The Woman in the Dunes
The Woman in the Dunes, by celebrated writer and thinker Kobo Abe, combines the essence of myth, suspense and the existential novel.
After missing the last bus home following a day trip to the seashore, an amateur entomologist is offered lodging for the night at the bottom of a vast sand pit. But when he attempts to leave the next morning, he quickly discovers that the locals have other plans. Held captive with seemingly no chance of escape, he is tasked with shoveling back the ever-advancing sand dunes that threaten to destroy the village. His only companion is an odd young woman. Together their fates become intertwined as they work side by side at this Sisyphean task.
After missing the last bus home following a day trip to the seashore, an amateur entomologist is offered lodging for the night at the bottom of a vast sand pit. But when he attempts to leave the next morning, he quickly discovers that the locals have other plans. Held captive with seemingly no chance of escape, he is tasked with shoveling back the ever-advancing sand dunes that threaten to destroy the village. His only companion is an odd young woman. Together their fates become intertwined as they work side by side at this Sisyphean task.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Overall, this was a compelling and mysterious read. Mysterious not as much due to an actual solvable mystery of the plot, but more in the air of the writing and the characterâs thoughts and musings. I saw another review described it as claustrophobic â that feels exactly right.
The beginning was slightly slow, but it picks up quickly and is not a long book overall anyway. The ending was sad but not unexpected. It reads almost like a fable or perhaps a cautionary tale.
I give it 3.5 stars because it held my attention and had me on the edge of my seat at times. I wouldnât say itâs 4 stars throughout though. More like some parts were 5 star worthy and others were only 2.5 star worthy, so it sort of averaged out.
Semi-side note: I donât understand why so many authors find r*pe so appealing to add to their stories, though. This book, House of Spirits, etc. Itâs like they think thereâs something poetic or edgy about it, but I canât help but think there are other ways of getting your meaning across. Maybe thatâs what the character would do â itâs not like these characters are portrayed as good people necessarily â but the description of them feels icky anyway, maybe because it doesnât feel negative enough. I wonât pretend itâs my place to tell people what to write, especially not writers who have been dead for decades like Kobo Abe, but if you donât like reading about that kind of thing, avoid this book!
The beginning was slightly slow, but it picks up quickly and is not a long book overall anyway. The ending was sad but not unexpected. It reads almost like a fable or perhaps a cautionary tale.
I give it 3.5 stars because it held my attention and had me on the edge of my seat at times. I wouldnât say itâs 4 stars throughout though. More like some parts were 5 star worthy and others were only 2.5 star worthy, so it sort of averaged out.
Semi-side note: I donât understand why so many authors find r*pe so appealing to add to their stories, though. This book, House of Spirits, etc. Itâs like they think thereâs something poetic or edgy about it, but I canât help but think there are other ways of getting your meaning across. Maybe thatâs what the character would do â itâs not like these characters are portrayed as good people necessarily â but the description of them feels icky anyway, maybe because it doesnât feel negative enough. I wonât pretend itâs my place to tell people what to write, especially not writers who have been dead for decades like Kobo Abe, but if you donât like reading about that kind of thing, avoid this book!
As quck as a read The Woman in the Dunes is, it still manages to create a dynamic between characters that feels flushed out and realized, without jeopardizing the simplicity of the story. It’s an interesting take on the Sisyphean tale, which I had completely forgot about until I started reading the novel. It’s an easy read, less philosophical and introspective than The Face of Another, but equally as interesting as the latter. Kōbō Abe has stunned me two novels in a row, so I cannot wait to see what else he has up his sleeve.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.