In Praise of Shadows Free Audiobook Download by Junichiro Tanizaki

This book is an analysis of the art of Japanese paintings. The author has a deep appreciation of these works and spends a lot of time discussing details of their composition. He also compares Japanese and Western painting techniques, showing how there are some intricacies that are unique to Asian artwork. Mentioned: Characteristics, Art Appreciation, Interscope Records

Shadows are usually thought of as something that casts darkness and obscurity. They are used to create suspense in movies, hide things from someone's line-of-sight, or to just make a room have more character. Junichiro Tanizaki saw shadows as much more than just something to create suspense or make rooms look cool. He believed that shadows' beauty is overlooked and that we should be paying more attention to them. In his essay "In Praise of Shadows", he talks about how fleeting yet beautiful they can appear and the sensations they cause in our eyes and heart.

Junichiro Tanizaki's In Praise of Shadows is the story of a writer who retreats to the country to find peace and quiet. However, he finds that he can't escape his past or his sexual desires. This book is narrated by David Rintoul and it was published in 2007 by Audible Studios.

Tanizaki offers his take on the story of his life as a novelist and, in doing so, offers a critique of Western notions of progress. In one passage he muses on the way that shadows have come to be considered ugly: "It was because, in producing light for man's use, their true nature as dark things was forgotten."

In Praise of Shadows is about a young man who has been born into an aristocratic family in Japan. He has had a very sheltered upbringing and knows nothing about the life of common people. When he leaves the safety of his home, he begins to notice how different things are outside the walls of his estate. He sees a variety of food, clothing, and customs that he never knew before. Since he's never experienced anything like this before, everything is new to him. The narrator's voice has a pleasant tone to it that makes listening to this book enjoyable.

This novel is a love letter to shadows. It begins with the main character, an overly devoted husband and father, recalling his wife's passing. He has trouble coping with the loss of her physical presence, and he spends all day staring out his window at his shadow as it lengthens and recedes in the light and dark. This leads to him being sent to a mental asylum for rest treatment. Once there he meets Dr Shimamura who helps him come to understand that life without shadows would be unbearably stagnant. Shadows are what give life meaning and depth - if one cannot appreciate them then one cannot appreciate life itself.