Kokoro (Kojiki Book 2)

Whether it is the original writing or what seems to be an extraordinary translation, this book's prose is a joy to read. The succinct yet powerful sentences, the very short chapters, the matter-of-fact way in which it's written are all wonderful.Other reviewers have gone into great details of the plot; I won't for various reasons, but while it's eminently readable and easy to follow, the denouement strikes me as so classically Japanese as to be alien to our culture. The sensei who is the subject of the book commits what he believes to be an unforgivable act and spends the rest of his life atoning for it -- though "atoning" is not quite the right word; maybe it's clearer to say he spends the rest of his life feeling guilty about it and -- almost -- doesn't do anything about it. I found that part of it a bit hard to accept, but that is probably more a statement of the cultural differences between early 20th Century Japan and 21st Century America than it is about a failing of the book.

Natsume Soseki's "Kokoro" reads part bildungsroman, part era-in-transition novel and part confessional. A young, vaguely indifferent, generally insensitive and somewhat diffuse student is chagrined to discover that unscrupulous relatives have defrauded him of his inheritance. Naturally, he is bitter and that sense of aggrievement somewhat tempers his character. He has a chance encounter at a beach-side vacation with an older man who remains anonymous, but is given an honorific title by the narrator of the tale. For unclear reasons, a strong attraction is expressed by the younger man for the older; a reverse, "Death in Venice", hinting at homoerotic themes which never develop. Eventually, a master-student relationship evolves, a theme relentlessly mined in parody fashion, ranging from banal television shows ( "Kung Fu") through the "Jedi Masters" of "Star Wars" and others too numerous to list. After a relatively prolonged "courtship", family affairs necessitate a separation of student from master. A seemingly unrequited love is expressed via interior monologues and through rarely written (and more rarely answered) letters from student to master. Finally, a bulky missive arrives containing the master's confessional. These two events roughly divide the book in half. A pervasive aura of predestination permeates both sections.The strength of the narrative is in both the style and character development. Generalizing from a work of fiction to greater insights into thoughts and attitudes of the Meiji era is a bit fraught. Nonetheless, Japan at that time is reputed to be a homogeneous culture and and a work of fiction likely provides as much as, if not more, insight than a scholarly series of sociological studies. So, to place the potential "nothing happens in this book" criticism in context, it's best to recall the milieu in which the book was written."Kokoro" is a book of subtle nuances. The days pass in a nearly dreamlike state. Seized by the quest for knowledge, the growing infatuation/adulation of the young man for the "Sensei" is finally consummated by the long-hoped for "holy grail"; the confession, the insight and the tragic climax. Deeply mined themes all, but evidently they contain universal truths.

"Kokoro" was my first foray into the world of modern Japanese literature. I did not realize that it would also present the workings of Sensei's mind and values in such a way as to reveal Japanese culture. Written in easily digestible chapters, the novel is cleverly arranged and moves steadily toward denouement. I highly recommend it.

This is by far my favorite Japanese novel that I have read so far. From the moment I began reading the book I was captivated by it. It is a very raw and emotional book about regret and atoning for one's past mistakes. I would highly recommend this book.

This edition was of excellent quality and I'm glad I bought it. The introduction was informative and interesting.The novel itself was deeply thought-provoking, exploring as it does, conflict in the human heart.It was very sad, but clearly showed no matter our cultural differences, human beings share common emotions.Perhaps saddest of all for me was the nature of deception within relationships, even when it is well-meaning. Sometimes, intending to protect the other, we abandon the possibility of genuine connectedness.This remarkable Japanese classic is instructive, entertaining--brilliant!I am so glad I read it and will read it again and explore other Japanese writers.

I'm a fan of Murakami and love exploring other Japanese authors. There's just something poetic in how they write. Kokoro is a beautifully written book, I was swallowing the words and emotions they brought me.

This is such a thought provoking book. It deals with raw human emotion and dares us to face our own deepest selves.

Great book when looking at the development of Japanese identity during the post Meji era along with personal reflections that help you find yourself in fluctuating world

I read this in Japanese when I was a child and re-reading it in English is quite an experience. This is a real classical literature and two friends who read this book agreed. I think I will re-read all Soseki's books now.

Wonderful story that captures the human heart in its pages. Each chapter is 2-2.5 pages, making this amazing read even easier to pick up for another session.

Really annoyed. Amazon have mixed two novels together. I was looking for the novel by Natsume Soseki. The reviews are about the book by Natsume Soseki. The 'About the Author' bit is too. But the downloaded book is a different book by another author by Keith Yatsuhashi. Poor cataloguing. I'm going to ask for a refund. Others beware.

Fresh,

THis is the first time I am reading Natsume and I am so so glad I picked this. I am curious about Japanese literature/ books and authors and while looking, this book caught my eye. Well, what do I say about this creation. I am floored by everything in this book. It's plot is well written and though the characters belong to a specific time they are so relatable and can you can feel them. I did my research on the Meiji era of Japan while reading this book and it helped me understand the concept better. But, what stood out to me was expressions of the human conditions and realations by the author. So delicate almost like poetry and so simple and understandble at the same time. I would recommend this book for everyone. It worth it!!!