Book reviews

The Woman in the Dunes
Kobo Abe Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography History
Kobo Abe Books
New book search
Kobo Abe Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of The Woman in the Dunes
"A big-city schoolteacher on a trip to the dunes of Japan's Southwest to collect insects is taken in by a village and given room at a young widow's place, which is located in a huge pit in the local desert. The next day, he discovers the truth behind the villagers' kindness: he's been taken captive to help the woman in the shoveling and collection of sand to sell to industries as well as prevent landslides. Angry at this, he attempts several ways to escape the pit, but each time the wicked villagers thwart him. Resigned to living with the widow, he falls for her - although he cannot help but wonder if her lonely, boring lifestyle is forced or willingly accepted... Will he devise a better means of escape? Or will he stay with her and provide her help - and companionship - for life? Either way, what would the meaning in all this be for his life?

This book is short in plot and to the point (of course, there isn't much else to do with such a setting), but each scene inspires us to think about how differences in people are sometimes repressed by society, and the way some will go to keep the status quo. This book was also made into a successful movie."
Sergio Mendoza, Resident Scholar

Most similar books to The Woman in the Dunes
To the White Sea by James Dickey
A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh
Lost Horizon by James Hilton
The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
The Ring by Danielle Steel


Click here for more information about this book


Kobo Abe Resident Scholar Profiles

 TOP SCHOLAR:
  Colin Kehm  

SCHOLARS:


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Literature books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Animal story

Crime & Police story

Ethnic/regional/gender life

Exploring into the wild

Family, caring for ill

Family, loving relations

Family, struggle with

Internal struggle/realization?

Job/Profession/Status story

Kids growing up/acting up?

Political/social activism

Poverty, surviving

Pregnancy/Child rearing

Religion theme?

Romance/Romance Problems

Sports Story?

War/Revolt/Disaster on civilians



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
Feedback
About us
Bribe your congressman!
Rudy Giuliani



Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
.
Jeff Shaara 9:10:50 PM
George W. Bush 9:06:45 PM
Sister Souljah 8:34:52 PM
Wendelin Van Draanen 8:16:28 PM
Angie Sage 7:26:30 PM
James Clavell 5:30:19 PM
Patricia McCormick 4:17:19 PM
Edward Albee 4:14:20 PM
V.C. Andrews 4:14:12 PM
Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer 2:10:25 PM
Teri Woods 2:03:46 PM
Christina Crawford 9:31:53 AM
Martina Cole 6:40:33 AM
Michael Gerber 2:28:30 AM
Sue Grafton 10:19:22 PM
Jean M. Auel 9:54:07 PM
Gabrielle Zevin 9:13:10 PM
Andrew Clements 5:16:25 PM
Danielle Steel 2:00:27 PM
Lisi Harrison 10:34:02 AM

More message boards