The Woman in the Dunes

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It's a hit!

Haunting and Brilliant. This book made me rush out and buy every other Abe that I could find. It did. it made me. strange.

 

 

by Facebook User

No, it's a flop!

Non, je suis désolé, les gens normaux (ou bien écrits) ne commentent pas extensivement leurs moindres faits, gestes, et pensées. Possible que ça so... (show more)

Non, je suis désolé, les gens normaux (ou bien écrits) ne commentent pas extensivement leurs moindres faits, gestes, et pensées. Possible que ça soit plus crédible en japonais, mais Virginia Woolf l'a fait en mieux, plus tôt, et de manière plus intéressante et poétique. La traduction vieillote n'aide pas les choses non plus. Bref, à lire parce que c'est un classique, mais sans plus. (show less)

 

 

by Nagisa Yuurai

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  Having seen Teshigahara's film rendition before reading the novel, I knew the course this novel took as I went; nevertheless, it was no less thought provoking. Importantly, Niki's thought process, while well represented in the film, proved to be too important to be effectively captured in film. He was not "normal," but rather admittedly abnormal despite his adamancy that normalcy is a necessary prerequisite for abnormality. Abe is hopeful in his absurd novel, as evident in Niki repa... (show more)

  Having seen Teshigahara's film rendition before reading the novel, I knew the course this novel took as I went; nevertheless, it was no less thought provoking. Importantly, Niki's thought process, while well represented in the film, proved to be too important to be effectively captured in film. He was not "normal," but rather admittedly abnormal despite his adamancy that normalcy is a necessary prerequisite for abnormality. Abe is hopeful in his absurd novel, as evident in Niki repairing his "hope" and choosing to exist in the sand, if only under the justification of continuing in his study of the pump so that he may show someone. He finds purpose and therefore finds the freedom that he never had. Or had he simply been defeated and resigned? At minimum, while Abe depicts a stark portrait of purposeless toil that is life, he allowed life to shine through by allowing Niki to make his own mental choice. (show less)

   

   

  by Joshua Hecker on Aug 22, 2009 at 03:51AM

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  Inspired by French existentialism, more precisely by "Le mythe de Sisyphe", Abe builds an eerie as well as fascinating story about beings who, for a reason or another, find themselves in a sandy hole from which they can or will not escape, which is a metaphor for life's ever-going repetition and alienation onto others. Similar theme can be found in popular culture, for example in the well-known "Groundhog Day" movie, though in a departing humoristic fashion. Abe leads here... (show more)

  Inspired by French existentialism, more precisely by "Le mythe de Sisyphe", Abe builds an eerie as well as fascinating story about beings who, for a reason or another, find themselves in a sandy hole from which they can or will not escape, which is a metaphor for life's ever-going repetition and alienation onto others. Similar theme can be found in popular culture, for example in the well-known "Groundhog Day" movie, though in a departing humoristic fashion. Abe leads here a more literary and ambitious effort, centered on the men's "traditional" existentialist awakening, and the silent acceptation/denial of her condition from his antagonist (the Woman in the Dunes herself).The result, if occidental in structure and tone, retains a typical Japanese side, mainly appearing in the relationship between each character and his/her body, as well as the relationship between each other's bodies. The movie by Teshigahara, adapted from the book by Abe himself, goes further on this point, showing a rather dreamy side and assumed sensuality. (show less)

   

  by Facebook User on Feb 14, 2009 at 10:39AM

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