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A review by yanailedit
The Forest of Wool and Steel by Natsu Miyashita
5.0
There's a lot of books out there that attempt to grapple with the elusive behemoth topic of what a meaningful life is supposed to be.
Very few books succeed in handling the topic they dedicated an entire damn stack of paper to, not even for a page or two. Some are outright depressing, others are shallow and tinny, most are just flat and apathetic. Nearly all will leave you feeling even more disorientated than when you started which is kind of impressive in a bad way.
Once in a blue moon though, you might come across a book from an author who really does have something to say on the subject in a way that speaks to you. They'll do so with skill, humility, and beauty, reminding you why the hell you ever risked picking up these kinds of 'meaning of life' books in the first place. It certainly helps if you share the same passions as the author too.
This is one of those Once in a Blue Moon Books for me and I remember finding it while browsing almost as though it had been waiting for me.
The writing and translation are both quietly spectacular. Both Miyashita and Gabriel shine at their best, a feat all the more impressive given the relative minimalism of the piece and the subject. It's the classical music book I'd been looking for for years with the soothing depth I've been needing lately.
A breath of fresh air that reminded me why exactly it is that I love Japanese literature, music, and philosophising about beauty.
Writing about hope and beauty is widely regarded as gauche, naive, or just plain uncool. Do yourself a favor and stick that nihilistic elitism confirmation bias in the trash where it belongs.
Very few books succeed in handling the topic they dedicated an entire damn stack of paper to, not even for a page or two. Some are outright depressing, others are shallow and tinny, most are just flat and apathetic. Nearly all will leave you feeling even more disorientated than when you started which is kind of impressive in a bad way.
Once in a blue moon though, you might come across a book from an author who really does have something to say on the subject in a way that speaks to you. They'll do so with skill, humility, and beauty, reminding you why the hell you ever risked picking up these kinds of 'meaning of life' books in the first place. It certainly helps if you share the same passions as the author too.
This is one of those Once in a Blue Moon Books for me and I remember finding it while browsing almost as though it had been waiting for me.
The writing and translation are both quietly spectacular. Both Miyashita and Gabriel shine at their best, a feat all the more impressive given the relative minimalism of the piece and the subject. It's the classical music book I'd been looking for for years with the soothing depth I've been needing lately.
A breath of fresh air that reminded me why exactly it is that I love Japanese literature, music, and philosophising about beauty.
Writing about hope and beauty is widely regarded as gauche, naive, or just plain uncool. Do yourself a favor and stick that nihilistic elitism confirmation bias in the trash where it belongs.