The Woman In The Dunes - Kobo Abe BOOK REVIEW

[@xMotivationFix]

Not long ago i was not a reader at all, but few teacher in my university planted a seed, that blossomed into a new born passion for literature. With great vigor i started exploring great writers like Steinbeck, Orwell, kerouac, Bukowski, and i found great knowledge and enjoyment from that journey that is still ongoing even to this day. I'm not afraid to admit that I'm not that fastest reader (English being my second language, and the nature of the books i read), i do read, but in small portions and always religiously, every single day, no exceptions. For a guy like me a channel like yours is simply a godsend. Me and my teachers parted ways, as it should be, and now i feel like my literary journey continues along side your channel, I'm extremely grateful for the work you do here, and i wish i could show it financially, but my current situation unfortunately does not allow me to do so. I know this is a long post, and i do apologize, but i felt that this had to be said, thank you very much for giving me such great material to read, and thank you for showing me that life is way too short to read bullshit. (probably) Your biggest Bulgarian fan Borislav. Благодаря!

[@baileyneve9079]

I thought it was interesting the way you interpreted the old villager vetting him/asking him if he's from the government. I never thought of it in the sense that he was trying to gauge how important he was or how much he would be missed. The way I interpreted it when I read it initially, was that he didn't want a government official coming into the village where they were holding multiple people captive. But your way is really very interesting. Almost makes it more sinister.

[@Antastesia]

One of the most interesting books I've read, which I am sure would deserve to be read more than once. It was great to hear you talk about it!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Antastesia heeey happy new year! Hope you're doing very well!

[@ternitamas]

On watching "Under the skin" I couldn't help but automatically link the soundtrack to that of "Woman in the dunes" very claustrophobic too

[@FlackooPretty]

Wow man, believe me we are noticing the new quality in your editing too! The book passages work so well here! Great job! Superb video and another book on my list.

[@simeonsmith9112]

Did you never work at a repetitive job? Did you never hate the routine job that goes on and on and achieves nothing? Here is your chance to stand aside and watch yourself shoveling sand night after night for all time; being ground down by mindless labor. Here is your chance to remember what those jobs were like that you once held. Here also is the chance to reflect on yourself and how and what you did or didn't do to break free of the robot job. Watching the movie or reading the book is refreshing to compare my life then and my life now. Growing old is great as the memory becomes swiss cheese-like; full of holes; watching the great movies again has rewards every time.

[@elmooko69]

I just found your channel today after finishing this book this weekend. Very insightful talk on the book & its meaning! Always nice to meet a fellow follower of JBP!

[@VikMaslyak]

One of my favorite books of all time. So nice to hear your input as always.

[@111min5]

wow, that's amazing!!! I didn't know many western readers are fond of Abe. As a Japanese I hate Haruki lol. He's too overestimated . But Abe is worthy to read

[@marinamashtaler1521]

Recently there was a perfomance based "The Woman In The Dunes"in Institute of Grotowski in Wroclaw . There were only two actors: woman and a man. The limiting of a kontext made the desert some kind of universe in which only Man and a Woman exist, so it was possible to interpretate the spectacle in some general meanings. For me it was narration about relation between someone, who creates his/her space, stays in one place, and someone, who is wandering, looking for new meetings. It was about freedom, some life choices.

[@systekmusic]

The film is great too!

[@allofthemmilkingwithgreenf7493]

Artificer One of the best!

[@marceloadelar]

it is one of my top 10 movies, it's so visually appalling

[@alexandrahope8814]

Happy New Year, Cliff!!! I have loved your content and I can't wait for what you have in stock for us in the new year... thank you for you and for the books you read, and review. You make my booklist more grown up 💞

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Not too grown up I hope!

[@kahansudev5937]

wonder what you think about Jordan Peterson now? Great review btw

[@selwynr]

Abe is astonishing. The Ruined Map is a masterwork. Every book he wrote, and his plays, are worth your time. He is perhaps a kind of Japanese Kafka/Carroll hybrid, but ultimately he is an original. The film based on the book you're reviewing is sensational as well. And he also prefigures and clearly influnced so much contemporary Japanese fiction, from the two Murakamis, Tagawa, Tawada, Murata, Oyamada and many others.

[@LevianPeace]

My personal view is that she's trapped by circumstances. Even if she escapes the villagers, where would she go? What can she do in a city? For him, I would say he returns because he has found his mark in history (within the village), a greater mark than he would with an insect.

