Rating: 
Summary: A quiet novel about art and war and good intentions
Review: "An Artist of the Floating World" is a beautiful little novel, written in typical Ishiguro style, with the calm surface waters belaying the rapid current that flows beneath. It is an interesting style that attempts to ape classical Japanese literature, infusing it with Ishiguro's innate Brittishness, coming from being born of Japanese parents but raised in Britain.As with his other novels, and part of his style, a knowledge of historical events is taken for granted on the part of the reader. Allusions are made to once-famous or infamous events and people, and names are dropped with the understanding that everyone is intimately familiar with WWII and the cultures of Japan and England. The title is a bit misleading, as the "Floating World" is usually associated with the Edo period of Japan, and not with the Fascist era of Showa. Anyone expecting Geishas and Samurai will be disappointed. A very quick and quiet read, "An Artist of the Floating World" is something than can be read over a weekend with a cup of green tea. It contributes a viewpoint, and a necessary one, to WWII Japan and paints a human face onto a troubled period of history. Love and family and duty are on display here, along with good intentions leading down dark paths, and the righteousness of actions and re-actions. Like "Remains of the Day," "An Artist of the Floating World" is an intimate, beautiful character sketch. Very much worth the limited time needed to enjoy the book.
Rating: 
Summary: An Artist of the Floating World
Review: "An artist of the Floating world" is about the nostalgic indulgence of a delicate artist struggling to do soulsearching
forced on him by the turn of events. But for the traditional style of his daughter's marriage he would not have made numerous trips to his students and colleagues apparently with the mission of "silencing" so that the dubious past is kept away from view.
Its simply the psychological convulsions of a man who finds comfort in his own therapeutic remembrances. The marriage takes place without protests and the man is free of worries.
Rating:
Summary: Intimately interesting
Review: I had to read this short novel for an English literature course, only to have it pulled off the reading list halfway through me reading it. That I finished reading it anyway may be testament to the fact that I refuse to leave a book half-read but at least some credit has to go out to the book itself. Written by Remains Of The Day author Kazuo Ishiguro, An Artist Of The Floating World is basically a story about a retired artist trying to adjust to post-war life in Japan. As the main character's family return to visit him and he begins preparations for his daughter's potential wedding after a disastrous fall through last year, his mind keeps returning to the decisions he made during the war, his collegues and his flowering career. The way in which Ishiguro so cleverly manipulates the dialogue so that any character digressions into the past never seem forced is masterful. In addition to this, the gentle dialogue and intricate descriptions give a perfect impression of a mannered Japan that is treading carefully after the events of the second world war. Although the persistent references to the overflow of western culture into Japan can become a little tiresome, they don't distract from the overall picture of things. Like any good book that consists of memories the narrative presents them as a way in which the characters can impose order on their own lives in a 'floating world'. Though the pace isn't as fast as some readers might like, this is a very intricate novel that deserves kudos for letting you into the characters' psyches and explaining, or intentionally not explaining, what they did and why.
Rating:
Summary: Intimately interesting
Review: I had to read this short novel for an English literature course, only to have it pulled off the reading list halfway through me reading it. That I finished reading it anyway may be testament to the fact that I refuse to leave a book half-read but at least some credit has to go out to the book itself. Written by Remains Of The Day author Kazuo Ishiguro, An Artist Of The Floating World is basically a story about a retired artist trying to adjust to post-war life in Japan. As the main character's family return to visit him and he begins preparations for his daughter's potential wedding after a disastrous fall through last year, his mind keeps returning to the decisions he made during the war, his collegues and his flowering career. The way in which Ishiguro so cleverly manipulates the dialogue so that any character digressions into the past never seem forced is masterful. In addition to this, the gentle dialogue and intricate descriptions give a perfect impression of a mannered Japan that is treading carefully after the events of the second world war. Although the persistent references to the overflow of western culture into Japan can become a little tiresome, they don't distract from the overall picture of things. Like any good book that consists of memories the narrative presents them as a way in which the characters can impose order on their own lives in a 'floating world'. Though the pace isn't as fast as some readers might like, this is a very intricate novel that deserves kudos for letting you into the characters' psyches and explaining, or intentionally not explaining, what they did and why.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Japanese Parallel to "The Remains of the Day"
Review: I read "An Artist of the Floating World" twice in one week, once in fascination and once more to explore the nuances and subtleties that characterize Kazuo Ishiguro's novels. This short work, Ishiguro's second novel, was short listed for the prestigious Booker Prize. Both a character study and an intriguing glimpse of pre-war Japan, in many ways it is a Japanese parallel to Ishiguro's highly successful third novel, "The Remains of the Day". Ishiguro enjoys slowly revealing his characters through their recollection of events long past. The memories are often fragmented, sometimes hazy, someimes simply untrustworthy. In "An Artist of the Floating World" the situation is further complicated by the tendency of its protagonist, Masuji Ono, to misinterpret his own memories. "An Artist of the Floating World" is a portrait as Masuji Ono saw himself, and as he believed that others saw him. It is three years after Japan's defeat and Ono is preoccupied with the negotiations around his younger daughter's proposed marriage. Last year Noriko's marriage negotiations with another young man were unexpectedly treminated by the groom's family. Almost without self-awareness, Ono begins to question whether his artistic support of the imperialistic movement in the thirties and during the war now places his daughter's prospects in jeopardy. Although Ono sees himself as a modest man, he overstates the impact that his military and patriotic art had in conditioning the Japanese people for the impending imperialistic war effort. It is never quite clear just how popular and widespread his war posters actually were. In contrast, Ono seems incapable of recognizing the magnitude of his crime against his best student, Kuroda, whom he betrayed to the authorities. He rationalizes that Kuroda's years in prison now give him credibility in the new Japan and that he will fare well in the post-war period. He is even so naive as to believe that Kuroda might be persuaded to overlook the past and thus support, or at least not hinder, his daughter Noriko's ongoing marriage negotiations. I highly recommend "An Artist of the Floating World" for readers either new to Kazuo Ishiguro or already familiar with his other novels. It is an intricate work of beauty.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Japanese Parallel to "The Remains of the Day"
