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A review by hzmt
The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This took me over one year to read and I'm proud to have accomplished reading the entire thing.
Genji was an absolutely deplorable character and the last 300 pages dragged on forever but, I gained such an appreciation for waka form and loved this fictional dive into heian Period court culture, although I prefer the non-fiction of the time more to this, The Tale of Genji definitely deserves it's throne as the most influential piece of Japanese literature and title of the first novel ever.
Genji was an absolutely deplorable character and the last 300 pages dragged on forever but, I gained such an appreciation for waka form and loved this fictional dive into heian Period court culture, although I prefer the non-fiction of the time more to this, The Tale of Genji definitely deserves it's throne as the most influential piece of Japanese literature and title of the first novel ever.