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.

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.

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.

Melancholic / Mysterious / Contemplative / Bittersweet / Serene

- Snow Country was the first novel by Yasunari Kawabata, published in 1937, to gain international recognition, contributing to his winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968.
- The novel is noted for its poetic prose and vivid imagery, often drawing comparisons to traditional Japanese arts such as haiku and kabuki.
- Snow Country is set in a remote onsen town, reflecting Kawabata's own fascination with rural Japan and capturing the transient beauty and melancholy of the changing seasons.

**Shimamura**  
A wealthy man from Tokyo who frequently visits an onsen town, often indulging in personal pleasures. His interactions with others in the town reveal his detachment from reality and privilege.

**Komako**  
A geisha in the snow country town who becomes involved with Shimamura. She is deeply connected to her responsibilities, influencing her interactions and personal struggles throughout the story.

**Yoko**  
An elusive character and romantic interest of Shimamura, known for her aloof and inscrutable demeanor. She is not a geisha and has a complicated relationship with Komako.

Study Guide

Book Brief

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Book Brief Snow Country

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Snow Country Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Pages 1-38

Snow Country Part 1, Pages 1-38 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Pages 39-88

Snow Country Part 1, Pages 39-88 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Pages 89-145

Snow Country Part 2, Pages 89-145 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Pages 150-174

Snow Country Part 2, Pages 150-174 Summary & Analysis

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Snow Country Character Analysis

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Snow Country Themes

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Yasunari Kawabata

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Who Should Read Snow Country?

Shimamura

Komako

Yoko