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The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima is a beautiful, timeless novel following Shinji and his life on the small island of Uta-Jima. After finishing school and not wishing to attend higher education in Tokyo, he continued his passion of working as a fisherman. Gossip in the village is centred around the daughter of a wealthy, well-to-do man, and Shinji finds himself drawn to this woman. Themes of religion, sexuality, family ties and loyalty as well as dismissing notions of wealth in favour of love dominate the story line, giving a well-rounded insight into the lives of a tight-knit community that has avoided industrial progress.
When my partner recommended this book to me, I was both excited and unsure. Excited because I’ve been wanting to read more Mishima for a while (my journey starting with The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea), but unsure simply because it was a love story. I find that love stories are often either too predictable, portray too toxic a relationship or lack purpose, fusing all romance books into one amorphous and indistinguishable pile.. However, I was immediately encapsulated by Mishima’s writing style, his vivid descriptions of the village and their way of life was truly scenic, beautiful, and calming. Additionally, Shinji’s innocent nature and love for simplicity, family loyalty and tradition were refreshing to witness. Overall, the character’s personality perfectly fit the scene.
The only weakness that I found regarding this book is that the love aspect did take a while to develop in the story, however, when it did, I was perhaps glad it took that time, because it never felt forced or lacking. It was the most beautiful depiction of a love story I have ever read and probably will ever read. Ultimately, this doesn’t have to be viewed as a weakness.
Given this, the book only encourages positives reviews, especially the writing style and pace. Compared to The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea, the writing flowed nicely and never felt ‘choppy’ like the latter did. The mesmerising descriptions of the mountains and the sea, as well as the details he gives while at sea shows how connected he is to the setting in his books and how aware he is of the importance of the setting being reflective of the situation. The same way that the turbulent waves in The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea reflected a turbulent time in the family, the calming sea and the respect the fishers have for it reflect the natural and calming nature of the young lovers relationship.
Overall, this short novel is for anyone looking for a peaceful story that will uplift them. Throughout reading this, it was hard to find myself annoyed or upset because overall the characters are lovable, and the underlying story of true love being triumphant is heart-warming to all those who read it. The scenes of Japan’s gorgeous environment only add to the story’s beauty.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