The Sound of Waves

By: Yukio Mishima

Narrated by: Brian Nishii

Length: 5 hrs

Publisher's summary

Set in a remote fishing village in Japan, The Sound of Waves is a timeless story of first love. A young fisherman is entranced at the sight of the beautiful daughter of the wealthiest man in the village. They fall in love, but must then endure the calumny and gossip of the villagers.

©1956 Copyright 1956 by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Copyright renewed 1984 by Meredith Weatherby. Originally published in Japan as Shiosai. (P)2010 Audible, Inc

Critic reviews

"A story that is both happy and a work of art...Altogether a joyous and lovely thing. ( The New York Times)

"Of such classic design its action might take place at any point across a thousand years." ( San Francisco Chronicle)

"Mishima is like Stendhal in his precise psychological analyses, like Dostoevsky in his explorations of darkly destructive personalities." ( Christian Science Monitor)

Remote Japanese island beautifully depicted

Central Japan's tiny little island is where this story takes place. This is a classical love story in Japanese sense - with characters bound by constraints of a traditional society. A shy boy and a shy guy who both have hard times expressing their feelings toward each other. Some readers might be put off by the underlying male dominant premise of the island community where women have to unite to influence the decision of a powerful male elder of the island, the decision that has a vital bearing on the destiny of the love between two protagonists Shinji and Hatsue.

I actually visited the island which Mishima used as the model for Utajima island in the novel. Mishima stayed on this island called Kamishima while he was writing this novel. Listening to this story, I can picture the island's lay of the land. I'm fully aware that nostalgia and familiarity skew my evaluation of this work. I'm not surprised if others give lower ratings to this as The Sound of Waves doesn't have usual mystical and somewhat eerie air more typical of Mishima's other works. Simple, straightforward love story with not so many twists and turns along the way where (spoiler alert) Shinji and Hatsue in the end see their happy ending. For me, the beauty of the depiction of the place is more than enough to draw me deeply into this story every time I re-listen. I'm also quite fond of it's sunny, optimistic undertone.

Had my suspicions when the theme was romance

Have you listened to any of Brian Nishii’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Listened to Temple of the Golden Pavillion (also Mishima) right before. He's a bit stiff, but I love that he actually pronounces the Japanese names correctly. There are several other books I have refrained from downloading because of the awful americanized pronounciations.

That said, I guess I could see how some people not familiar with Japanese would find this annoying because it does stick out a bit in the text and feels as there's a slight emphasis everytime someone's name is read. Luckily, Japanese has really simple phonetic structure so I think anyone (regardless of linguistic background) will get used to it very quickly.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The lighthouse scene was very vividly described, so I enjoyed that part quite a bit. Part with the storm too.

Any additional comments?

If you're new to Mishima, grab Temple of the Golden Pavillion first (out of the two I've read, maybe The Sailor Who Fell from Grace With the Sea is even better - I refrain from Spring Snow since the sequels aren't available).

Not to be all macho or anything but.. it's a romance novel (youth romance, even) and while I'd never call this book itself bland or boring, the theme really is.

Yukio Mishima’s Genius

Masterful, vivid storytelling by a creative genius of the 20th century, served well by the reader.

The Sound of Waves

I loved this book. it is rich with culture and perspective. it is amazing the way you get to experience a completely different time and enhance such a wonderful understanding. the story is beautiful with so much symbolism and hope. i would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance book, with some history and culture in it. personally i’d rate 10/10

The story is beautiful; the reader destroys it for me

I am tempted to get a different version, if there is. This reader reads with disregard for the tone of the scenes. There is no interpretation. The scene of the first time the lovers see each other naked is read as if it was a text book. Loses the sensitivity of the scene. As an example. Terrible!

Wonderful Love Story

Rooted in a small fishing island in Japan,
This book is a must read for all those interested in learning about the force of love that exists in any culture and any language.

A Lyrical Tale

of first love in the Japanese tradition. A wonderful introduction to classic Asian love stories.

Solid story with manhood, coming-of-age, and romance

Sensitive, perceptive writing that still feels vital (in this translation, at least) nearly 70 years later!

does not even have a worthy plot!

it was horrible because the father of hatsue just agrees to letting them marry with no twist at all.

Dull Plot

I expected something for this but spent 5 hours extremely bored and felt like it was dragging on.

Through That Perilous Night

I'm more and more impressed with Mishima. The two works I've now had the pleasure to acquaint with, "The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with" and now this, are singular achievements, Mishima's prose full of power, beauty and life. I'm going to visit the golden pavilion first before embarking on a journey to the sea of fertility. I can't wait.

"The Sound of Waves" is a coming-of-age story, a "Romeo and Juliet" of forbidden love, a social study of a closed island community like Imamura's brilliant epic "Profound Desires of the Gods," a predestined Greek tragedy with the interference of the deus ex machina, and ultimately a very strong statement of Mishima's acute sense for the artful. His descriptions are alive with feeling for that which can be touched and that which can only be dreamed in silence; the characters are formed with broad brushstrokes, and come to life first as if from afar, then more and more in detail. And, it's as if Mishima wanted to show that once in a while, there is love and contentment, and happiness.

It's not easy to write economically and with clarity. It's always easier to wander off a bit on the way instead of going straight ahead. Mishima certainly knows how, and that's what brings such an edge to his writing. This is an author who seems to know what he's saying and why, a rare gift indeed.

And to think I've yet said nothing in praise of Brian Nishii. He's utterly perfect, both here and in "The Sailor". What else is there to say other than that if this man ever recorded any phone book he wished, I'd used one of my credits to listen to it. And I just realized he's recorded Kawabata, too!

Bad narration

The story seemed beautiful. Unfortunately it was a struggle listening to this, because the reader isnt capable to create the atmosphere need it for this kind of story. He reads like it is treasure island or the book of five rings. No matter what happens in the scene, he reads it the same. Its like the words dont matter.

Beautiful

Beautiful book, well read....its very tender, profound and real. As a work of art it is of the highest order and fascinating if you want to know how the japanese life is. Thankyou mishima x

Worth battling through the awful narration

I liked the story. It is a combination of a realistic depiction of island life in post war japan, and a pleasing though slightly corny story. How on earth they got such an awful narrator, I cannot imagine. He pronounces "buoy" to rhyme with gooey or Louis, which is unfortunate since it is an important word, repeated many times. Wasn't there an editor around to notice this? But it is the cadence that is so awful. I didn't pick it up from the sample but after half an hour I couldn't stand it and had to increase speed to 1.10 x which made it just bearable.

A gem

What did you like most about The Sound of Waves?

This is a gentle story of integrity and redemption set in an island community in Japan.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Shinji is a young and dignified character. His loyalty to his love, and hers to him, shows the commitment of two people who live for each other.

What about Brian Nishii’s performance did you like?

The narrator's performance was understated and perfect for the requirements of the novel.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

The restraint, dignity and fidelity of the characters shows the courage of the human soul enduring the difficulties of human life and love.