To the Spring Equinox and Beyond"This book demonstrates Sōseki Natsume's ability to dissect and elucidate the human personality in all its complexity. Here, his facile blending of narrative, extended monologue, and sharp dialog leaves the reader with an almost personal knowledge of the characters. We are introduced to Keitaro, a recent college graduate hunting for his first job; he is the hero through whose eyes the other characters are seen. There is also Morimoto, the young adventurer with his tall tales; Sunaga, a troubled young man whose moving story forms the center the novel; Taguchi, Sunaga's fun-loving yet practical uncle; Matsumoto, another uncle -- a high-class 'idler,' but wise in his own way; and Chiyoko, Sunaga's cousin and apparently the cause of much of his distress. Keitaro does not merely tell us the story of the others, however. Their lives are a part of his elucidation beyond that of the world of academia, and his knowing them enables him eventually to experience, however directly or indirectly, the romantic, the practical, the philosophical, and the existential. This is the sort of detailed analysis of the world that enables Keitaro -- and Sōseki himself -- to come closer to the very core of life itself." -From publisher. |
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Common terms and phrases
able actually appeared asked began bring brought called child Chiyoko coming course direction expected eyes face fact father fedora feel felt finally followed front gave give given glance gone hand happened head heard Ichizo imagined interest it's Keitaro kimono kind laugh least leave letter light living looked maid Matsumoto matter merely mind Morimoto mother move nature never night noticed offered once passed person question reason remained remember replied returned seemed seen short side sister sitting someone soon sound speak standing stick stop story strange street streetcar suddenly Sunaga Taguchi Takagi taken talk tell thing thought told took trouble trying turned uncle usual voice waiting walking wife wished woman young