[@OpenMind7024]

i hope youll find something more interesting as merch articles than the usual coffee mugs and tshirts. great video, it didnt hit me as few others had before but slowly your reviews are becoming like chapters of a story being told to me. that way this very one was more like perfect in its humble way, still supporting the rest of the structure, perfectly fitting into the flow of your beautiful work.

[@johndickson4575]

Cliff, I found your channel by searching for reviews for Hard to be a God. Following a search for reviews of The Recognitions I became a subscriber. Keep up the good work.

[@roryalexanderm]

This books sounds very interesting, something I could see as a Junji Ito work. Who I think you would love!

[@jcrass2361]

Perhaps not the best review to listen to while I'm at work, slowly stocking shelves at my retail job. lol But in all seriousness we exist in two worlds, the physical and the mental. We need to struggle to find ourselves. I find myself getting idle wanting to just accept my fate, but this isolation is mostly our doing. Seems like an interesting read, I think I'll pick it up.

[@BaileeWalsh]

I've heard of the 1964 movie adaptation. I didn't know it was based on a book. Sounds very interesting! Not sure if I'll pick up the book, I might, but I'll definitely see the movie. It's one of Criterion's titles. I see Eiji Okada is Niki Jumpei and I just watched Hiroshima Mon Amour a few days ago, which he is also in.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

One of my all time favorites - Very beautiful / depressing film - thanks for watching.

[@111min5]

there's a movie available on KZbin. You might try :) You have very good taste of movie

[@lindawa2073]

I just finished this horrifying yet exciting book and I'm not sure how to feel now... Frankly I was a little confused at times. Mostly of the womans behaviour... Great video, thanks for the summary!

[@asderc1]

Very underrated film with an incredible soundtrack, I'll have to check out the book now.

[@NightmarishWaltz]

It's not related to this video but you know i recently saw "A Quiet Night" and for some reason i liked it so much that it convinced me to walk 20 blocks at 5:50 AM to think about getting mental help for my depression. Also now i love Bolaño.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Don Rodrigo Biolador That's the best compliment I've got for the film - that made it all worth it. Stay strong, thanks for sharing.

[@ValBlanc19]

Another great review. Happy new year!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

You too!

[@ShakinSlim]

Hi, Clifford. I just wanted to take a minute to say how happy I am to have come across your channel. I've always been a determined reader myself, and it's great to hear from other people who share the interest. We also share an interest in Japanese literature, coffee, and Dr. Jordan Peterson, it seems. Anyway, all the best and I'll keep watching. There's a lot to catch up on, it seems!

[@ShakinSlim]

By the way, I felt the same as you about the film adaptation. There is a particular scene where Niki climbs on the roof of the house in an attempt to throw a kind of ad-hoc grapple hook out of the hole and climb out. The composition of that scene is so damned good.

[@venusdemilo4808]

Great review man! I'm completely fond of this book. Greetings from Brazil.

[@mric4069]

Very great analysis, great thoughts at the end there. Totally agree.

[@bayarea650foxhound]

just bought the book gonna read it. if its good ima buy one for my prison pen pal i been corresponding with. hopefully she digs this type of book. anyways keep up the good work your channel rocks 🤙

[@gabrielam2743]

Your devotion constantly amaze me. Jealous of your driven approach and grateful for reviewing tasty books and reminding of great music band. Thank you man!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Of course, thanks for watching!

[@gabrielam2743]

I highly recommend you(damn it sounds so dry) Kiss of The Spider Woman by Puig. Book will crush your heart, the movile has similar impact.

[@morisoba2550]

Excellent review. I hope you will read The Face of Another, which is an another masterpiece of Abe.

[@halbarmensch6304]

I've been reading through Irvine Welshs Trainspotting. This is in preparation for the sequel to the movie.

[@paradiceislost9]

Read this back in October, after a few months what really stuck with me was the returning inevitability of the sand swallowing everything.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

scaldbrother it's intense yeah?

[@paradiceislost9]

Very, thought it was quite similar to the Trial by the end. I was surprised how European his influences seemed to be, maybe any Japanese references went over my head. Heard his later stuff gets even more surreal.

[@angelgoddess10]

I wanted to write a thesis on these postwar Japanese novelists but I still cannot get my mind to focus. So I needed to hear points of view by brilliant readers.

[@david500006]

All the Names, by Jose Saramago. The Sense of an Ending, by Julian Barnes. Breakfast at Tiffany's, by Truman Capote. I'm pretty sure they're all better than food; I would love to hear your thoughts on them.

[@thekeywitness]

I rewatched the movie version not long ago. It seems to follow the book closely and stays with you afterward.

