρονα, που μου γεννουσε τρομερ? αντιφατικα συναισθηματα.
+
Η υπεροχη γλωσσα του
Τα μαγητικα πεδια γυρω απ τη γραφη που δημιουργει ο Καουαμπατα.
Ο αισθησιασμο? μεσα απο την αθωοτητα
Η συνειρμικ? γραφ? και ο εγκιβωτισμ?? τη? σκ?ψη? που σε οδηγει σε λαβυρ?νθου?
Η αλληγορια του κυκλου τη? ζωη? και το αναποτρεπτο του θανατου.
Το φυσικο και ηρεμο του θανατου στου? ηλικιωμενου? και το συγκλονιστικο και βιαιο του θανατου στου? νεου? ανθρωπου?
Το ομορφο αισθητικα και το αποδεκτο ηθικ?, δυο εκ διαμετρου αντιθετε? εννοιε?
η μια φυσικη κι εμφυτη, η αλλη τεχνητ?, κατασκευασμ?νη κοινωνικ?.
Ολ αυτα, και περισσοτερα σκεφτομουν σ ολη τη διαρκεια αναγνωση? τη? νουβελα?. Και αλλα.
Ολη αυτη η διαδικασι τη? σκεψη? και οι προεκτασει? που δημιουργησε αυτο το βιβλιο, σηματοδοτουν ενα εργο μεγαλο, που το κανει οικουμενικο, που το καταστε? κλασσικ?.
+θελω να πω για την εξαιρετικ? μεταφραση που ?ρεε και εβγαζε νοημα παντου, παρ ολη τη δυσκολια τη? γλωσσα?, κατι που βρισκω σπανια σε εργα γιαπωνεζικα.
Και πω? και οι αλλε? ιστοριε? που εμπεριεχονταν στο βιβλιο ηταν επιση? υπεροχε?.
Εξαιρετικ??
"Μπορω να σου δανεισω ενα απο τα μπρατσα μου για μια νυχτα" ε?χε πει το κορ?τσι. ?βγαλε το αριστερο τη? χερι απ τον ωμο και με το δεξι τη? χερι το ακουμπησε στα γ?νατ? μου''.
(Εισαγωγικ? απ?σπασμα απ? 'Το μπρ?τσο?)
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October 31, 2024
???? ??? ?? ????? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ????????
!!
??????? ?????? ??? ??????? ? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ? ( ??????? ) !
??? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ? ????? ??? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????? ? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ? ??? ???? .. ? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ????
??????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ? ???? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ? ?????? ? ???? ??? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?????.
?? ???? ???????? ???? ???????
!!
??????? ?????? ??? ??????? ? ??????? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ????? ??????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ??????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ?????? ? ?????? ????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ????? ? ( ??????? ) !
??? ??????? ??? ?? ????? ? ????? ??? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????? ????? ? ??? ??? ????? ?????? ? ??? ???? .. ? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ????
??????? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ???? ???? ????? ??????? ? ???? ?? ????? ???? ???? ????? ?? ??? ??????? ? ?????? ? ???? ??? ?? ???????? ???????? ?? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ??????? ?????? ??? ????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ?????.
?? ???? ???????? ???? ???????
November 15, 2013
I have stayed away from Kawabata until now, out of some misguided belief that he is too gloomy, too downbeat, even suicidal. I am glad to be proven wrong, and to add another literary master to my future reading plans. I started with this novella both because it is a teaser / sampler of his style and because the synopsis sounded like a good companion piece to Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Memories of My Melancholy Whores .
The thematic is indeed similar: old men searching for the company of young women in bawdy houses, an occasion for reminiscing about past loves and about the coming of the final sleep. I love though how the personality of each writer and their cultural background are reflected in their respective prose. Marquez protagonist is earthy, passionate, even lubric in his eroticism, still bubbling with life at the age of 90. Old Eguchi, as he is described throughout the novella, is 'only' 67, is much more conscious of the approaching finnish line, not obsessed, but definitely preoccupied with thoughts of death. He is also restrained, analytical, introverted. Maybe contemplative is the closest atribute that defines him, a favorite pastime in Japan. Instead of Zen gardens with raked white sand, picturescue stones and bubbling brooks, Old Eguchi meditations are initiated by the proximity of bare naked young virgins, put to sleep for the convenience of old geezers with money to pay for the privilege.
Because the girl would not awaken, the aged guests need not feel the shame of their years. They were quite free to indulge in unlimited dreams and memories of woman. Was that not why they felt no hesitation at paying more than for woman awake?
I asked myself what I would do if I were offered a treat like that, and my instincts tell me I wouldn't go for it. Consensual relationship are still the norm in my book. But I'm not Japanese, and I don't really know if I would feel the same 20 years from now. In the meantime, I extend to Old Eguchi the benefit of doubt before condemning his lecherous ways, and follow his stream of conscience musings about women and love, youth and loneliness.
They were a strange light at the bottom of a deep darkness.
