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dawe's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
pizzamcpin3ppl3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
vctr's review against another edition
5.0
Boa descrição de mundo, passa o sentimento de estarmos no Japão Antigo. Os personagens são bem desenvolvidos com ênfase em Matahachi e Musashi, com exceção de Sasasi Kojiro que podia ter sido mais bem desenvolvido. O final meio aberto também deixa um pouco a desejar. 9/10
raerae's review against another edition
5.0
Musashi is one of the most exciting books I have read in a long time – it packs an incredible amount of story and character development throughout its length. The book is also injected with elements of philosophy and reflections on the human condition – adding a greater depth to the novel which can be both humorous and quite serious at times.
Waking on the losing side of a battlefield among the corpses of his defeated brethren – Musashi and his friend Matahachi embark on a quest to become men and samurai of renown that will lead them in wildly different directions and inevitably create a deep enmity in Matahachi. Musashi, intent on following The Way and becoming a samurai and swordsman of great skill, develops a life of discipline and studied self-awareness that enriches his natural talent with the sword. Though he accumulates an almost obscene amount of enemies throughout his journeys in Japan – no one can be harder on Musashi than he is on himself.
With an array of deeply developed characters and concise yet poignant storytelling – Musashi is an epic novel of discipline and resolve along the arduous journey of the ordinary becoming the extraordinary.
Waking on the losing side of a battlefield among the corpses of his defeated brethren – Musashi and his friend Matahachi embark on a quest to become men and samurai of renown that will lead them in wildly different directions and inevitably create a deep enmity in Matahachi. Musashi, intent on following The Way and becoming a samurai and swordsman of great skill, develops a life of discipline and studied self-awareness that enriches his natural talent with the sword. Though he accumulates an almost obscene amount of enemies throughout his journeys in Japan – no one can be harder on Musashi than he is on himself.
With an array of deeply developed characters and concise yet poignant storytelling – Musashi is an epic novel of discipline and resolve along the arduous journey of the ordinary becoming the extraordinary.
kavinay's review against another edition
5.0
Serialization is underrated. Yoshikawa makes it work to his advantage with stories that interleave like both a play and epic.
shiva's review against another edition
5.0
The last time I had a fleeting fascination for the Samurai was in middle school. With almost no existing interest in Japanese history, I started reading Musashi. And am I glad I did! I didn't put it down for three weeks. Even now, I return frequently to reread passages.
True. The plot has a few (very few) bits that might bore and seem almost forced, sometimes even vex - but a reading of this book deserves that you cast aside such trivialities, because it is a breathtaking story of one man's becoming. A friend told me recently, "The best of feelings are the ones you can’t quite express as well as you’d like to, the ones that lead your words to fail." That is how strongly I felt for this one.
I have read very few books more than once, and almost no other at one stretch. Very rarely do you come across the right book you need to read at just the right time in your life. Even as the story unfolded in this epic saga, I found myself backstepping time and again, attempting to grasp at ideas and thoughts in the minds of Musashi and those around him. Eiji Yoshikawa has a masterpiece here. It reads like a breeze and the imagery is fantastic. For all its Zen seriousness, it is also laugh out loud hilarious. I can say outright that this book will have a tremendous impact on the Way I live the rest of my days.
True. The plot has a few (very few) bits that might bore and seem almost forced, sometimes even vex - but a reading of this book deserves that you cast aside such trivialities, because it is a breathtaking story of one man's becoming. A friend told me recently, "The best of feelings are the ones you can’t quite express as well as you’d like to, the ones that lead your words to fail." That is how strongly I felt for this one.
I have read very few books more than once, and almost no other at one stretch. Very rarely do you come across the right book you need to read at just the right time in your life. Even as the story unfolded in this epic saga, I found myself backstepping time and again, attempting to grasp at ideas and thoughts in the minds of Musashi and those around him. Eiji Yoshikawa has a masterpiece here. It reads like a breeze and the imagery is fantastic. For all its Zen seriousness, it is also laugh out loud hilarious. I can say outright that this book will have a tremendous impact on the Way I live the rest of my days.
larkspire's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
3.0
This novel is really seven "books," together totalling nearly 1000 pages. The English translation was done in 1981 by Charles S. Terry, a year before his death; the story was originally serialised in a newspaper between 1935-1939, and follows a fictionalised version of the life of the legendary kensei Miyamoto Musashi, up until his famous duel with Sasaki Kojirô. Fun fact about Miyamoto: he fought 61 duels, all of which he won. He also wrote two books, the most famous of which is 五輪の書 (The Book of Five Rings).
Also there was a really awesome series of films starring Mifune Toshirô.
Also there was a really awesome series of films starring Mifune Toshirô.