Snow Country - Yasunari Kawabata

Exploring 'Snow Country' by Yasunari Kawabata

I took a break from Mishima and picked up Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata. I’ve been eager to delve into his works, and although I couldn’t find anything at the used bookstore, I spotted a new copy at Barnes & Noble. Sure, it might be cheaper online, but I feel it's important to support brick-and-mortar stores. After all, what’s the point of having them if we only buy online?

First Impressions

The book is surprisingly short, clocking in at just 177 pages. I figured I’d easily finish it over the weekend and then decide what to read next.

Update: 5/28/17

It took a bit longer than I anticipated, but I finally finished the novel while I was in Japan. It felt like the perfect setting to read this book! Overall, I found it okay, with a general understanding of the story revolving around Shimamura, Komako, and Yoko. The cast is quite simple, yet their interactions create a compelling narrative.

However, I sensed that the English translation might have lost some nuances. I struggled to fully grasp certain elements, particularly the tension between Komako and Yoko. While I understood some of the underlying reasons, they didn’t quite align with the overall story for me.

Interestingly, as I write this, I realize it's reminiscent of how Komako was writing her 'reviews' of the books she read. For me, this reflection serves a purpose—not meaningless at all, but a way to confirm that I’ve read the novel and to process my thoughts on it.

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