Pathway to Japanese Literature
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RecollectionAuthor: Miyamoto Yuriko
| Original Title | 追憶 |
|---|---|
| Author | 宮本 百合子 |
| Genre | Modern Short Fiction |
| Author Type | Female Author |
| Summary | In the lingering dampness of a summer day, a young narrator reflects on the enigmatic figure of their late uncle—a man of devout faith whose profound melancholy left an indelible mark on their childhood. Ten years after his death, fragmented memories resurface: his gaunt frame draped in solemnity, the weight of his religious devotion, and tender moments spent immersed in biblical tales that blurred reality and fantasy. The uncle’s unexpected return from abroad had once filled the child’s world with wonder, his long hair and somber presence a source of both fascination and alienation. Yet beneath their bond lay shadows—his unexplained decline, cryptic behavior, and a haunting final outing to a windswept cliff where his fervent sermons spiraled into unsettling intensity. As the narrator pieces together these recollections, questions linger about the true nature of his death—was it fate or a quiet act of defiance? Lyrical and introspective, this elegiac narrative weaves childhood innocence with adult retrospection, exploring love, loss, and the elusive truths buried within memory’s fragile embrace. |
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