Eguchi is alone now, but as he gazes at, fondles and smells the young bodies beside him, we find out he has had a full life, with wife, grown up children, lovers and even casual sex encounters. He looks at his past with some regrets about 'the ones that got away' but without bitterness. Nostalgia and resignation are the major tonalities of his account, spiced with his own brand of fascination for the carnal aspects of love. Each girl he meets in the little room draped in crimson velvet curtains and bathed in moonlight, is different from the previous one, uniquely attractive, each triggering a different kind of memory. The novella becomes in this more of a celebration of beauty and womanhood than a sexploitation piece:
For Eguchi when he came to this house, there was nothing more beautiful than a young face in dreamless sleep. Might it be called the sweetest consolation to be found in this world?
The French say : Vive la difference! . Old Eguchi becomes aware than in his long life he has barely begun to understand women, and his regrets issue more from an awareness of the little time he has now left to continue his study:
Woman is infinite, thought the older man, with a touch of sadness.
There is no plot and precious little dialogue. But the prose is exquisite in its studied simplicity and in its elegance. I wish I was more familiar with symbols and metaphors specific to the Japanese culture, because I feel every gust of wind, every crashing of waves on the shore, every fallen petal from a blooming magnolia tree, every hand gesture from a sleeping girl, is a code for an emotion or a literary reference. I get a similar feeling from looking at albums of old Chinese and Japanese woodcut prints and from watching a movie by Yasusiro Ozu. I mentioned him because my favorite flashback scene is between Old Eguchi and his youngest, most dearly loved daughter. In an echo of the Late Spring script, the father has to give his young girl in marriage and takes a last trip with her to the temples in Kyoto, where they meditate in silence in front of a four hundred years old flowering tree. Are their thought in tune or at cross-currents? We don't know. The only certainty is the loneliness of the old man left behind:
Although she lived in Tokyo, the daughter seldom came to see them after she was married.
"How are you?"
"How am I? Happy, I suppose."
Despite the shortness of the text, I am left with a lot of emotions to sift through and some moral dillemas to chew on. Mission accomplished for mr. Kawabata, who will probably see me again strolling through his lonely landscapes of mountain, sea, temple, moonlight. And even if the novella turned out to be morbid after all, I have come out of it with a more hopeful message than I expected:
The aged have death, and the young have love, and death comes once, and love comes over and over again.
Live goes on, with or without us.
April 17, 2021
Χθε? ε?χαμε φασ?λια γ?γαντε?. Οκ, οκ, περισσ?τερο ?θελα να πατ?σω στο Google earth "Ελλ?δα" και να επιστρ?ψω τηλεσκοπικ? στην πραγματικ?τητα, γιατ? ?μουν λ?γο αρκετ? αλλο?. Τσιμπι?μαι λοιπ?ν για να ξαναπατ?σω στα π?τρια εδ?φη, χωρ?? ακριβ?? να το θ?λω.
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Μ?νο στην Ιαπων?α, μ?νο σε αυτ? τη μαγικ? χ?ρα μπορο?ν να πλαστο?ν τ?τοιε? ιστορ?ε?, μυστηρι?δη, διαστροφικ? μονοπ?τια σεναρ?ων που κυλο?ν αρμονικ? π?νω στι? ρ?γε? μια? μοναδικ?? φιλοσοφ?α? και τη? παρ?ξενη? ανατολ?τικη? α?ρα? τη?.
Αν?μεσα στη ζω? και τον θ?νατο παρεμβ?λλεται απλ?? η ομορφι?.
Εδ? υπ?ρχει αισθητικ?, χωρ?? αμφιβολ?α. Η Ιαπων?α ε?ναι η ?δια η αισθητικ?, οπ?τε μ?νει να βρεθε? κ?ποιο? ικαν?? να την παρουσι?σει με τον τρ?πο που πρ?πει. Ο Kawabata ε?ναι ?να? απ? αυτο??, το κ?νει ε?κολα. Στ?νει εδ? μια ιεροτελεστ?α, απελευθερ?νοντα? ελεγχ?μενα ?να οξ? ερωτισμο? που καψαλ?ζει τον αναγν?στη, συμπαρασ?ροντ?? τον σε μια μυσταγωγικ? διαδικασ?α. Ο α?ρα?, το οξυγ?νο λιγοστε?ει παραχωρ?ντα? περισσ?τερο χ?ρο στον ερωτισμ? που γ?νεται νοσηρ?? και μετατρ?πεται σε υποψ?α θανατικο?.
