Rashomon: Selected Short Stories by Akutagawa Ryunosuke

When reading foreign books, what is more important is the skill of the translator. The translator of this book is excellent.

The so-called novel is to reflect the potential "not rationality but reality" in life and society. The characteristics of Ryunosuke Akutagawa's writing are that every word is precious, and his "life is not as good as a line of Baudelaire". His characteristic is that he uses historical themes to express the thoughts of modern people and uses the ancients to pour out his heart. Rashomon, Nose, Hell Transformation, Akiyama Pictures, In the Bamboo Grove, and Kappa are all very good. The life of a fool ~ a fragment of autobiography, "I have nothing more. I only have the desire to create." The inspiration of art and the flash of spirit are like the purple sparks emitted by wires, willing to burn life to gain a moment of brilliant brilliance. The wisest life is to despise the habits of an age and do nothing to destroy them. The things we most want to boast about are simply the things we don't have… Reducing material desires does not necessarily lead to peace. To achieve peace we must also reduce our spiritual desires. It points out that people have contradictory feelings in their hearts, that is, they sympathize with others' misfortune, but they feel bored after others get rid of misfortune, and even hope that they will fall into misfortune again.

Not only is the world written by Akutagawa full of nuances of human nature, but he also has unique insights and thoughts about his era and his country. We can read it often and stay fresh. I won't go into too much detail because it's a spoiler, haha.

This book is very deep, and Ryunosuke Akutagawa's portrayal of human nature is really penetrating. His novels always resonate with me, especially the complexities and helplessness of human nature. As the book says, there are many choices in life. Sometimes we would rather be soberly miserable than confusedly happy. I think he is a true artist who can touch readers' hearts with his words. I recommend you read it, you will definitely have a different feeling.

The article is detailed and the translator did an excellent job.

After reading all the short stories, I have mixed feelings in my heart. In fact, it contains a lot of content, and the space for interpretation is wider. You can see the powerlessness and depression about the destiny of life, and you can also see the analysis and doubt of human nature. We are all as small as dust in this world. Rather than saying that everyone shines in his own field, it is better to say that everyone can only live his own life and cannot interfere with the lives and destiny of others. Therefore, the self-interest or distortion of human nature is also revealed at this moment. All we can do is not to be eliminated by this world. This is the little tenderness we can leave behind.

Very good read, the author writes well

I seem to have read Akutagawa Ryunosuke before, and now I read it again, but I can't remember when I read it. The translation is very good, there is no sense of violation, and it feels like the smooth connection between Chinese and Japanese cultures.

I really like "In the Bamboo Forest" It feels a bit similar to the style of "The Bus Driver Who Wanted to Be God". Friends who are not satisfied with reading it can read this one.

The writing style is weird and weird, quite like Li He's style

There are only perspectives and no truth in the world. This can be seen from Rashomon.

Every short story is wonderful, the sentences are beautiful, the translation is excellent, and the annotations can help you understand the novel very well!

Ryunosuke Akutagawa writes very well

Pungent and thorough satire and characterization can help us better see the nature of human nature and society. I think Akutagawa Ryunosuke does this very well.