[@brucewayne2628]

unrelated to this review, but i just started reading some of the french writer Gabrielle Wittkop's stuff, such as the necrophiliac, and thought in the unlikely case you haven't heard of her you might quite 'enjoy' her works. very poetic on a disturbing topic. much in line with georges bataille.

[@normbabbitt4325]

You convinced me, I'll read the book. I loved the movie.

[@lionstandingII]

Is Peterson still "brilliant"?

[@dppid083wk7]

one must imagine sisyphus happy

[@whiteike255]

Great as always, i would love to see you do something of James Joyce. Also on the movie side of things, have you seen the film Oldboy? If not it's one of the most powerful things I've ever seen and thought of you when I saw it.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Isaac White yeah it's, for me, The Best martial arts/drama/revenge film. Flawless.

[@BoneMachine28]

Spot on regarding the film, it's a masterpiece. Can't pronounce myself about the book... yet. But will buy it as soon as possible.

[@andrewreyespatriot]

Dear Mr. Better Than Food, Thank you for your awesome videos. I stumbled upon your channel after I completed Blood Meridian a few months ago. And thank you for making this channel for I have went out and purchased many books and read them just by watching your channel. If there's any way I could put in a suggestion, please review "The Son" by Phillip Meyer. Have a great New Year and thank you for making reviews of great literary works. A fan, Andrew, Texas, USA

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks for watching Andrew! Really appreciate it, I love Texas, got family in Houston. May move there one day. I'll try to pick that up, Happy New Year bud.

[@andrewreyespatriot]

Better Than Food: Book Reviews I'm in the Houston area myself. And thank you sir! Since you're a fan of Texas, "The Son" is an epic novel based in and about our great state. I think you would definitely enjoy it. Can't wait for some more reviews!

[@FollowBetulas]

Nice man! I had just finished The Box Man a few days ago. Talk about coincidence.

[@abbymeyer5604]

One of my absolute favourite novels. The ending really struck a chord with me; the way he has a chance to escape but doesn't. I guess you could see that as either pessimistic or optimistic. I like to think he found some meaning of his own in his existence in the sands, but maybe that's over-hopeful.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

NO! It's good to have optimism! You could even say, 'he escaped the prison THAT WAS HIS ANXIETY!' If he doesn't feel like he's in prison...... Is he? Thanks for watching happy new year

[@abbymeyer5604]

Haha, that's a great way of putting it!

[@andrewfurlan4691]

​@@BetterThanFoodBookReviews For me the ending, where the man has his chance to escape but resigns himself to the pit, represents how humans always strive towards freedom and free will, but once obtained, very rarely grasp it, as if all we seek is the illusion of freedom, thus proving it does not actually exist.

[@theairos13]

*new pewdiepie book review brought me here*

[@rjpena6273]

The ending got me.

[@evan4years]

Same m8

[@shire151]

Great review as always man :) hope you'll have a great 2017 and I look forward to more vids.

[@SuperSporting11]

have a nice holiday season brother

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

You too thanks for watchin

[@extriolol]

I'm read few times and every time I find something interesting

[@AlexAlguacil]

12:25 I disagree when you say love won't save you. Didn't read the book, but to me the film implies (SPOILER ALERT) that at the end he can escape through love, 'cause it is after making her pregnant that they leave the ladder there for him after coming to get the pregnant woman (they don't simply forget to take it) since they don't need him anymore, he was just there to help the woman. Through love we can climb up to a better live and escape the routine-like one. Just an idea though, you brought up many good ones. Btw, music in the film is by Toru Takemitsu, a major japanese composer. Cheers.

[@marinamaccagni5253]

Awesome review as always!

[@JerryAntoine417]

You have a beautiful narrating voice. Must try recording for audiobooks.

[@PaperTowelDisspenser]

Have you ever thought about transcribing and streamlining your reviews into a published book? It would be great to see these reviews collected and on the page. I'd also use it as a list of things I need to read.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Well I have now, I really appreciate that feedback, I will seriously consider it. Thanks!!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

If/When I do, the first copy goes to you for free. For real.

[@JerryAntoine417]

Socio-political polemicism is probably not up your alley, but you should still try reading (and then do a review for) God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Very intelligent book by one of the greatest wits to have ever brought life to the written word. Happy new year and keep up the amazing videos. Cheers. :-D

[@anthonym.7653]

This book (and film) sound pretty cool.

[@al123h3]

Have you considered reviewing books by laszlo krasznahorkai? Can't say if they are any good, as i have never read them. But he seems to get mentioned as one of the great contemporary writers.

[@ankitpal3615]

A Very Happy New Year Cliff! Have you read Yasunari Kawabata?(He & Mishima were really close to each other)

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I almost read him instead of Abe! I had to choose...