Εικ?νε? απαρ?μιλλη? ομορφι?? και μια? εσωτερικ?τητα? σχεδ?ν συγκινητικ?? προβ?λλονται στον νοερ? προτζ?κτορα του αναγν?στη. Εικ?νε? σιωπ??, επενδυμ?νε? με εσωτερικο?? μονολ?γου? και στοχασμο??. ?να κλειστ? ιαπωνικ? δωμ?τιο εν?? ιδια?τερου πορνε?ου. Γ?ροι το επισκ?πτονται, για να βρεθο?ν γυμνο?, μπροστ? σε ωρα?ε? κοιμωμ?νε? σαν αν?γγιχτα λουλο?δια, με τα γυμν? του? σ?ματα προ? θ?αση, τι? ρ?γε? του?, ροζ ? σκουρ?τερε?, τεταμ?νε? ω? απολ?ξει? εν?? ζωοδ?τη μηχανισμο?.
Το βιβλ?ο ε?ναι ?να κομψοτ?χνημα εικ?νων. Γυμν??, ?μορφε? παρθ?νε?, με το λευκ? του? δ?ρμα εκτεθειμ?νο στη ματι? του γερο-Εγκο?τσι, 67 χρον?ν. Κ?θεται δ?πλα και κοιτ?ει. Δεν ε?ναι μ?νο το θ?αμα καθεαυτ?, ε?ναι και το αντικαθρ?φτισμα τη? δικ?? του θ?ση? στον κ?σμο, η ματι? προ? τη δικ? του κατ?σταση, λ?γο πριν το κατ?φλι τη? σεξουαλικ?? ανικαν?τητα?. (Εδ? σε μια δικ? μου νοητικ? παρεκτροπ?, αντ?χησε η ανικαν?τητα του Ζο?κερμαν στο ανθρ?πινο στ?γμα του Ροθ σε αντ?στιξη με τη ζωηρ? σεξουαλικ?τητα του μεσ?κοπου Κ?λμαν Σιλκ και ενδυν?μωσε την καταθλιπτικ? ρο? των σκ?ψεων. Ενδεχομ?νω? ασ?νδετο, αλλ? ποιο? υπαγορε?ει του? καν?νε? στι? σκ?ψει?; ?βυσσο? η ψυχ? του ανθρ?που).
?,τι συμβα?νει σιωπηλ? μ?σα στου? το?χου? του δωματ?ου, αν?μεσα σε ?ναν γ?ρο και μια ναρκωμ?νη νεαρ? γυνα?κα ε?ναι θαρρε?? μια πρ?βα, μια ?σκηση θ?ρρου?. Μια πρ?βα ζω??, μια πρ?βα θαν?του. Ε?ναι μια παρ?σταση. Η αναπνο? του κοιμισμ?νου κοριτσιο? μοι?ζει να εμφυσ? ζω? στον 67χρονο ?νδρα. Αυτ?? κοιτ?ζει, παρατηρε?, αναπολε?. Κλε?νει στα χ?ρια του τα χ?ρια τη?. Ε?ναι διστακτικ??. Ε?ναι αν?μπορο? μπροστ? στο θ?αμα αυτ?. Ε?ναι ?να παιδ?, ?να αδ?ναμο παιδ? μπροστ? στην ομορφι? τη? ζω?? που λιγοστε?ει.
"Οι γ?ροι ?χουν το θ?νατο εν? οι ν?οι ?χουν τον ?ρωτα, ο θ?νατο? ?ρχεται μια φορ?, εν? ο ?ρωτα? ?ρχεται και ξαν?ρχεται πολλ?? φορ??."
Το Σπ?τι των κοιμισμ?νων κοριτσι?ν ε?ναι σ?γουρα μια ονειρικ? δι?γηση, ?να αξεδι?λυτο μυστ?ριο αν?μεσα στο ?νειρο και την πραγματικ?τητα. Η Χ?ρα του χιονιο? ?ταν επ?ση? μια ?συχη ιστορ?α, πυρακτωμ?νη εκ των ?σω. Αυτ? ε?ναι η αισθητικ? του Kawabata. Μια ?σκηση στιλ που προ?ποθ?τει ?ναν αναγν?στη αρκετ? μονωμ?νο απ? τι? δυτικ?τροπε? ?ευκολ?ε?? του για να μπορ?σει να νι?σει και να κολυμπ?σει στα ξ?να αυτ? νερ?. Γιατ? αυτ? ε?ναι ?να αχαρτογρ?φητο σ?μπαν, με την ?ννοια ?τι κανε?? δε θα σου πει πο? να πα?, τι να κοιτ?ξει?, π?? να νι?σει? αυτ? ? την ?λλη στιγμ?.
?σοι ?χουν ?να κουτ?κι μ?σα του? που κρ?βει μυστικ?, λοξεμ?να ?νειρα, ?να κοπ?δι ?σπρε? πεταλο?δε? να πετ?νε στο στ?θο? και σιωπ?, θα συντονιστο?ν με τον καθαρ?αιμο, αμιγ?? ιαπωνικ?, σφυγμ? των ιστορι?ν αυτ?ν.
*Ε?ναι περιττ? να πω πω? θ?λω διακα?? να επισκεφτ? την Ιαπων?α.
