Wednesday 8 March 2023

Book Review: Palm-of-the-Hand Stories by Kawabata Yasunari (Short Stories)

Title: Palm-of-the-Hand Stories
Author: Kawabata Yasunari
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication Date: 2006 (1971)
Pages: 288
Format: Paperback
Genre: Modern Classics/Short Stories
Source: Xmas Gift

Recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968, the novelist Yasunari Kawabata felt the essence of his art was to be found not in his longer works but in a series of short stories--which he called "Palm-of-the-Hand Stories"--written over the span of his career. In them we find loneliness, love, and the passage of time, demonstrating the range and complexity of a true master of short fiction.

 

Palm-of-the-Hand Stories was a lovely collection of short stories, most of which were very thoughtful, contemplative pieces. Kawabata was able to tell a lot in a short word count and all the stories felt complete in and of themselves. I personally prefer his longer-form works, but I am still glad I gave this collection a try and I recommend it for fans of short stories and Japanese 20th century literature. It gets 4.5 stars from me.

No comments:

Post a Comment