The Woman in the DunesThe Woman in the Dunes, by celebrated writer and thinker Kobo Abe, combines the essence of myth, suspense and the existential novel. After missing the last bus home following a day trip to the seashore, an amateur entomologist is offered lodging for the night at the bottom of a vast sand pit. But when he attempts to leave the next morning, he quickly discovers that the locals have other plans. Held captive with seemingly no chance of escape, he is tasked with shoveling back the ever-advancing sand dunes that threaten to destroy the village. His only companion is an odd young woman. Together their fates become intertwined as they work side by side at this Sisyphean task. |
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already Anyway basket beetle began body Booker Prize bottom breath bucket buried certainly cheap saké cigarette cliff climb color course crow DALE SAUNDERS dark day after tomorrow dunes earthen floor empty escape eyes face feeling feet felt fingers fire tower FLAUBERT'S PARROT floated half hands head hole insects kerosene kimono knees KOBO ABE lamp laughed legs light lips looked mist Möbius Möbius strip mouth never night nose once Perhaps perspiration Philip Roth potassium cyanide probably radio realized rope ladder saliva sand wall seemed sexual shadows shovel side skin sleep slowly smell soap opera someone soon sound stand stood stopped strange suddenly surface there's things thought throat ticket tion took towel tried trousers turned understand venereal disease village voice waiting walk wanted What's wind woman wondered worry