Review: I read "An Artist of the Floating World" twice in one week, once in fascination and once more to explore the nuances and subtleties that characterize Kazuo Ishiguro's novels. This short work, Ishiguro's second novel, was short listed for the prestigious Booker Prize. Both a character study and an intriguing glimpse of pre-war Japan, in many ways it is a Japanese parallel to Ishiguro's highly successful third novel, "The Remains of the Day". Ishiguro enjoys slowly revealing his characters through their recollection of events long past. The memories are often fragmented, sometimes hazy, someimes simply untrustworthy. In "An Artist of the Floating World" the situation is further complicated by the tendency of its protagonist, Masuji Ono, to misinterpret his own memories. "An Artist of the Floating World" is a portrait as Masuji Ono saw himself, and as he believed that others saw him. It is three years after Japan's defeat and Ono is preoccupied with the negotiations around his younger daughter's proposed marriage. Last year Noriko's marriage negotiations with another young man were unexpectedly treminated by the groom's family. Almost without self-awareness, Ono begins to question whether his artistic support of the imperialistic movement in the thirties and during the war now places his daughter's prospects in jeopardy. Although Ono sees himself as a modest man, he overstates the impact that his military and patriotic art had in conditioning the Japanese people for the impending imperialistic war effort. It is never quite clear just how popular and widespread his war posters actually were. In contrast, Ono seems incapable of recognizing the magnitude of his crime against his best student, Kuroda, whom he betrayed to the authorities. He rationalizes that Kuroda's years in prison now give him credibility in the new Japan and that he will fare well in the post-war period. He is even so naive as to believe that Kuroda might be persuaded to overlook the past and thus support, or at least not hinder, his daughter Noriko's ongoing marriage negotiations. I highly recommend "An Artist of the Floating World" for readers either new to Kazuo Ishiguro or already familiar with his other novels. It is an intricate work of beauty.
Rating:
Summary: Delicate and Beautiful
Review: I've read all of Kazuo Ishiguro's books, and, while "The Remains of the Day" is my very favorite, this small book comes in a close second. It is delicate in its theme and narrative, yet its effects are quite lasting. "An Artist of the Floating World" takes place in 1948 in a quiet town in Japan. The protagonist, Masuji Ono, once a moderately famous artist, enjoys spending his days mopping his tatami and working in his garden, although the highlight of his life are the visits from his grandson, Ichiro. As Ono enjoys his retirement from painting, he also takes the opportunity to look back on his life and reflect upon its meaning. Ono's memories of the past are many; he has had a long journey from young, bohemian art student to retired, successful artist. In the 1930s, Ono took great pleasure in visiting the "red light" districts of Japan, but after his marriage, he settled down and devoted himself to his family and his painting. Ono and his late wife had three children. Sadly, his only son died during the war. His loss still affects Ono greatly, as it always will. His elder daughter, Setsuko, the mother of Ichiro, is, from all appearances, happily married. His younger daughter, Neriko, has not been quite as successful where marriage is concerned. Her first marriage negotiations were broken off and she is now involved in a second attempt. In one of the most intriguing sections of this book, Ishiguro describes the marriage negotiations that used to be routine in Japan. These negotiations are called a "miai" and involve what resembles a British high tea. First, the parents must be matched, as the two families involved must be within the same social and economic class. Once it has been decided that the parents of both the prospective bride and the prospective groom are a "fit," the couple is allowed to meet for the very first time. Only after everyone has given their stamp of approval can the actual wedding finally take place. Unfortunately, Neriko's first marriage negotiation failed when she was considered to be of a lower social class than her prospective bridegroom. Ono, who has a darker past than one might initially assume, is worried that it may possibly come to light and harm Neriko's marriage negotiations, causing them to fail for a second time. Ono's musings take us back to World War II Japan, a time when all Japanese felt extremely patriotic and a time when any "wrong" action could cause one to be labelled a traitor. Ono, through his art, endeavored to help the cause of Japan in the war. Now, Ono, who lost his both his son and his wife in the war, feels he must reflect on his actions and decide what the consequences of them really were. Does he require forgiveness? If so, from whom? Is he being silly and pompous in believing that his art actually made a difference? Or is he thoughtful and reflective; a man who wants and needs to take responsibility for his actions? I really don't know and Ishiguro doesn't tell us, much to this book's credit. Sometimes, the things that aren't written are more important that the things that are written. As we get to know Ono, we come to experience imperial Japan. It is a heady and exotic experience and one I certainly wouldn't have wanted to miss. Ishiguro, in my opinion, is one of the top five greatest living authors and a master of understatement and subtlety. Nowhere is this more evident that in his glorious book, "The Remains of the Day." "An Artist of the Floating World," however, has charms of its own. Ishiguro's prose is precise, with every word carefully chosen. In his writing, Ishiguro seems to resemble the miai, the very epitome of politeness and respect. "An Artist of the Floating World" is a beautiful book and one that leaves a deep impression without seeming to do much at all.
