Since I wasn’t a member of the Makioka Sisters Book Club back when many of you read The Makioka Sisters by Tanizaki Junichiro, I went back and read it.
I thought it was so skillfully written and I was in awe of the way the author was able to weave in larger themes without anything seeming forced. All the issues he addresses – tradition vs. modernity, the changing place of women, the coming war and economic changes, the demise of the Makiokas’ class – all seemed to emerge organically from the setting and the interaction of the characters.
But I also thought it might have been one of the saddest, bleakest books we’ve ever read (which is saying a lot).
Does anyone recall their impressions of this book from all those years ago? Was there a consensus? I would love to know what you all thought of it….
Lisa
We will be discussing Augustus by John Williams at Mary Beth’s house on May 19.
