*****The Temple of the Golden Pavilion by Yukio Mishima

Mishima uses a real event in history to construct and portray the inner workings of a young adolescent struggling existentially and emotionally with the concept of beauty.  His obsessive and disturbing thoughts are revealed through the author's exceptional philosophical prose that relies heavily on visual, audio and psychological atmosphere. Beautifully crafted, Mishima's work mesmerizes the reader from beginning to end. An exceptional work of art.