----------------------------------------------------------------
Μ?νο στην Ιαπων?α, μ?νο σε αυτ? τη μαγικ? χ?ρα μπορο?ν να πλαστο?ν τ?τοιε? ιστορ?ε?, μυστηρι?δη, διαστροφικ? μονοπ?τια σεναρ?ων που κυλο?ν αρμονικ? π?νω στι? ρ?γε? μια? μοναδικ?? φιλοσοφ?α? και τη? παρ?ξενη? ανατολ?τικη? α?ρα? τη?.
Αν?μεσα στη ζω? και τον θ?νατο παρεμβ?λλεται απλ?? η ομορφι?.
Εδ? υπ?ρχει αισθητικ?, χωρ?? αμφιβολ?α. Η Ιαπων?α ε?ναι η ?δια η αισθητικ?, οπ?τε μ?νει να βρεθε? κ?ποιο? ικαν?? να την παρουσι?σει με τον τρ?πο που πρ?πει. Ο Kawabata ε?ναι ?να? απ? αυτο??, το κ?νει ε?κολα. Στ?νει εδ? μια ιεροτελεστ?α, απελευθερ?νοντα? ελεγχ?μενα ?να οξ? ερωτισμο? που καψαλ?ζει τον αναγν?στη, συμπαρασ?ροντ?? τον σε μια μυσταγωγικ? διαδικασ?α. Ο α?ρα?, το οξυγ?νο λιγοστε?ει παραχωρ?ντα? περισσ?τερο χ?ρο στον ερωτισμ? που γ?νεται νοσηρ?? και μετατρ?πεται σε υποψ?α θανατικο?.
Εικ?νε? απαρ?μιλλη? ομορφι?? και μια? εσωτερικ?τητα? σχεδ?ν συγκινητικ?? προβ?λλονται στον νοερ? προτζ?κτορα του αναγν?στη. Εικ?νε? σιωπ??, επενδυμ?νε? με εσωτερικο?? μονολ?γου? και στοχασμο??. ?να κλειστ? ιαπωνικ? δωμ?τιο εν?? ιδια?τερου πορνε?ου. Γ?ροι το επισκ?πτονται, για να βρεθο?ν γυμνο?, μπροστ? σε ωρα?ε? κοιμωμ?νε? σαν αν?γγιχτα λουλο?δια, με τα γυμν? του? σ?ματα προ? θ?αση, τι? ρ?γε? του?, ροζ ? σκουρ?τερε?, τεταμ?νε? ω? απολ?ξει? εν?? ζωοδ?τη μηχανισμο?.
Το βιβλ?ο ε?ναι ?να κομψοτ?χνημα εικ?νων. Γυμν??, ?μορφε? παρθ?νε?, με το λευκ? του? δ?ρμα εκτεθειμ?νο στη ματι? του γερο-Εγκο?τσι, 67 χρον?ν. Κ?θεται δ?πλα και κοιτ?ει. Δεν ε?ναι μ?νο το θ?αμα καθεαυτ?, ε?ναι και το αντικαθρ?φτισμα τη? δικ?? του θ?ση? στον κ?σμο, η ματι? προ? τη δικ? του κατ?σταση, λ?γο πριν το κατ?φλι τη? σεξουαλικ?? ανικαν?τητα?. (Εδ? σε μια δικ? μου νοητικ? παρεκτροπ?, αντ?χησε η ανικαν?τητα του Ζο?κερμαν στο ανθρ?πινο στ?γμα του Ροθ σε αντ?στιξη με τη ζωηρ? σεξουαλικ?τητα του μεσ?κοπου Κ?λμαν Σιλκ και ενδυν?μωσε την καταθλιπτικ? ρο? των σκ?ψεων. Ενδεχομ?νω? ασ?νδετο, αλλ? ποιο? υπαγορε?ει του? καν?νε? στι? σκ?ψει?; ?βυσσο? η ψυχ? του ανθρ?που).
?,τι συμβα?νει σιωπηλ? μ?σα στου? το?χου? του δωματ?ου, αν?μεσα σε ?ναν γ?ρο και μια ναρκωμ?νη νεαρ? γυνα?κα ε?ναι θαρρε?? μια πρ?βα, μια ?σκηση θ?ρρου?. Μια πρ?βα ζω??, μια πρ?βα θαν?του. Ε?ναι μια παρ?σταση. Η αναπνο? του κοιμισμ?νου κοριτσιο? μοι?ζει να εμφυσ? ζω? στον 67χρονο ?νδρα. Αυτ?? κοιτ?ζει, παρατηρε?, αναπολε?. Κλε?νει στα χ?ρια του τα χ?ρια τη?. Ε?ναι διστακτικ??. Ε?ναι αν?μπορο? μπροστ? στο θ?αμα αυτ?. Ε?ναι ?να παιδ?, ?να αδ?ναμο παιδ? μπροστ? στην ομορφι? τη? ζω?? που λιγοστε?ει.
