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Beauty and Sadness cover art

Beauty and Sadness

By: Yasunari Kawabata
Narrated by: Brian Nishii
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Summary

Returning to Kyoto, where temple bells announce the New Year, a grave and penitent Oki is drawn to a haunting obsession from his past. Gently lyrical, yet fierce with the stark intensity of passion, Kawabata's last novel tells the story of the lasting consequences of a brief love affair.

©1975 Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. (P)2010 Audible, Inc.
Classics Literary Fiction Literary History & Criticism Asian United States Romance
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What listeners say about Beauty and Sadness

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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A Delicacy of imagery

Kawabata is the king of the understatement. I find his writing tender, intimate and sensual. This cross generational story of love and revenge, of heterosexual and lesbian love, of 'beauty and sadness' is a surprising mix of the modern and old fashioned. It is probably my favourite of his novels.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Sublime descriptions

The narration was lovely and the story unusual. No suspense but beautiful with its calm and tragic notes.

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