Publication
Amsterdam Bananafish 2018
ISBN
9789492254177
Language
Collections
Description
The Hunting Gun follows the consequences of a tragic love affair. Told from the viewpoints of three different women, this is a story of the psychological impact of illicit love. First viewed through the eyes of Shoko, who learns of the affair through reading her mother's diary, then through the eyes of Midori, who had long known about the affair of her husband with Saiko, and finally through the eyes of Saiko herself. This novella is incredibly powerful, with universal resonance and a true modern classic of the 20th century.
Genres
User reviews
LibraryThing member Banoo
This was a beautiful little book that took me by surprise. It is poetry in prose form... touching and sad.
A man is seen walking up a mountain with a pipe in his mouth and a gun strapped across his back. He is seen by the narrator as the personification of loneliness and writes a short poem about
The first letter is from the lonely man's mistress' daughter, the second from his wife, and the third from the mistress.
These three letters are enough to drive anyone up into the mountains on an early autumn morning with a gun.
'I and Misugi too will be sinners. And since it is impossible for us not to be sinners, let us be great sinners.'
A man is seen walking up a mountain with a pipe in his mouth and a gun strapped across his back. He is seen by the narrator as the personification of loneliness and writes a short poem about
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him that's published in a hunting magazine. The man recognizes himself in the poem and mails the narrator 3 letters to explain his cloak of emptiness and possibly share his burdens... and the story begins... a story of infidelity, sorrow, and loneliness.The first letter is from the lonely man's mistress' daughter, the second from his wife, and the third from the mistress.
These three letters are enough to drive anyone up into the mountains on an early autumn morning with a gun.
'I and Misugi too will be sinners. And since it is impossible for us not to be sinners, let us be great sinners.'
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LibraryThing member DRFP
A book that slowly reveals its charms and hidden emotions. It doesn't seem more impressive than Akutagawa's In The Grove to begin with but by the end I was definitely won over.
LibraryThing member mgiampaoli
Interestingly told story. Conclusion was puzzling.
LibraryThing member saresmoore
Beautifully composed, honest, original. I need to collect my thoughts before I can give this an adequate "review". This book is near perfect for me—containing all the elements of rich prose and powerful storytelling to make an exceptional reading experience—and yet in so few pages. Amazing.
Original publication date
1949