"Οι γ?ροι ?χουν το θ?νατο εν? οι ν?οι ?χουν τον ?ρωτα, ο θ?νατο? ?ρχεται μια φορ?, εν? ο ?ρωτα? ?ρχεται και ξαν?ρχεται πολλ?? φορ??."
Το Σπ?τι των κοιμισμ?νων κοριτσι?ν ε?ναι σ?γουρα μια ονειρικ? δι?γηση, ?να αξεδι?λυτο μυστ?ριο αν?μεσα στο ?νειρο και την πραγματικ?τητα. Η Χ?ρα του χιονιο? ?ταν επ?ση? μια ?συχη ιστορ?α, πυρακτωμ?νη εκ των ?σω. Αυτ? ε?ναι η αισθητικ? του Kawabata. Μια ?σκηση στιλ που προ?ποθ?τει ?ναν αναγν?στη αρκετ? μονωμ?νο απ? τι? δυτικ?τροπε? ?ευκολ?ε?? του για να μπορ?σει να νι?σει και να κολυμπ?σει στα ξ?να αυτ? νερ?. Γιατ? αυτ? ε?ναι ?να αχαρτογρ?φητο σ?μπαν, με την ?ννοια ?τι κανε?? δε θα σου πει πο? να πα?, τι να κοιτ?ξει?, π?? να νι?σει? αυτ? ? την ?λλη στιγμ?.
?σοι ?χουν ?να κουτ?κι μ?σα του? που κρ?βει μυστικ?, λοξεμ?να ?νειρα, ?να κοπ?δι ?σπρε? πεταλο?δε? να πετ?νε στο στ?θο? και σιωπ?, θα συντονιστο?ν με τον καθαρ?αιμο, αμιγ?? ιαπωνικ?, σφυγμ? των ιστορι?ν αυτ?ν.
*Ε?ναι περιττ? να πω πω? θ?λω διακα?? να επισκεφτ? την Ιαπων?α.
November 14, 2015
Το δι?βασα πολλ? χρ?νια πριν . Η α?σθηση που μου ?φησε κρατ?ει ακ?μα ?μω? .
June 10, 2024
????? ???? ?????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ????? ????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ???? ?????.
”- ????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ???.
- ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ?? ??????
- ??? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???????. ??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????. ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????!
- ??? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ???.“
”- ????? ??? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ???.
- ?????? ??? ????? ???? ????? ?? ?? ??????
- ??? ??? ???? ????? ?????? ???????. ??? ?????? ??????? ??????? ?????. ?? ???? ?????? ?? ?????? ??? ????? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????!
- ??? ???? ?? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ??? ?????? ??? ???.“
February 7, 2017
? ??? ???? ???????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??????? ..
" ?? ?????? ?????? ?? ??????? ???? ??????? ???? ??????? ? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? "
???? ??? ??? ??????? ??? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ???????? ???? ?????? ????? ?????????? ??????? ? ????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ????????? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ?????? ???? ??????? - ?? ??????? ??????? ?? ??????? ???????? - ?? ??????? ? ??????? ?????? ????? ???????? ?? ????? ?????? ( ?????? ) ???? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ??? ???? ??????? ??? 1961? ? ??? ???? ????? " ??????? ???? ?????.. ?? ?????? ?????? ????? ?????????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ???? ???? !"? ??????? ??????? ???? ?????? ???? ??????? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ????? ???? ?? ??? ??????? ????? ?????? ??? ???? ?????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ???? ?????? : ??? ?????? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ? ????? ????? ????? ????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ?????? ??????? ??? ? ???? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ?? ???? ??? ?? ????????? ??? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????? ????????????? ????? ??? ???? ???? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ? ??? ???? ????? ??? ??? ?????????? ????? ?????? ???? ???????? " ?????? ??? ?????" ????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ???? ?? ?? ?? ?? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ???? ???? ?????? ??? ????? ???? .. ??? ?? ??? ??? ??????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ???? ? ????? ??? ???? ??? ??? ???? ????? ???? ???? ???? ?????? ?????? ???? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ? ?????? ???? ????? ????? ???? ????? ???????.. ??? ?? ???? ?????? ?????? ? ??? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ????? ?????? ??? ??????? ??? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ??? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ???????? ?? ???? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ??????? ?? ???? ????? ????? ?????? ???? ?????? ????? ??? ???????? ???? ?? ??????? ??????? ???????? ???? ??????? ?? ???? ? ???? ??? ?????? ???? ????????? ?? ??? ??? ??????..
?????? ????? ????? ?? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ???? ? ????? ???? ?? ????? ??????? ??????? ???? ????? ??????? ??????? ??? ????? ?? ??? ????? ?? ??? ?? ?????.
??? ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ??????? ???????? ? ??????? ??? ????? ??? ?????? ???? ????? ??????? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ??????? ???????? ???? ??? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ????? ?????? ?? ???? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??? ????? .. ?? ??? ????? ???????? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??????? ????? ?? ?? ????? ????? ?????! ?????? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ???? ??????? ???? . ?????? ?????? ??? ????? .
? ????? ????? ?? ??? ?? ????? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ?? ???.
"- ? ????? ??? ???? ???? ????? ?? ?? ????? ? "
???????? ?? ??? ?
July 15, 2022
???? ? ???????? ???? ????? ???? 3 ?????? ???. ?? ?????? ????? ? ???? ????? ?????? ?? ?? ????? ??? ???? ??? ???? ?????? ???. ?? ?? ?????? ?? ????? ?????? ??? ????. ?? ??? ????? ?????? ??? ?? ???? ???? ??? ?? ??? ??? ???? ???? ?? ?? ??? ??? ???? ? ?? ??? ???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ????. ?????? ??? ???? ?? ??????? ????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?? ???? ????? ???? ? ??? ??? ?? ????? ?? ?? ????? ?????? ?? ????? ??? ?? ????? ????? ??? ???? ??? ? ??? ?? ??? ????? ??? ???? ? ???? ?? ???? ? ?? ????? ?? ????? ? ????? ? ??????? ?????? ???? ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ???. ?? ???? ??? ?? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ???? ????? ? ???? ????? ??? 2 ?? 5 ?????. ??? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ? ?? ??? ??? ?? ????? ??? ????. ?? ?????? ????? ???? ?????? ??? ? ???? ?????? ???? ?? ??? ?? ????????? ?? ??????? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ??? ????? ?? ?????? ??? ??? ?? ???? ????? ???? ?? ?? ????? ???? ?? ????? ???? ??? ???? ????????. ??? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ? ????? ??? ?? ???? ??? ????? ????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ????? ?? ??? ???? ??????? ?? ?????? ?? ??? ????. ????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ?????? ??? ???? ????? ?? ??? ???? ????? ??? ? ?? ??? ?? ???? ?? ?????? ? ????? ? ??????? ?? ????? ??? ?????? ? ????? ??????? ?? ???? ?????. ?????? ???? ??? ? ???? ?? ?? ??? ?????? 4 ?? 5
August 30, 2022
?????? ????? ? ????? ???? ? ???? ??? ????? ? ??? ???? ?????!
?? ???? ?????? ????? ????????.
????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ..
???? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????!
?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ??????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ??? ? ????? ??????? ???????? ? ??????? ????????? ??????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ????..
????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ????..
?? ???? ?????? ????? ????????.
????? ?????? ????? ?? ?????? ????? ???? ? ???? ?????? ??? ?????? ?? ??? ??????? ..
???? ?????? ????? ?????? ???? ?? ???? ?? ???? ??? ?????? ?????? ?????!
?? ???? ???? ??? ???? ??????? ???? ?? ??????? ???????? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ???? ?????????? ?????????? ??? ? ????? ??????? ???????? ? ??????? ????????? ??????? ???????? ????? ?????? ???? ??????? ???? ??? ?? ????..
????? ???? ??? ????? ???? ? ????? ????? ?? ????? ???? ???? ?? ?????? ?? ???? ????? ??? ???? ?? ??? ?????? ?? ????..
March 28, 2011
I read House of the Sleeping Beauties with a knife in back. It freaking betrayed to me too much feelings. And... yeah!
I didn't read in order. The book jacket flap said: "The protagonist of Birds and Beasts prefers the company of his pet birds and dogs to people, yet for him all living beings are beautiful objects which, though they give him pleasure, he treats with casual cruelty." For me! Skip to story #3.
Birds and Beasts
Casual cruelty isn't precisely right. Playing god is more like it. They make him happy in that stop and smell the flowers way. Treasure the moment, seize the day... but only the day. And seizing is definitely right. It was disturbing how he killed those birds in their bath and then took that effort to bring them back, only to run the same murderous bath on another set of birds.
The loneliness, what comfort he gets from the animals or his past mistresses, felt to me like an already dead kinda life with others. I keep coming back to the playing god idea trying to describe it. I'd picture him taking apart anything that matters to see what it looked on the inside. I felt like that reading it.
The suicide with a woman pact is in this story like it was in Kawabata's The Sound of the Mountain. The idea of a woman having to kill herself with a man is really disturbing me. She's not even killing herself this time. He was going to kill her before he backs out. His regard for the dancer's savage beauty (that fades after he's inspected it, taken it apart, too much) almost made me think of making something without doing shit for the whole rest of that life. Revering doesn't do much good... Let's pray!
Damn. The lonely/stop and smell the flowers shit is getting to me (now there's not a knife. It's a thorn in my paw! I'm feeling metaphorical 'cause this is feelings shit).
