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50books_poc2009-05-13 03:13 pm
jain) wrote in 50books_poc2009-05-13 03:13 pm
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Kawabata Yasunari -- The Master of Go
7. Kawabata Yasunari, The Master of Go
A brilliant book, looking at the last competitive game of the elderly twenty-first holder of the Honinbou title against a young challenger. The novel balances scenes that develop characterization (both during and outside the game) with the exigencies of a plot that hinges upon the measured placement of successive go stones.
The familiar metaphors of go as battle and go as conversation are explored deftly in several scenes, while elsewhere the narrative takes a pragmatic look at the miscommunication possible even between high-ranked players enjoying a certain degree of familiarity with each other.
A brilliant book, looking at the last competitive game of the elderly twenty-first holder of the Honinbou title against a young challenger. The novel balances scenes that develop characterization (both during and outside the game) with the exigencies of a plot that hinges upon the measured placement of successive go stones.
The familiar metaphors of go as battle and go as conversation are explored deftly in several scenes, while elsewhere the narrative takes a pragmatic look at the miscommunication possible even between high-ranked players enjoying a certain degree of familiarity with each other.