[@rubeng9092]

Can you review Master and Margerita by Mikhail Bulgakow? I've heard it's quite but am not sure If wanna buy it.

[@thearmchairtraveller1496]

I'm interested to know the reason why he chose this particular title for his novel, putting the focus on the woman. And from what I gathered in the comments, the movie might help me understand?

[@nullset560]

Have you read any of the works of Flann O'Brien?

[@ferguscullen8451]

The Third Policeman is hilarious and tragic: wholeheartedly recommend Cliff Sargent reads it if he hasn't already. A somewhat surrealist fable, as this Kobo Abe book sounds to be.

[@The8tan]

OMG I got to reread that one!

[@awakenedtyler1358]

Love your channel! Can you review Siddharta by Hermann Hesse?

[@salvadorpalma8173]

This is one of my favorite fiction books. Hiroshi's adaptation is quite good too, but i felt a bit disapointed because I had read that Suna no Onna was Tarkovski's favorite film (or one of them), plus I had read the book, so my expectation was sky high. Great video as always, There is one thing I didn't understand thou. When talking about Peterson's work, you mentioned some names. Dostoievski, Tolstoi, Nietszche and another one. I listened 20 times, can't understand the word. Can you tell me who it was?

[@Mr.Pink1996]

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Salvador Palma Seth is correct - he wrote a book called the Gulag Archipelago.

[@kingofzodiac2729]

Japanese title of the book is "砂の女",which means "The woman of the sand ".

[@nikkolapangilinan3192]

Would be curious to hear your thoughts on Sebald's "Rings of Saturn" sometime

[@averykral9654]

Cliff - any tips for falling and staying asleep?

[@josiezeravla3953]

Is the village is in reality a good place or a bad place to live? Why?

[@FlackooPretty]

Hey, I'm a broke af student so I can't do the Patreon stuff yet but I'd really like to send you a book as a thank you for your videos. It is The Piano Teacher by Elfriede Jelinek. You know Austrians are creepy writers haha... You don't have to make a video about it at all, I just think you would like it! So where would I send it?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Please! I've wanted to read it Forever. I loved the film with Isabelle. Clifford Lee Sargent 106 1/2 Judge John Aiso St PMB 360 Los Angeles CA 90012

[@FlackooPretty]

Awesome!!! I just sent it via Amazon Europe, it should arrive by the end of the month! Hope you enjoy!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

FlackooPretty you're very, very kind, thank you

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Got it - THANK YOU it's awesome

[@FlackooPretty]

Glad it came! Enjoy! :)

[@Mr.Pink1996]

You should review "Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres" by Henry Adams. Love that you know who Jordan Peterson is.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I can't actually linguistically express my admiration for the man.

[@Mr.Pink1996]

Reading Maps of Meaning has literally changed everything for me. It's a very profound book and I hope you will be as enlightened by it as I've been.

[@okate251]

this analysis was going okay right up until WHAM! jordan peterson. ah well, too bad.

[@sharinganmoon]

LOL! I was about to say the same thing!! Honestly it's really sad how many scholars used to swear by peterson. He has fallen off so hard, he threw everything away. What a chump

[@princessluna2205]

Are you going to be doing any more short story reviews? Lately I wanted to read more short stories specifically from Amazon. I currently pre-order the K-Pop The Short Story book :www.amazon.com/dp/B01NAQ9JUI/ref=cm_sw_su_dp just in case anyone else is interested. I plan on buying a few mysteries and fantasies but would love to hear more reviews for 'em.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I definitely could, thanks for the suggestion.

[@pipomaggi]

you're totally right about the movie

[@jamesgwarrior1981]

Any other Kōbō Abe books? Wasn’t too keen on this one.

[@sugamtyagi101]

What are your opinions on "How to Read a Book" by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren ? or if you haven't read it, will you read it ? make a review ?

[@severalgecko]

I enjoyed this book but I felt like it would have worked better as a really concise novella. Not that it was a particularly long book, but I felt like I had a pretty good idea about how it was all going to play out, which turned out to be completely correct. I felt a bit dejected at the end that the book didn't have anything else to say to subvert my expectations. It was all a bit predictable I think I'm trying to say, but I'm not sure!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Oh I thought as soon as I thought I knew what was going on I discovered about 20 more layers of sand...

[@daneschneider5790]

funny how you mention Jordan Peterson, I just found out about him the other day and am loving his observations

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I think he's going to spread like Wildfire. I think the work he's doing is nothing short of monumental.

