Brothers

Name: Brothers
Author: [Japan] Written by Natsume Soseki, Translated by Wang Ming

哥儿

by [Japan] Written by Natsume Soseki, Translated by Wang Ming ([日]夏目漱石著,汪明译)

Status: Completed
Source: Fanqie

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Stats

9.3Score

12Chapters

Synopsis

"Brother" describes a straightforward, reckless but simple, kind-hearted young man with a sense of justice. After his parents died and he graduated from school, he left Tokyo to teach in a school elsewhere. As soon as he entered society, he fell into people's intrigues and plots against each other. He fought hard but fell into traps one after another. He felt strange and lonely. In the end, he beat up his enemies, got angry, and returned to Tokyo to make a living. The novel exposes and criticizes the evil forces in society and profit-seeking interpersonal relationships. The language is humorous, bright and simple, and contains the beneficial elements of "rakugo" (a kind of folk art similar to cross talk) in popular literature. It is funny and interesting. More importantly, it expresses the typical character of the cheerful "Edo child" and adds a permanent and lovely image to the history of Japanese literature. Through the various dramatic conflicts between his brother and the common people around him after he entered society, the author pungently and skillfully satirized the ugly phenomena in society, lashed out at despicability, power and hypocrisy, and praised justice, straightforwardness and innocence. The writing is smooth, the rhythm is lively, and the image is vivid. The whole article is as smooth as Sakagami's taking a pill, flowing in one breath, combining solemnity and harmony, and full of wit and humor. It is still a popular work today and is indeed a rare masterpiece among modern Japanese literary works.

Reader comments

I read it in two breaths. I will briefly describe my feelings, but I cannot give any spoilers, so it may seem empty. Overall, it is a brisk but thick book. The whole book has Natsume Soseki's usual witty humor. Both the language of the article and the storyline are presented in a relaxed and smooth way. For example, when describing the protagonist's "reckless" personality at the beginning, he uses "I" to describe it in a casual tone, expressing the originally serious matter very easily. In addition, there are many interesting narratives with Natsume Soseki's characteristics in the article, which can always make people smile when reading. The storyline of the article is not complicated, but the pace is refreshing and not boring. The unique personality of the protagonist not only adds to the interest of the story, but also reflects part of social reality. Even now, hundreds of years later, some of the metaphorical ideas in the article still have reference significance. Of course, even if you put aside those things and read it purely as a pastime, you will never be disappointed. Finally, to describe it vividly, reading this book is like eating a delicious snack. It may not be as luxurious as a banquet, with all kinds of things available to dazzle you. But the unique flavor can also satisfy your imagination at the same time. So, it looks good! Look!
5 likes1y ago
Every villain with a nickname can find a prototype around me. [Cry]
3 likes2y ago
Easy and straightforward. It is probably also the prototype of "Spicy Teacher" in later generations.
2 likes4y ago
I especially liked his experience in the wilderness, especially his interactions with the boatmen, which were hilarious. Just like my brother said: "This country boy is stupid." This sentence really made me laugh for a long time. This book is not only humorous, but also satirizes the ugly phenomena of society. It is really a good book!
1 like2y ago
It satirizes the society and hypocritical people at that time in a humorous and interesting way. Natsume Soseki's early works are brisk and bright, suitable for beginners.
1 like2y ago
A little book to pass the time, looks more like a diary than a novel
1y ago
Well enough. The characters are very vivid, Aqing is like a loving grandmother, and "I" is also a young and energetic "loyal brother".
1y ago