Reviews with content warning for War - An Artist of the Floating World

This is an interesting book about an artist of war propaganda from Japan in WWII - he is dealing with rectifying his past as a fairly well known artist with his past with the war, and his present as a man that the average person blames for the war and American occupation.

It’s slow and reflective, repetitive because of the narrators unreliable nature, but it’s for a reason. He presents his points of view as the utmost height of polite Japanese society, and cannot see how Japan is changing around him after the war.

Content Warnings

blau_elmo's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

A masterpiece of unreliable narration. Ishiguro is such an expert at hiding nuances within his words, and it is only in retrospect after the entire picture is put into place that one realises the guilt, pride and flaws of our protagonist, Masuji Ono.

The self-doubt, the conflation of one's conviction with authority (contradicted by his inability to stop the police from harassing his protege), and his strong desire to get Noriko, his daughter, married, as a way to make up for her previously failed negotiations, which he assumes to be caused by his past as a propaganda artist for Imperial Japan, when in reality his influence is not so wide-reaching, shows his character. He is untrustworthy, proud and ridden with guilt, which drives him to prevaricate and try to make amends with old students and mentors, all of which now no longer wish to associate with him.

It is a book about inter-generational conflict, but more importantly, a muddled sense of self. It is complex, and leaves so much for the reader to ponder about. Great read.

Content Warnings

pandemonicbaby's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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risemini's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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sbnptwrn's review against another edition

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hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

real master-class in unreliable narration

Content Warnings

booksjessreads's review against another edition

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challenging mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Honestly, I really didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. I found the plot line to really drag in parts and I found the characters hard to follow. I read the Remains of the Day a few weeks ago, and this felt like a version of that book, but set in Japan. I felt like the themes were really well thought out and they were explored fairly well, but it could have been more engaging and effective.

I usually enjoy Ishiguro on audio, but I actually think in this instance, that didn't help. I just found it a really hard audiobook to engage with and also follow. Perhaps the print copy would have been better.

Content Warnings

eve81's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? N/A
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Content Warnings

slipni's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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