[@daneschneider5790]

Better Than Food: Book Reviews I couldn't agree more

[@LogicUndefined]

could not agree more.

[@cuh720]

Better Than Food: Book Reviews you called it

[@charlesgillingham61]

Book of the New Sun.

[@aidanscott3929]

Hey mate, great review as always. I've been meaning to ask you, what's the worst book you've ever read?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

diary of an oxygen thief.

[@caballerokebab]

Better Than Food: Book Reviews LOL. And it is somehow one of the most popular Dutch books right now. Wasn't even in Dutch, I don't think. There isn't even that much in Dutch cinema. The most famous one, "the vanishing," is mostly in French. Just wish they had more quality things in their beautiful language.

[@northeastohiotopicsincultu9545]

I think this book would be better if I were able to read it in the Japanese. There were a lot of parts, like the "spiritual rape," that didn't make a lot of sense to me in English.

[@Gabrielcezar94]

I've got here the face of another (not sure if that's the title), have you read it?

[@gailpinto9379]

I love your videos.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks!

[@Ardavan47]

Just finished it........ Kobo Abe... man

[@kariemh2001]

Jordan Peterson bit is killing me ahaha

[@MeGustaFootball]

I would definitely recomend dr. peterson and you have a conversation or do a podcast or something, would love to see that

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

If I can think of something that would be worth his time, or if you or ANYONE have ANY suggestions...I will try.

[@MeGustaFootball]

I would like to see you just talk about books and different ideas, mayde nietzsche, solzhenitsyn or someone / something else? You both are realy well read soo there would be a lot of stuff you could choose from.

[@ferguscullen8451]

Both you and Dr Peterson seem concerned with the actual application of psychological and philosophical ideas to everyday life, in the pursuit of self-betterment. I think you would both have a lot to contribute to a conversation on that topic. I hope it happens. Love your channel, and best of luck with your Story of the Eye adaptation: amazing book.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Fergus Jackman Cullen Thank you! I will try to find a way to do this..

[@gerardas8634]

please read box man

[@annamariasalanciova7906]

somehow reminded me of this scene in Dr House: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3K5cqdre7tlq8U Also wanted to say, that you gave a very accurate and amazing review, thank you for it ! ( I've finished reading the book yesterday but it seems like it's not the last time I read it). Keep on filming and good luck👌 this sounds cliché, but still, I'm sorry for my english (:

[@RobertBryanClough]

Hey man, what's that portable coffee thing in the intro?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Robert Clough it's a little chemex brewer

[@camerono.3183]

I was on board until you brought up JP. I will read this book however as you've sold it.

[@deltrig-fv9sy]

You ever read Burroughs's JUNKY?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Naked Lunch, Not Junky, must do it - Got some Kathy Acker in the trunk...

[@shomefive]

Food for thought: sand symbolizes time.

[@bonobo3294]

I request Kokoro by Natsume Soseki

[@TheCheweeRevolutions]

Sounds a bit like a borges short story

[@natyj1524]

when u'll publish ur own novel? 😎😀

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Naty J Working on it! Thanks for watching.

[@KawasakiKiteh]

Hot story !!

[@natyj1524]

u are so famous man!

[@petergoessner5540]

Your report is fine and the movie too. However, the movie was made as in Japan the word privacy started to be important. The lifestyle changed in direction to the west and the movie does this very well. It's a privacy movie with two famous actors. The pain, you speaking from is of course not the same like Dostojewski or etc. Kobo and Mishima have maybe read such books, but certainly not studied like you and your beloved professor. The world of Kobo Abe became famous, because his books, maybe only this book, was without any Zweifel straight imported in western phycologist thinking. That's all. But it isn't the book.

[@Hartigan9891]

Clifford I love your insight, would it be fair to say you're in the same camp as fascist philosophers for certain questions? I ask in good faith as I am invigorated by the same influences.

[@marynao6636]

The shack was her Sanctuary, her Independence. The sand was her guardian, protection from the beastly creatures in the village and from herself.

[@bobsbigboy_]

Wish I had a girlfriend

[@thomastheobscure351]

Why don't you pick up some poetry?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

How about Baudelaire?

[@thomastheobscure351]

Better Than Food: Book Reviews That'd be truly wondrous! Baudelaire-with his infirmities, with his vices, his pangs, his misery and sins. Close to les poètes maudits. And, it worth being noted, he was a loser-someone who managed to always wage badly, a true artist, and above all, poet who failed in life in order, perhaps, to make way for art. As I said, I think a video about his spleen would be amazing. Really looking forward to it!

[@zulunation90s95]

See Kyle Second that!