37 pages 1 hour read

Yasunari Kawabata

Snow Country

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1937

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Snow Country by Yasunari Kawabata, set on the snowy northwestern coast of Japan, follows the doomed romance between Shimamura, a wealthy married man, and Komako, a geisha. Their relationship unfolds in and around an onsen, exploring themes of love, isolation, and the ephemeral nature of beauty against the backdrop of rural Japan's harsh winters. The book includes discussions of sex work and suicide.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country captivates with its exquisite prose and evocative descriptions of Japan's mountainous region. Critics laud its lyrical beauty and deep exploration of human emotions. However, some find the narrative's slow pace and ambiguity challenging. Overall, Kawabata's novel is celebrated for its artistic merit and melancholic depth.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Snow Country?

Fans of lyrical prose, introspective narratives, and evocative settings will admire Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country. Readers who appreciate the nuanced exploration of human emotions found in Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day or the delicate beauty in Haruki Murakami's works will find this novel compelling.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Classic Fiction

Japanese Literature

Romance

Themes

Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Emotions/Behavior: Love

Identity: Femininity

Period

Asian Literature

Topics

History: World