The Temple of the Golden Pavilion by Yukio Mishima
This novel follows the life of a young man named Mizoguchi, who becomes an acolyte at a famous Zen temple in Kyoto. Mizoguchi is afflicted with a stutter and a severe inferiority complex, which leads him to develop a destructive obsession with the temple's beauty. As he struggles with his personal demons, his fixation escalates into a desire to destroy the temple. The book is a profound exploration of beauty, obsession, and the destructive nature of ideals.
The 467th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 41st on In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels (ThisRecording.com)
- 245th on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- 991st on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The New Lifetime Reading Plan (The New Lifetime Reading Plan)
- 100 Life-Changing Books (National Book Award)
- Best Foreign Work of Fiction Chosen by Francophone Writers (French literary magazine Transfuge)