Kawabata Yasunari: The Sound of the Mountain

I am 50 of 276 pages into Kawabata's The Sound of the Mountain. I thought I might start a thread if others might like to discuss this novel. It has been 20 years since I read this author and I am trying to read him "fresh".

The imagery, while simple, is quite effective. I did spend 3 years in Japan which was just enough to impact how I "see".

Prior to any crisis, per se, a sadness already pervades this slice of life tale. The protagonist is sympathetic and very relatable. What will we see as we look at our families.

I am only a bit of the way into the book and would welcome sharing thoughts with others.

Best

Later than hoped, I have finished this work. The cover description discusses the author's message of the relentless movement of time. Even without the obvious being stated on a cover, this concept subtly but powerfully hits you. Each vignette can seem innocuously father along in time. However, if one stops and reflects, one sees that time has flown.

Depending on a reader's proclivity, learning a bit of post war Japanese history will increase the experience.

I enjoyed this book as I savored it. I do not think I would have enjoyed it as much if I had hurried through. I am curious as our current world moves faster and faster how this will be received. I am glad I had this experience.