作者名称 国旗国籍

Shamus

EN

CN

2020.03.11 22:09

2020 Book Reviews

4

Otogizōshi: The Fairy Tale Book of Dazai

Osamu by Osami Dazai

This is a collection of four retellings of Japanese fairy tales. I found them all entertaining and felt that Dazai did a good job at highlighting the nature of each story and also giving his own commentaries on them. This style of storytelling helps the reader to feel as though the author is conversing with them directly and I enjoy it sometimes.

Many Japanese people will perhaps already be familiar with these stories though I'd still recommend them to anyone as these are Dazai's retellings from his own perspective. He also interjects humour into the stories and I enjoyed his approach to dialogue that fleshes out each character well, for example, the sarcastic nature of the tortoise in the story of Urashima-san is brilliantly realised through his snide remarks throughout the story.
77 17

Download the HelloTalk app to join the conversation.

Comments

  • Shamus 2020.03.11 22:09

    EN
    CN

    My favourite story here was probably The Sparrow Who Lost Her Tongue though they are all in their own ways fantastical.
  • Jo 2020.03.12 00:56

    CN
    EN

    My impression of Osamu Dazai is a extremely depressed figure with tormented spirit. His No Longer Human is better-known and it’s definitely nothing you should read when you’re feeling down about your own life. He would make you doubt your existence more.. Maybe the fairy tales would be more pleasant to read.
  • Jo 2020.03.12 00:57

    CN
    EN

    And you stood up late yesterday 😄
  • Mac 2020.03.12 02:34

    JP
    EN

    I had no idea Dazai wrote children's book. I wonder if he put some of his weariness into the tales.
  • Shamus 2020.03.12 08:40

    EN
    CN

    @Jo @Mac No Longer Human is of my favourite novels. These fairy tales are lighter than that book but they are not so light either. There is, I believe, a general misconception that fairy tales are for children. I suppose that can be true, especially when they are toned down and their more mature themes are subdued but that isn't really the case with this collection. Dazai tells more than just the essence of these stories and so he includes much of the violence too. Especially in the story of Click-Clack Mountain.
  • Shamus 2020.03.12 08:40

    EN
    CN

    @Jo Yeah. I posted just before going to sleep. 😊
  • Shamus 2020.03.12 12:03

    EN
    CN

    1
  • Shamus 2020.03.12 12:03

    EN
    CN

    2
  • Shamus 2020.03.12 12:03

    EN
    CN

    3
  • Shamus 2020.03.12 12:03

    EN
    CN

    4
  • Mac 2020.03.12 12:13

    JP
    EN

    @Shamus カチカチ山(笑)It's such a long time I read the stories as well as Dazai's works. Grim Fairly Tales are also pretty gruesome. What' wrong with people in those times? lol I gusss such was the life in those says...
  • Jo 2020.03.12 15:02

    CN
    EN

    @Shamus yes you’re right. It just reminded me of the origin of fairy tales which was for adult readers. Even the Little Red Riding Hood changed some of its original plots to make it acceptable for young readers. Also, there’re some tales with political underlying meanings.
  • Jo 2020.03.12 15:06

    CN
    EN

    @Shamus I was reading the Click-Clack Mountain. Not finished yet but very interestingly it gave me a new perspective to see Dazai as a dad when he talked about his daughter and the cruelty of the story.
  • Jo 2020.03.12 15:09

    CN
    EN

    @Shamus btw this collection was also done at a special period of time. Consider he was suffering from the horror of air raids and still kept writing down..
  • Anna 2020.03.20 13:40

    CN
    JP

    “精神的洁癖,让像太宰治一样的人容不得半点的伤害,他活在自己的世界里,卑微而自由。他想要打破什么,却又没有方向。他的痛苦在于他用心看着漆黑的世界。” 这是当年鲁迅给太宰治的一段评价。
  • D.E.V.I.A.T.I.O.N. 2020.03.28 13:37

    CN
    EN

    5
  • anasseel 2020.04.26 15:22

    AR
    EN

    Hi , I share with you this new android app : Stories - English Fairy Tales https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stories.fairy.tales install and share 😉

Open HelloTalk to join the conversation