Grass on the Wayside =: Michikusa

Grass on the Wayside =: Michikusa
by Natsume Sōseki
Definitely Soseki`s most serious book. His only autobiographical novel (excluding perhaps fragments of Botchan in
which he used his own experiences as a teacher to drive the story), and the last novel he completed prior to his
relatively early death. And yet, given all of this, it is considerably lesser known than some of his earlier works like
Botchan, Kokoro, and I am a Cat.
This is not an easy book to read, even though it falls in less than 200 pages. Similar to I am a Cat, it is fragments of
the life of Soseki`s alter-ego, Kenzo, who, like Soseki was put up for adoption only later to be return to his birth
family, with his past adoptive life and parents creeping up on him for their own material gain (the reason they
took him up for adoption in the first place, adoption in the Meiji Era in Japan is quite different to the Western style
and you may want to look up on it prior to reading this)
As shown in the Grass on the Wayside, Soseki never really forgave his parents for their dis-ownership of him, nor
his adoptive parents for only using him as an object, like a share, which may offer future dividends. This may be
one of the reasons why it is evident in this, and quite a few other of his books that isolation, loneliness, and the
fear to love others is so prevalent.
Notably the fore-founder of modern Japanese literature, Soseki didn`t always have it well off, even though prior to
the Meiji Restoration his family was what you may call in the bourgeois. A lot of readers tend to appreciate
reading about struggling writers/people in general, almost every well supported and developed character in this
story is in that position.
This story does not move fast, and I strongly recommend you reading some of Soseki`s lighter books, or at least
Kokoro prior to checking this out. I think, sometimes to really appreciate an author you have to read past his
books, and be able to grasp an understanding of the person behind the books too. Grass on the Wayside is a
prime example of this, and it sheds light on aspects in previous novels by Soseki that I have read that I was
unbeknownst to.|
Carino, più all'inizio che verso il finale in realtà.
Diciamo che l'inizio del libro era pieno di promesse e aspettative e quando ho chiuso il libro non ho potuto fare a
meno di chiedermi- tutto qua?. Il libro comunque è molto meglio di come mi aspettassi, mi è piaciuto
decisamente. Il modo di scrivere di Soseki mi piace, e questo è il primo dei sui libri che riesco a leggere ma ora
sono curiosa e ho intenzione di andare a cercare qualcos'altro di suo perché credo proprio meriti.|Amazingly
meno di chiedermi- tutto qua?. Il libro comunque è molto meglio di come mi aspettassi, mi è piaciuto
decisamente. Il modo di scrivere di Soseki mi piace, e questo è il primo dei sui libri che riesco a leggere ma ora
sono curiosa e ho intenzione di andare a cercare qualcos'altro di suo perché credo proprio meriti.|Amazingly
introspective.
“I am not as hard as I seem. For the right person, I too could shed a few tears.”
This novel is mainly on Kenzo monologue. His feeling, his wife feeling, his family issue. Everything not only from
his own point of view but he also tried to view himself from others perspective. Especially when it comes to him
and his wife relationship.
Soseki novels have always been about himself and the loneliness he felt with the characters serve as an alter ego
for Soseki.
"He thirsted for blood, and since others were not available for slaughter, he sucked his own blood and was
satisfied.”
Botchan in Botchan
Sensei in Kokoro
Kenzo in Michikusa
If you were accustomed to Soseki previous works than you might be able to relate each character with Kenzo since
this autobiographical novel is about Soseki by Soseki himself.|Just reread Edwin McClellan's perfect translation of
this. It is probably my favorite Soseki novel: his only vaguely autobiographical work, he is devastating not only
about his family, but himself ("Kenzo") as well. Misanthropy turned into an aesthetic, almost advice for living. I
especially admire the novel's omniscient narrator, who always says the right thing at the right time. I can see
Americans puzzled over a novel where everyone is broke but still have house servants- but this is Japan over a
century ago. Read it and learn.|Although I could appreciate the complexities of both the protagonist and his wife,
this book just plain depressed me. I feel guilty, because I know that I'm not evaluating the book for its literary
value. Objectively, i could appreciate the work for its depth, its unapologetic portrayal of the main character.
Subjectively, though, seeing the world through his pessimistic, joyless eyes was claustrophobic.
That said, it could have just been a bad translation. I have a feeling that Meiji/Taisho era Japanese literature does
not translate easily or well into English no matter how good the translation, anyhow. I'll have to read it in Japanese
and reevaluate.