Post: #1

For those who finished the series, how did you feel about its ending?

I gotta be honest, I'm pretty damn confused. I get it's a nod to buddhism but at the same time... that's it? Honda wasted his life chasing what he thought was Kiyoaki's spirit?

How did you guys interpret it? What'd you take away from it?

Post: #2

(07-01-2016 04:04 AM)theoogabear Wrote:  For those who finished the series, how did you feel about its ending?

I gotta be honest, I'm pretty damn confused. I get it's a nod to buddhism but at the same time... that's it? Honda wasted his life chasing what he thought was Kiyoaki's spirit?

How did you guys interpret it? What'd you take away from it?

Have you read the whole tetralogy? This isn't really a spoiler. I've only read Spring Snow, which I finished last month. I highly recommend everyone to read it. It's one of the most beautiful books I've ever read. It's on my short list for constant re-reads along with Shantaram and Shogun (along with other Clavell books).

I can't really answer your question as I've only read 1/4 of the series. However, Honda's retelling of the subsequent reincarnations of Kiyoaki's spirit is a fascinating story structure. I wouldn't say he wasted his life during this journey. Perhaps you're commenting on how there was no conclusive "aha" moment at the end. I don't think this is necessary but it's akin to a movie without a happy/disney ending and leaves many people disconcerted (sicario is a good example of an anti-disney ending). The smaller insights within each novel give the series huge meaning to me. I learned a ton about human nature due to Mishima's depth of detail, especially regarding myself, as I have some eerie similarities to Kiyaoki in regards to a narcisstic hyper-romantic childhood. Have you read about Mishima's life? How he was at the generational intersection of traditional samurai culture with modernism. This contention is the underlying sentiment to all his literature. Furthermore, he led a failed coup the day he finished the tetralogy and subsequently committed seppuku. I'm talking in circles a bit here but I love Mishima and I'm happy someone started a thread on here about him. I'd be curious to here you flesh out why the series confused you.

Edit: Saw you read the whole series. I shouldn't even be commenting on this 1 book in. Still curious for you to flesh out your opinion though.

Post: #3

I agree. That ending was...odd. I had the feeling it lost something in the translation to English. My favorite book in the series was "Runaway Horses".

Post: #4

(07-01-2016 12:47 PM)ColSpanker Wrote:  I agree. That ending was...odd. I had the feeling it lost something in the translation to English. My favorite book in the series was "Runaway Horses".

omgggg. Runaway Horses is a fucking MASTERPIECE. Absolutely floored me. I feel like the series should have ended there. What do you think?