The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima was published in 1956 (though I believe this was the date for the first English-translated version). This is the first book by Mishima I have read and I came across it randomly, and I was excited to read something without any prior exposure to it. There is a page in the front of the version I read that gives a brief description of Mishima’s life. He wrote several books including a tetralogy called The Sea of Fertility which he considered his greatest work. According to this short insight, “he frequently said he would die when it was completed.” On November 25th in 1970, the day he finished the final novel, he committed seppuku at the age of 45.

I read this book in a day which I believe is a testament to the story itself but more so to how it was written. With how easy it was to read this story, I am interested in reading his tetralogy and will likely do so at a later time. Just another series added to the TBR.

The Sound of Waves focuses on the fishing village located on the island of Uta-jima where a young, poor fisherman falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy man. What follows is the story of a semi-secret love in a village where lives are intertwined so closely nothing remains unknown for long.

What I liked about this book was how it focuses on the essential aspects of life that get forgotten in the overcomplications society imparts upon us. Granted, this was before modern technology (which may make it an even better reminder), but it was still a great story about human interaction and how simple life should be compared to what most of us often experience. It also focuses on honesty and living with integrity. Life is more than our level of intelligence, how much money we make, and who our family members are. It is about how we treat others and ourselves. How we approach life is who we are as a person.

If you are looking for a good story, an easy read, and a relaxing reminder that life doesn’t have to be complicated, then this might be the perfect book for you right now.

Happy Reading.