42 pages • 1 hour read
Thousand Cranes
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Book Brief
147
Novel • Fiction
Japan • 1950s
1952
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata follows Kikuji, an orphaned young businessman, as he navigates the legacy of his father's infidelity against the backdrop of traditional Japanese tea culture, becoming entangled with his father's former lovers and their families while struggling with societal expectations and personal grief. Includes discussion of suicide.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
14,373 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata is often praised for its delicate prose and evocative exploration of traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, highlighting themes of beauty and transience. However, some readers find its narrative pacing slow and characters emotionally distant. The novel's subtlety and cultural depth make it a unique, though sometimes challenging, read.
Who Should Read Thousand Cranes?
Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata appeals to readers who appreciate lyrical prose and nuanced explorations of human emotion and tradition. Fans of Yukio Mishima's The Sound of Waves and Kazuo Ishiguro's An Artist of the Floating World will enjoy its introspective narrative and evocation of Japanese aesthetics and culture.
14,373 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
147
Novel • Fiction
Japan • 1950s
1952
Adult
18+ years
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