I was gonna segue into the first story until I realized I didn't mention the dogs. The dogs who eat their dead young... How he had no use for mongrels once he started breeding the dogs for show. And how the mother had the same creators lack of nurture into the life. (I've long time found it interesting that people are the only species that need to take care of their young for so long.) I was reminded of a lot of stuff... Like the story in J.D. Salinger's Nine Stories (the Eskimo one) with the girl who doesn't dispose of the dead chick for weeks. This guy forgets he even kills a puppy, just like the puppies moms. (This is upsetting! I have two puppies, one a baby baby.) So yeah, the keeping of the dead puppy reminded me of that. It's a kind of lack of reality holding onto shit feel...
This is the segway. No way!
House of the Sleeping Beauties
A friend recommended this book to me because I was fascinated by the prostitutes who just sleep beside their clients in Murakami's The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.
(I'm going to TRY to say something about what a story is actually about to make a nice change in my reviewing style.)
Sixty-seven year old man, Eguchi, visits the house of the sleeping beauties where senile old men pay enormous sums of money to sleep beside drugged up young women (some very young). He's not as senile as the men he imagines the other clients to be. He imagines a lot as he lies beside the women (a different one for each visit). The ugly things he has felt and done in his life. What time he may have ahead of him. The women don't know what could be happening and will not wake up. Eguchi is certain they are also virgins. That they are virgins says to him that he men are so sad and beyond even doing anything to the girls. He's also certain that they are prostitutes. I wasn't so sure that they knew what was going on, whatever the proprietress spoke about "experience". There were rules about what they couldn't do: no sex, no seeing the girls awake. To not break the "magic" of the house? The spell was the moment not connected to what came before or after. Well, what came before would be lost youth. Maybe I'm wrong about that last part. Definitely not the past. It's the not being able to hold onto the past or future feeling of being with girls so very young.
There's a forward by Yukio Mishima. He wrote something about Kawabata's fixation on virgins. The feeling I have about this is that it's that what hasn't happened yet moment. Like the no consequences passion moment of crime. Once it's over it really doesn't mean anything anymore. The girls could wake up. If he had sex with them, breaking the rules and thus banned from the house, he would not get his youth back. He wouldn't bring anything back to the other senile old men who had lost anything apart from their sadness. Yukio Mishima also said their virginity was "impossibility of attainment" and that also put death and eroticism forever at the same point. I agree with the timeless part. They are already dead, since they aren't going to do anything...
But there were girls... They weren't dreaming the same dream, were they?
Kawabata is freaking great. There are all of these wonderings going on about everybody. I feel like those old men with my books, trying to get shit back (shit I never had too) and trying to dream same dreams. The lawless loneliness of those dreams...
One Arm This is my metaphorical segue... Arm had a chip on its shoulder!
A girl gives her right arm to the dude in this story. Other women have given themselves to them. He hears their voices. He hears the arm talking to him as he takes it home. The arm urges him to replace his own arm with it, the girl's arm of love. With the new girl arm he sleeps the sweetest dream he had ever had. Upon awaking he is attacked by the most repulsive arm of his own. He has to rip it out and then the girl arm no longer moves or talks. Shit.
I don't like the "giving themselves" idea like women GIVE them whole selves. It's like the other stories, right? The timeless moment. It's not the past or future. The repulsive arm takes it back.
I really wanted to express why Kawabata is amazing in my review of The Sound of the Mountain. It's hard because these are translations. The imagery is playing god smell the flowers and the world around you what Yoda says binds us FORCE. It's also translated and diluted like there was some priest and we gotta talk to god through him. I'm not gonna be able to read Japanese, though (why couldn't I have been one of those language freaks? English kills me enough). But damn if I'm not sleeping beside all those dreams that are gonna make me think about the past, present, future, what could be for me and other people, some dark thoughts, definitely some playing god, wait maybe I shouldn't be an asshole and assume and not playing god, empathy...
Kawabata is amazing. I wish I could say all of this to anyone who may be reading this. It's easier to see what's missing than to know what you have. This time? It's both. This is a four star rating because it is both and I'm too sad that I feel it (what?) missing when I'm done. I'm going straight to another Kawabata read.
P.s. This is the most bizarrely lusty book I've ever read and it isn't lust for sex.
I didn't read in order. The book jacket flap said: "The protagonist of Birds and Beasts prefers the company of his pet birds and dogs to people, yet for him all living beings are beautiful objects which, though they give him pleasure, he treats with casual cruelty." For me! Skip to story #3.
Birds and Beasts
Casual cruelty isn't precisely right. Playing god is more like it. They make him happy in that stop and smell the flowers way. Treasure the moment, seize the day... but only the day. And seizing is definitely right. It was disturbing how he killed those birds in their bath and then took that effort to bring them back, only to run the same murderous bath on another set of birds.
The loneliness, what comfort he gets from the animals or his past mistresses, felt to me like an already dead kinda life with others. I keep coming back to the playing god idea trying to describe it. I'd picture him taking apart anything that matters to see what it looked on the inside. I felt like that reading it.
The suicide with a woman pact is in this story like it was in Kawabata's The Sound of the Mountain. The idea of a woman having to kill herself with a man is really disturbing me. She's not even killing herself this time. He was going to kill her before he backs out. His regard for the dancer's savage beauty (that fades after he's inspected it, taken it apart, too much) almost made me think of making something without doing shit for the whole rest of that life. Revering doesn't do much good... Let's pray!
Damn. The lonely/stop and smell the flowers shit is getting to me (now there's not a knife. It's a thorn in my paw! I'm feeling metaphorical 'cause this is feelings shit).
I was gonna segue into the first story until I realized I didn't mention the dogs. The dogs who eat their dead young... How he had no use for mongrels once he started breeding the dogs for show. And how the mother had the same creators lack of nurture into the life. (I've long time found it interesting that people are the only species that need to take care of their young for so long.) I was reminded of a lot of stuff... Like the story in J.D. Salinger's Nine Stories (the Eskimo one) with the girl who doesn't dispose of the dead chick for weeks. This guy forgets he even kills a puppy, just like the puppies moms. (This is upsetting! I have two puppies, one a baby baby.) So yeah, the keeping of the dead puppy reminded me of that. It's a kind of lack of reality holding onto shit feel...
This is the segway. No way!
House of the Sleeping Beauties
A friend recommended this book to me because I was fascinated by the prostitutes who just sleep beside their clients in Murakami's The Wind-up Bird Chronicle.
(I'm going to TRY to say something about what a story is actually about to make a nice change in my reviewing style.)
Sixty-seven year old man, Eguchi, visits the house of the sleeping beauties where senile old men pay enormous sums of money to sleep beside drugged up young women (some very young). He's not as senile as the men he imagines the other clients to be. He imagines a lot as he lies beside the women (a different one for each visit). The ugly things he has felt and done in his life. What time he may have ahead of him. The women don't know what could be happening and will not wake up. Eguchi is certain they are also virgins. That they are virgins says to him that he men are so sad and beyond even doing anything to the girls. He's also certain that they are prostitutes. I wasn't so sure that they knew what was going on, whatever the proprietress spoke about "experience". There were rules about what they couldn't do: no sex, no seeing the girls awake. To not break the "magic" of the house? The spell was the moment not connected to what came before or after. Well, what came before would be lost youth. Maybe I'm wrong about that last part. Definitely not the past. It's the not being able to hold onto the past or future feeling of being with girls so very young.
There's a forward by Yukio Mishima. He wrote something about Kawabata's fixation on virgins. The feeling I have about this is that it's that what hasn't happened yet moment. Like the no consequences passion moment of crime. Once it's over it really doesn't mean anything anymore. The girls could wake up. If he had sex with them, breaking the rules and thus banned from the house, he would not get his youth back. He wouldn't bring anything back to the other senile old men who had lost anything apart from their sadness. Yukio Mishima also said their virginity was "impossibility of attainment" and that also put death and eroticism forever at the same point. I agree with the timeless part. They are already dead, since they aren't going to do anything...
But there were girls... They weren't dreaming the same dream, were they?
Kawabata is freaking great. There are all of these wonderings going on about everybody. I feel like those old men with my books, trying to get shit back (shit I never had too) and trying to dream same dreams. The lawless loneliness of those dreams...
One Arm This is my metaphorical segue... Arm had a chip on its shoulder!
A girl gives her right arm to the dude in this story. Other women have given themselves to them. He hears their voices. He hears the arm talking to him as he takes it home. The arm urges him to replace his own arm with it, the girl's arm of love. With the new girl arm he sleeps the sweetest dream he had ever had. Upon awaking he is attacked by the most repulsive arm of his own. He has to rip it out and then the girl arm no longer moves or talks. Shit.
I don't like the "giving themselves" idea like women GIVE them whole selves. It's like the other stories, right? The timeless moment. It's not the past or future. The repulsive arm takes it back.
I really wanted to express why Kawabata is amazing in my review of The Sound of the Mountain. It's hard because these are translations. The imagery is playing god smell the flowers and the world around you what Yoda says binds us FORCE. It's also translated and diluted like there was some priest and we gotta talk to god through him. I'm not gonna be able to read Japanese, though (why couldn't I have been one of those language freaks? English kills me enough). But damn if I'm not sleeping beside all those dreams that are gonna make me think about the past, present, future, what could be for me and other people, some dark thoughts, definitely some playing god, wait maybe I shouldn't be an asshole and assume and not playing god, empathy...
Kawabata is amazing. I wish I could say all of this to anyone who may be reading this. It's easier to see what's missing than to know what you have. This time? It's both. This is a four star rating because it is both and I'm too sad that I feel it (what?) missing when I'm done. I'm going straight to another Kawabata read.
P.s. This is the most bizarrely lusty book I've ever read and it isn't lust for sex.
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