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Summary: Died a suicide in 1927 at the age of 35
Review: After ordering this book, I sat completely transfixed while reading due to the absolute simplicity of Akutagawa's writing style. All 6 stories flow beautifully fast as you quietly become emotionally wrapped up in them. The deceptive sheen of these stories almost antagonizes you into finding something amiss, only that you'll discover later, after some thought, that there was yet another unseen perspective or line of thought within the work.'In A Grove' is a very unsetteling story, and obviously the most well-known, but I felt that 'The Matyr' and 'Kisa and Morito' are both very witty, and also my favourites. I imagine, that a lot of people will now get a chance to read this book due in part to the media coverage that came from the movie 'Ghost Dog', with Forest Whittaker, where the book itself played a supporting role. It's not hard to understand, after reading, why. This book gives you insight into persepctive, humiliation, accepting fate - even if it is not a good one, and following the path you've chosen. This book conatins some great uses of fantasy, realism, symbolism surrealism, and in a time and place where a Western reader might not expect it.
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Summary: Why do I admire Akutagawa?
Review: Ever since I first picked up a volume of mr.Akutagawa's novellas I knew i'd stumbled on something out of the ordinary.Even though it was when I was about 14 or 15 years of age he still remains my favorite writer.Why then?This is rather complicated and as with others in the field so wide and full of talent and lack of the above it requires reader's own frame of mind and presence of nostalgia and melancholy.His insight in the everyday things and the cry of his soul so loud that a true romantic will cry with him
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Summary: I hated this book
Review: Everyone who talks about Akutagawa's collection 'Rashomon' talks about 'In a Grove' or 'Rashomon.'...I liked those two stories the best. After reading everything by Akutagawa -- especially his autobiographies -- I realize that there's something to say about 'The Dragon.' In this story, a monk named Hanazo, who's picked on because of the size of his nose, sets up a sign near his buddhist temple's pond, saying that a dragon will rise out of it on a specific date. Of course, he does it just a joke -- to get back at all the other monks. An old woman comes along, and asks if the sign is telling the truth. Hanazo assures her that it is. Soon, thousands of people from all over Japan are gathered to watch the dragon rise out of the pond. While dragons rise out of ponds all the time, the people believe -- how often do you know EXACTLY when one is going to rise up? Hanazo runs into an aunt of his, from way up north. Seeing all these people waiting for the dragon, Hanazo wants to tell everyone that it's just a joke. He's afraid they'll be angry if he tells them, and even more afraid they'll be even angrier if they wait all day, only to see no dragon...it's safe to say that 'The Dragon' is not a story of the positive power of belief -- it is the embodiment of Akutagawa's greatest fear: that thinking, writing, or talking about his prediction would only make it someday come true.
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Summary: a word on 'the dragon'
Review: Everyone who talks about Akutagawa's collection 'Rashomon' talks about 'In a Grove' or 'Rashomon.'...I liked those two stories the best. After reading everything by Akutagawa -- especially his autobiographies -- I realize that there's something to say about 'The Dragon.' In this story, a monk named Hanazo, who's picked on because of the size of his nose, sets up a sign near his buddhist temple's pond, saying that a dragon will rise out of it on a specific date. Of course, he does it just a joke -- to get back at all the other monks. An old woman comes along, and asks if the sign is telling the truth. Hanazo assures her that it is. Soon, thousands of people from all over Japan are gathered to watch the dragon rise out of the pond. While dragons rise out of ponds all the time, the people believe -- how often do you know EXACTLY when one is going to rise up? Hanazo runs into an aunt of his, from way up north. Seeing all these people waiting for the dragon, Hanazo wants to tell everyone that it's just a joke. He's afraid they'll be angry if he tells them, and even more afraid they'll be even angrier if they wait all day, only to see no dragon...it's safe to say that 'The Dragon' is not a story of the positive power of belief -- it is the embodiment of Akutagawa's greatest fear: that thinking, writing, or talking about his prediction would only make it someday come true.
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Summary: Ryunosuke is a dark genius
Review: I really can't describe it in great detail, but his cynical themes, though I may not agree with them entirely, are fantastically placed in all his tales. Rashomon, the actual story the book is named after is usually overlooked because the fantastic work "In a Grove" is what took its name. In a Grove is an awesome story which shows how four different people view the exact same thing, but Rashomon itself is also good. The story is an ironic type, showing that no matter how low people can go in society, worst exists. Saddening but true themes are manifested in this book, which makes it a much needed book to have if you like excellent stories.
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Summary: I hated this book
Review: It is one of the worst books, I can't see how anyone can read this and walk away thinking that it was good.
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Summary: incredible book
Review: not just one of the best japanese books i've ever read, but one of the best books period. no one who reads this will be disappointed!
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Summary: <>
Review: Overall, the stories are great. Unfortunately, I can't help but feel that much was lost in the translation, and more-so than in other works. Akutagawa's stories always struck me as having exterior meanings, like in the word structure. It's too bad that all cultures did not magically all create words with the exact same deffinitions and connotations. Of course, if you're an American, and you don't speak Japanese, you don't have any real options other than getting a translated copy. The stories are very, very enjoyable, though. Even in their translated form they deserve 5 stars. And I do believe this was a good translation, though it's the only one I know.
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Summary: Masterpiece in Short Story
Review: Roshomon, written in 1952, is truly genius in storytelling. From Japanese author Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Roshomon (the story which I write about is titled "In a Grove") deals with a murder and the trial that takes place. Essentially it demonstrates that no point of views are ever alike. The killer, the witnesses, the girl and the dead himself all testify to what 'really' happened. Of course, in such an incident, no one has any story that seems equal to anothers. Reality, is whats being demonstrated, is subjective due by the fact that no one has an all-seeing point of view. The story is simple, yet well written. It moves along smoothly and swiftly. The stories that make up the rest of the book I did not read, for this story was suggested by psychologist Paul Watzlawick who was inspired by the multiple point of view story telling. This story was also made into a film by Japanses master film maker Akira Kurosawa, which is also highly reccomended. Great story telling, and reccomeded for anyone who loves short stories with a psychological twist. Remarkable!
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Summary: Masterpiece in Short Story
Review: Roshomon, written in 1952, is truly genius in storytelling. From Japanese author Ryunosuke Akutagawa, Roshomon (the story which I write about is titled "In a Grove") deals with a murder and the trial that takes place. Essentially it demonstrates that no point of views are ever alike. The killer, the witnesses, the girl and the dead himself all testify to what 'really' happened. Of course, in such an incident, no one has any story that seems equal to anothers. Reality, is whats being demonstrated, is subjective due by the fact that no one has an all-seeing point of view. The story is simple, yet well written. It moves along smoothly and swiftly. The stories that make up the rest of the book I did not read, for this story was suggested by psychologist Paul Watzlawick who was inspired by the multiple point of view story telling. This story was also made into a film by Japanses master film maker Akira Kurosawa, which is also highly reccomended. Great story telling, and reccomeded for anyone who loves short stories with a psychological twist. Remarkable!
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