The Temple of the Golden Pavilion

Name: The Temple of the Golden Pavilion
Author: Yukio Mishima

Yukio Mishima · 1956

Based on the real 1950 burning of Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji, Mishima's novel examines beauty, obsession, and the desire to destroy what is most perfect. His prose is baroque and hypnotic. Published in 1956, it remains his most frequently cited work and a strong argument for calling him Japan's greatest 20th-century novelist.

The case against

on the slow chapters
“several whole chapters that really slog, especially when Mishima allows Mizoguchi’s mental meanderings”
two stars · a book blog
on the protagonist
“none of the violent and perverted nature of the character, making the protagonist highly unlikeable”
a book blog
on Kashiwagi’s monologues
“did get very bored every time Kashiwagi opened his mouth to make some sweeping statement”
a book blog
on the eternity line
“eternity in an instant obliterates the moment of eternity (no, I don’t understand it either)”
a book blog