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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A study object rather than a book. I got through it by reading two translations (Dutch and English), a study guide and quite a lot of Wikipedia articles.
This took me a long time to finish, but far from losing interest or skipping scenes, I enjoyed every page! There are countless fascinating tidbits to discover, from strong warriors who shed so many tears of genuine sadness that their kimono sleeves get soaking wet, descriptions of mountains and rivers, ruminations on the fleeting nature of all things to fierce warrior monks (turns out Buddhism wasn't all about peace back then) and, of course, epic battles, this story has it all. The above points are also why Japanese mythology might just be my favorite now - there is no focus on brute strength, but always cunning and wisdom too. Quite a few warriors passionately love their wives and children, quite a few strong and important ladies get their moment as well. This tale has many sides to it and I'm sure I'll revisit and enjoy it even more in the future.
It would be more accurate to call this book historical chronicles than a novel (though I suppose it can be considered as both). It's probably a treasure for historians and amateurs of the Heian period, but as a reader with superficial knowledge of said period, it was sometimes a painful reading, as I had to keep track of the multitude of names, titles and other details being thrown at me.
Reminiscent of the Iliad as a military epic. I definitely enjoyed reading this with my book club, although as someone new to the text, having so many characters was very difficult to keep up with.
Also, Mongaku is my favourite.
Also, Mongaku is my favourite.
Moving, expansive, stretching across years and touching upon innumerable lives, and yet also exquisitely intimate and personal, the Tale of the Heike is a sumptuous tale. Tragic, enthralling, lyrical and often brutal, it offers us an unflinching description of life among the upper echelon of society towards the end of the twelfth century in Japan. We follow the rise and inevitable fall of the Taira (Heike) clan, whose family members grasp arrogantly after imperial power in the face of widespread disapproval, only to plummet from the heights when their luck turns. As their enemies gather and exact revenge, the hopelessness and tragedy of their fate is bewailed, and the ephemeral nature of success - "this dewdrop life" - is marveled at by all who have beheld their incredible ride on the wheel of fortune. I loved that this book is composed of so many stories within stories. It is as much the tale of many individuals and their personal histories - their grievances, romances, errors, foolishness and heroism - as it is an historical epic, in which the destiny of a nation is decided. Easily comparable in scope to Homer's Odyssey and Iliad, it achieves a genuine pathos and deep level of intimacy and spiritual introspection that felt to me more authentic than those Greek epics, although one could argue that this is purely subjective on my part. Who is to say that Lord Kiyomori's grief in foreseeing the downfall of his house is greater than that of King Priam of Troy? Is the desolation of former Empress Kenreimon-in at the loss of her child any less profound than that of Andromache? The one recalls the other inevitably, and neither is diminished; arguably both epics are enhanced by each other. What matters most is that the human condition - uncertain, ephemeral, by turns abysmal and glorious - is illuminated. We read, ponder and wonder at the adventures and experiences recorded so long ago, and recognize that the flame of human existence wavers but burns on, against all odds and despite ourselves, both then and now. What epics will our descendants read about us some day.......
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced