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Smiley 's Reviews > After the Banquet
After the Banquet
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If one would like to read "After the Banquet" by Yukio Mishima for romantic or sensational scenes, this novel might be disappointing since he has portrayed a formidable lady named Kazu, the proprietress of the Setsugoan, in her years of age "over fifty" (p. 7) whose fate leads her to meet a retired elderly, "over sixty" (p. 76), politician and ambassador named Noguchi. Their first meeting is at her distinguished restaurant in Tokyo when there is an annual meeting of the Kagen Club where Noguchi duly attends. Eventually, she has become gradually interested in him as we can see from these excerpts:
Noguchi, who had scarcely uttered a word, finally spoke. "Why don't we drop all this talk about the old days? We're still young, after all."
Noguchi spoke with a smile, but the surging strength in his tone made the others fall silent.
Kazu was captivated by this one remark. ... She thought, "This gentleman can say beautifully things which are really difficult to say." (p. 19)
It was strange that amidst all this excitement Noguchi's words -- "I'm the only one with nothing to tie me down" -- should have lingered so vividly in Kazu's mind. Yes, those definitely had been Noguchi's words, and their meaning like the vibrations of a silver wire, sent a glow of light into Kazu's heart. (p. 24)
Rather we would read how these two senior celebs have fallen in love; indeed, Kazu "is determined never to fall in love again" (back cover). However, Noguchi and Kazu have their own amorous reasons and thus end up getting married in spite of disagreement from a famous politician named Nagayama. (pp. 87-91)
Noguchi, who had scarcely uttered a word, finally spoke. "Why don't we drop all this talk about the old days? We're still young, after all."
Noguchi spoke with a smile, but the surging strength in his tone made the others fall silent.
Kazu was captivated by this one remark. ... She thought, "This gentleman can say beautifully things which are really difficult to say." (p. 19)
It was strange that amidst all this excitement Noguchi's words -- "I'm the only one with nothing to tie me down" -- should have lingered so vividly in Kazu's mind. Yes, those definitely had been Noguchi's words, and their meaning like the vibrations of a silver wire, sent a glow of light into Kazu's heart. (p. 24)
Rather we would read how these two senior celebs have fallen in love; indeed, Kazu "is determined never to fall in love again" (back cover). However, Noguchi and Kazu have their own amorous reasons and thus end up getting married in spite of disagreement from a famous politician named Nagayama. (pp. 87-91)
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Reading Progress
May 13, 2013
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 13, 2013
– Shelved
May 13, 2013
– Shelved as:
fiction
May 13, 2013
– Shelved as:
japan
May 13, 2013
–
1.11%
"The Setsugoan -- the After-the-Snow Retreat -- stood on high ground in a hilly part of the Koishikawa district of Tokyo. It had fortunately escaped unharmed during the war; nothing had been damaged either in the magnificent garden, a noted example of the Koboti Enshu style covering over a hundred thoudand square feet, or in the buildings: a central gate moved here froma certain famous temple in Kyoto, ... (p. 3)"
page
3
May 14, 2013
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12.92%
"...
This morning stroll was the poem of Kuza's security. She was over fifty, but no one seeing this carefully groomed woman, whose complexion and sparkling eyes had lost none of their loveliness, as she sauntered through the huge garden could help but be struck and moved to romantic conjectures. But, as Kazu herself realized better than anyone, for her romantic stories were a thing of her past, ... (p. 7)"
page
35
This morning stroll was the poem of Kuza's security. She was over fifty, but no one seeing this carefully groomed woman, whose complexion and sparkling eyes had lost none of their loveliness, as she sauntered through the huge garden could help but be struck and moved to romantic conjectures. But, as Kazu herself realized better than anyone, for her romantic stories were a thing of her past, ... (p. 7)"
May 15, 2013
–
43.91%
"...
A group of middle-school students out for running practice in white gym suits approached them from the opposite direction. They seemed to have run once or twice around the pond already, and their youthful, delicate brows contracted with painful recalled the Asura statue in the Kofukuji Temple. The boys ran past the two strollers, not looking to either side, leaving behind the sound of their sneakers ... (p. 35)"
page
119
A group of middle-school students out for running practice in white gym suits approached them from the opposite direction. They seemed to have run once or twice around the pond already, and their youthful, delicate brows contracted with painful recalled the Asura statue in the Kofukuji Temple. The boys ran past the two strollers, not looking to either side, leaving behind the sound of their sneakers ... (p. 35)"
May 16, 2013
–
61.99%
"...
... , all the past love affairs ... return to life.Men had killed themselves for Kazu when she was young. Some had lost their wealth and position, and others had sunk to the lowest depths of society, all because of her. Strangely enough, Kazu had never known love for her to ennoble a man or help him to success. Through no evil design on Kazu's part, men generally went down in the world once they met her. (p. 71)"
page
168
... , all the past love affairs ... return to life.Men had killed themselves for Kazu when she was young. Some had lost their wealth and position, and others had sunk to the lowest depths of society, all because of her. Strangely enough, Kazu had never known love for her to ennoble a man or help him to success. Through no evil design on Kazu's part, men generally went down in the world once they met her. (p. 71)"
May 17, 2013
–
77.49%
"Kazu, surprisingly for a woman, was fundamentally unsure of the definition of happiness.
Her marriage involved no sacrifice, no confinement in a stranger's house, nor any annoyance from a mother-in-law or sister-in-law, but married life had on the other hand not brought with it any surge of happiness. When she and Noguchi went out together as man and wife, she felt a joy she could not conceal. ... (p. 97)"
page
210
Her marriage involved no sacrifice, no confinement in a stranger's house, nor any annoyance from a mother-in-law or sister-in-law, but married life had on the other hand not brought with it any surge of happiness. When she and Noguchi went out together as man and wife, she felt a joy she could not conceal. ... (p. 97)"
May 18, 2013
–
97.79%
"...
While her eyes were shut her mind had resolutely crossed the mountain, and she had reached the only answer possible for her. She had immersed herself in the darkness of her closed lids and --- ... -- she answered as never before with perfect logic. "I'm sorry, there's no other way. I intend to reopen the Setsugoan. I intend to pay back the money I borrowed if I have to work the flesh from my bones." (p. 263)"
page
265
While her eyes were shut her mind had resolutely crossed the mountain, and she had reached the only answer possible for her. She had immersed herself in the darkness of her closed lids and --- ... -- she answered as never before with perfect logic. "I'm sorry, there's no other way. I intend to reopen the Setsugoan. I intend to pay back the money I borrowed if I have to work the flesh from my bones." (p. 263)"
Started Reading
May 19, 2013
–
Finished Reading
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rated it 3 stars
May 19, 2013 03:42AM
Thanks, Ivana, I appreciate your encouragement.
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Thanks, Maciek, I appreciate your encouragement.
Thanks, Petra X, I appreciate your encouragement.
Thanks, Nandakishore, I appreciate your encouragement.
Thanks, Henry, I appreciate your encouragement.
Thanks, Majenta, I appreciate your encouragement.
