Blake’s Reviews > The Tale of Genji > Status Update

How's this going?

C wrote: "How's this going?"

Best thing I've read in a long time. Doesn't have the definite direction and progress of a typical novel. It's just got its own style and moods and sense of place. Really delicate details in there. Will probably read the unabridged at a much later date.

Thanks, I went ahead and ordered the unabridged edition.

So uhm, I'm finding this a kind of slog. It feels like homework trying to track down who each character is, since although they have names, they're referenced as titles, and I have no historical understanding of 11th century Japanese bureaucracy.

So far the novel has just been about sexual conquest!

C wrote: "So uhm, I'm finding this a kind of slog. It feels like homework trying to track down who each character is, since although they have names, they're referenced as titles, and I have no historical un..."

I'd been planning on reading it for about 6 months and learning about the culture of the time. Might be why it's easier. 😅 Does the unabridged have the footnotes at the bottom of the page? Usually those highlight confusing parts in mine and remind you which character has which title. I also google if I forget who's who and just avoid spoilers.

But yeah, it is basically about the main character and his affairs and political life and the questionable stuff he does. With lots of nature and detail and cultural scenes.