Rating:
Summary: More People Should Read This
Review: Ishiguro has not written many books, but this, his second effort, is his best. In the first years of post-war Japan, a time of mind-bending social change in Japan, the narrator is hoping to marry off one of his daughters - but there are difficulties that he is hard-pressed to explain. In the book's early pages (flashbacks to the prewar days) the narrator is the picture of the success: He is an artist, someone who has made a reputation creating posters and other propaganda pieces for the Imperial Japanese government. This history slowly comes to light in the narrative. The theme of the novel, and the force that propels the plot, is the narrator's reckoning. Like most Ishiguro books, this book is written in the first person personal, with an unreliable narrator: It is Ishiguro's very own form, and a winning way to write a novel. Those who have read "The Remains of the Day" will recognize it. I think that is one of the best novels that I've ever read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Ishiguro's Best
Review: Literary buffs will love all of Kazuo Ishiguro's writings simply because they are so much deeper than they seem to be. "An Artist of the Floating World" is about a retired Japanese artist trying to come to terms with his past (aiding the government during WW2) and trying to make sense of the present (the new Japanese generation who are resentful against him). I gave the book only three stars because, while readable by all means, it simply fails to be very entertaining which, arguably, is the object of fiction writing. If you love English literature or are writing a research paper on Ishiguro, this book is great. But casual readers should first try "The Remains of the Day," also by Ishiguro.
Rating:
Summary: A reader's thoughts on a small, wonderful story..
Review: Masuji Ono, once a respected artist and teacher, is now forcibly retired after supporting the Japanese imperialist government during WWII by creating war posters. He spends his time negotiating the past and present in the shadow of his former alliance, but never seems fully aware of the weight of that shadow, and the ensuing consequences to his relationships and his own soul. His naive support for the government during the war and resulting shift both in artistic focus and character reveal a man detached from meaning and responsibility, a dreamer whose own loss of a wife and son during the war will likely never be dealt with.
The intellectual transition Ono makes from artist to propagandist is shown when Ono explains his newfound artistic purpose to his former protégé, nicknamed "Tortoise".
This new direction turns out to be the creation of propaganda as art in the service of the imperialists' cause, but Ono is swept away by the more romantic, grandiose description of "....producing paintings of genuine importance. Work that will be a significant contribution to the people of our nation." Ironically, the posters he creates during the war seem to have no lasting artistic merit, but instead contribute to a darker legacy of betrayal and unintended consequences. His unexamined commitment to the government led him to order the arrest of a former student (disloyal to the cause) and, one can argue, indirectly contributed to the deaths of many fellow citizens by adding legitimacy to a destructive, expansionist movement. The degree of miscalculation is predictable since Ono never understood the methods and purpose of the imperialists to begin with.
Profound cultural transitions in Japan during and after the war and questions as to culpability are reflected in Ono's shifting recollections and encounters with various townspeople. Flashbacks depict conversations between Ono and younger Japanese men who are angry that old imperialists are not ashamed of their past transgressions and still prosper, unpunished. These characters relate stories of community leaders loyal to the former government committing suicide in shame, and seem to hint that others should follow.
Ono seems consistently unsure whether these conversations actually took place, and never fails to remark that the words spoken sound like something he would have said. Are these interactions simply an extension of his buried pain and remorse? Was Ono ever a highly regarded man, or was he always a pleasure-seeking fantasist seeking to promote himself no matter the cost? Perhaps his view truly is philosophical, in that he sees the past clearly but shrugs off meaning since the past cannot be changed.
These questions remain unanswered. The author isn't seeking redemption or clarity for the main character, but instead offers a glimpse into the repressed psychology of an artist struggling to avoid the reality of who he is as a result of Japan's defeat by the Americans, and his own abdication of honor, both as an artist and as a human being.
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