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An Artist of the Floating World

Kazuo Ishiguro

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Aug 04, 2022 Theresa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, highly-recommended-by-me, east-asia, z-2022-top-10

We first meet Ono in 1948, an older artist who like Japan itself is struggling its way forward after the devastation of WWII and its ignominious defeat, surrender to, and occupation by the Americans. Ono and his remaining family are worried about his youngest daughter's matrimonial prospects, especially as the delicate investigations and negotiations between the 2 families begin. It leads Ono to revisit, both in person and in his memories, his past and the choices he made as an artist and a patr We first meet Ono in 1948, an older artist who like Japan itself is struggling its way forward after the devastation of WWII and its ignominious defeat, surrender to, and occupation by the Americans. Ono and his remaining family are worried about his youngest daughter's matrimonial prospects, especially as the delicate investigations and negotiations between the 2 families begin. It leads Ono to revisit, both in person and in his memories, his past and the choices he made as an artist and a patriot. We also see how Ono uses memory sometimes to shy away from past incidents and truths, and other times to manipulate them into a more comfortable shape.

At the beginning, in 1948, Ono is living in the rubble of war, cast adrift from his past life of esteem and influence, unable to paint, mourning the past and family. By book's end in 1950, Ono and his family have settled into the new Japan. His youngest daughter is well married and happy, more grandchildren are due, and Ono has started painting again. Ono and his life in fact could serve as metaphor for Japan itself.

There is no question this was written by the same author as The Remains of the Day as many of the same themes are pursued; of course there is the similarity in protagonists being 2 men at the end of decades of loyal service that may not have been all that honorable. However, Ono was an artist, who initially dedicated himself to the art of the Floating World: the nightlife and its glittery false promises and female beauty. Eventually he is lured into imperialist patriotic art - at a cost. It is reconciling and accepting those choices and what came from those choices, that bring peace and art back to Ono that Ono gains over a 2 year period.

I loved the writing. Ishiguro perfectly caught the subtleties of Japanese conversation and tradition, how the daughters showed respect while challenging Ono, how Ono acted tyranically as expected of a patriarch initially, but still acceded to others in the end without losing his dignity.

I also realize once again how incredibly little I know about Japan, its motivations during WWII, or especially the costs. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2018 Candi marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, asia

2 likes · Like

Feb 02, 2024 Robin P rated it really liked it

Shelves: japan

Feb 19, 2019 Celia marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-2-buy, fav-authors, historical-fiction, bookey, 1001-to-read

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