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Title: A Personal Matter by Kenzaburo Oë, John Nathan ISBN: 0-8021-5061-6 Publisher: Grove Press Pub. Date: January, 1988 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.27 (22 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: appalling...engaging
Comment: On the surface, "A Personal Matter" is a showcase of how badly one man can behave. After his son is born with a brain hernia, main character Bird escapes all adult responsibilities (with his wife, with his work) to "hide away" with an old college girlfriend. He selfishly decides that he'd rather have his son die in the hospital than have to deal with a less than normal child, drinks himself sick, and seeks refuge in the dream of someday going to Africa, a place that Bird feels is wrought with beauty and emotion.
Oe spins a brilliant tale as Bird slowly finds redemption and beauty in his own life. Especially revealing is the parallel between characters' lives (particularly the American's and Bird's), and the tiny glimpses into Bird's childhood. Also interesting (and revealing) is the fact that Bird's wife is never given a name.
A very good read, but not for those who are easily offended.
Rating: 5
Summary: A dark, deep, and superbly narrated existential story
Comment: Kenzaburo Oe tells the story of Bird (name of the main character)living in modern Japan. The story is how Bird deals with the reality, of being the father of a brain damaged child. Oe takes us into a dark journey of how Bird deals with this new reality.
Bird has to face the problem of "How do I Act?" in a modern society lacking moral or guiding principles. Many incidents in Bird's life had no meaning - drinking the entire summer or having sex. Faced with the new reality, Bird tries to escape from it. He doesn't want the child to become a permanent reality of his life. He faces the choice of either killing the newborn or risking an operation (which might not restore the brain damage). Whatever choice Bird makes, he has to deal with the responsibility of making the choice. Instead of running away from the problem - Bird finally accepts his responsibility of being father of brain-damaged child.
A dark, deep, and superbly told existential story.
Rating: 5
Summary: OE, O Yeah! Emotions jumping out of print
Comment: I have never seen any body writing emotions so vividly that it touches, holds and shakes the reader. It gives a snap shot of being human. Greed, Guilt, Temptation, Yeilding into temptation, Redemtption. It is all there.
The hero is an intellect who loved his drinks once. His wife gives birth to an abnormal child. Every one including the Doctor, his Mother in Law wants him to let the child die. The whole saga is his journey into the decision. He meets people from his past (School friend, Father in Law) and from the future - his students, who influence the decision. You need to read it to live the author's words. Oe is brilliant. I vote with the guys who decide the Noble Prize
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Title: Kokoro by Natsume Soseki, Soseki Natsume, Edwin McClellan ISBN: 0895267152 Publisher: Regnery Publishing Pub. Date: May, 1996 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Teach Us to Outgrow Our Madness by Kenzaburo Oe, John Nathan ISBN: 080215185X Publisher: Grove Press Pub. Date: December, 1977 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: The Silent Cry: A Novel by Kenzaburo Oe, John Bester, S. Shaw ISBN: 4770019653 Publisher: Kodansha International Pub. Date: December, 1994 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Snow Country by Edward G. Seidensticker, Yasunari Kawabata ISBN: 0679761047 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 30 January, 1996 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: The Waiting Years by Fumiko Enchi, John Bester ISBN: 477002889X Publisher: Kodansha International Pub. Date: November, 2002 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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