A Personal Matter by Kenzaburō Ōe
A Personal Matter is a novel that tells the story of Bird, a young man struggling to come to terms with the birth of his son who has a severe brain hernia. As he grapples with his personal demons and the societal stigma associated with having a disabled child, he also contemplates killing his son to end his suffering. The narrative explores themes of responsibility, shame, and the human condition, ultimately leading to Bird's acceptance of his son and his own life.
The 2163rd greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 1964
- Nationality
- Japanese
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 165-200
- Original Language
- Japanese
- Avg User Rating
-
(3.7)
- Alternate Titles
-
- Uma Questão Pessoal
- Una Cuestión Personal
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This book is on the following 5 lists:
- 35th on Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels (Entertainment Weekly)
- 1153rd on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 100 Must-Read Classics in Translation (Bookriot)
- 40 Most Important Books, 1927-2001 (World Literature Today)
- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition (New York Times)