Snow Country: Book Review


Book Review


Title: Snow Country

Author: Yasunari Kawabata

Genre: Translation (Japanese)

 

This title piqued my interest especially since the author won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968 and that Snow Country was one of three books cited by the Nobel committee. 

 

The story takes you to the beautiful snowy mountainous landscapes in Japan, to a remote village where two individuals attempt to connect despite realizing the future and consequences. 

 

Shimamura, a wealthy married man who often returns to the mountains to recover the lost side to his personality.He forges an acquaintance with Komako-a mountain Geisha. Shimamaru also forms a bond with another character Yoko-whom Komako appears to dislike. The story delves and explores the complexity of human relationships. 

 

The writing is aesthetic and beautifully weaved in a poetic style. There is a certain sensuality that the author brings to his descriptions of the beauty of the snow laden mountains and the milky way. Nature is equally an intricate part of the plot along with the characters. The entire setting is cold and icy which is artfully interspersed with the emotions of the characters, who largely experience loneliness, sadness and feelings of isolation. 

 

It will also be interesting to note that the geisha mentioned in this book is different from the Geisha that is highlighted in ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’ by Arthur Golden. Snow Country is slow paced with great emphasis on characterization and settings. The scenes take a while to unfold after which it moves at a steady pace. This book can be read for the richness of the language and makes a perfect read for winter. 

 

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