Comment

MarisaClareH
Sep 01, 2018MarisaClareH rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
I have read this novel five or six times across my maturation from 16 - 30. I have no doubt I will read it again. This is such a rich and expertly written tale of feminine psyche and endurance that I find something new to understand and relate to with every revisit. This is a novel that surpasses mere entertainment but informs and tests your own understanding of yourself and your place in the world. The glimpse into one of the most ancient and secret traditions of Japan is also fascinating. That a man wrote this novel so delicately dealing with female experience is mind boggling - but then perhaps it is a case of the stranger being able to see and observe more from the outside? Read this novel, it is for me an old friend and one of my true favourites.