Musashi Readalong – Book I: Earth
by Jenners • 10/02/2010 • Classics, Musashi Readalong • 34 Comments
It was with considerable relief that I read the first book of Eiji Yoshikawa’s epic Musashi. It proved to be highly readable and interesting. In fact, I finished Book 1 in a single sitting. After all, when you’ve convinced a handful of people to read a 970-page book about a Japanese swordsman with you, you want it to be a good experience. (Unlike, say, The Brothers Karamazov Readalong, which has been hellish from the start.)
The Story So Far
Wow! Talk about your opening lines:
Takezo lay among the corpses. There were thousands of them. “The whole world’s gone crazy,” he thought dimly. “A man might as well be a dead leaf, floating on the autumn breeze.”
Our hero (known as Takezo at the start of the book) is lying on the plain of Sekigahara on the “fifteenth of the ninth month of 1600.” His side has lost a battle, and Takezo fears he is the only one alive. Luckily, his best friend Matahachi has also survived. Reunited but injured, the two friends struggle to find their way home to the village of Miyamoto. They seek refuge in a house belonging to a mother (Oko) and daughter (Akemi). The two friends move into the house to recuperate and recover their strength. However, Oko’s refusal to kowtow to Temma—the professional looter who controls the local territory and murdered Oko’s husband—leads to trouble. One morning, when Takezo awakens, he finds the house empty—Oko, Akemi and Matahachi have fled and left him behind.
Angry and saddened at his friend’s betrayal, Takezo slowly makes his way home. He dreads telling Matahachi’s mother and fiancee of his abandonment. He also knows he won’t be greeted with open arms by the villagers. You see, Takezo is a bully who has difficulty controlling his temper. Abandoned by his mother and raised by his distant and cold samurai father, Takezo lacks discipline and refinement, which makes him unpopular and feared. Yet he has nowhere else to go, and he longs to see his beloved sister, Ogin.
At the village, we meet Otsu (Matahachi’s fiancee), Osugi (Matahachi’s strong-willed mother), and Takuan (an eccentric monk). When Takezo is sighted in the local temple, chaos ensues. Blaming him for her son’s death, Osugi instigates a manhunt for Takezo in the mountains. Ogin is taken prisoner to serve as bait. Yet Takezo manages to evade everyone for days. Finally, Takuan asks the local samurai to give him and Otsu three days to capture Takezo. His only condition? If he brings him back, Takuan can decide Takezo’s fate.
Otsu and Takuan live in the mountains for three days and finally attract Takezo to their camp fire. When he brings Takezo back to the village, Takuan has him lashed to a tree for punishment. Takezo and Otsu bond over their mutual loss of Matahachi, while Takuan attempts to teach Takezo self-discipline. One night during a storm, Otsu frees Takezo and they escape. But Takezo must free his sister so Otsu makes Takezo promise to meet her by the Hanada Bridge “whether it takes a hundred days or a thousand.” When she finds out that Takezo has escaped, Osugi sets off in pursuit.
After failing to free his sister, Takezo runs into Takuan, who hands him over the lord of the local castle. Takezo is locked up in a haunted room where light never shines. His only companions are mountains of books. Takezo stays in the room for three years and emerges a different man. Takuan—pleased with the new man that Takezo has become—suggests that Takezo be freed and given a new name. Takezo is rechristened Miyamoto Musashi. As he leaves the village, he crosses Hanada Bridge where—lo and behold—Otsu is waiting. She’s been waiting for 970 days and reminds Musashi of his promise to take her with him when he leaves. He reluctantly agrees—but when Otsu goes to gather her things, she returns to find Musashi gone and note saying “Forgive me. Forgive me.”
My Thoughts
- After being so intimidated by this book, I feel slightly ridiculous now. The writing is amazingly accessible. I got caught up in the story from the start, and the pages flew by. One thing I noticed was that the writing seemed more simplistic than I expected. Not that I’m complaining! I just thought it would be more difficult reading. However, the hardest thing about the book is its sheer weight. It isn’t a book that can be read lying down (you’d knock yourself unconscious if you dropped it.)
- I’m reading my dad’s copy of the book and found a quote he highlighted. Because one of my reasons for reading this book is to connect with my dad, I thought I’d share it.
Loneliness, she mused, is like hunger; it isn’t outside but inside oneself. To be lonely, she thought, is to sense that one lacks something, something vitally necessary, but what she knew not.
- I loved how, in just a few hundred pages, Yoshikawa establishes Musashi’s origins, personality and his journey to becoming a better man. As with all the best hero stories, our hero starts out flawed and unformed. Under Takuan’s “tough love,” Muasashi starts down the path that will make him the great man he will become. I, for one, am glad to be on this journey with him.
If you’re participating in the Musashi Readalong and wrote a post for Book I, please link it up below. My next Musashi post on Book II: Water will be posted on October 11th. Happy reading!
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I’m glad this one proved to be a better experience for you than the Brothers K. Just the size of this one would probably scare me but it is nice to know that the story is so engaging and easy to read.
I’m glad it was better than the Brothers K too … I couldn’t handle another horrible readalong (especially one that I initiated).
You’ve made it sound much more interesting than I thought it could, lol. Great opening line!
Everyone doing the readalong has been so pleasantly surprised by how good this book is.
as usual, here I am, bringing up the rear.
yes, my readalong post is finally up…but then I didn’t start read book 1 until last night. what a slacker I am..lol
Better late than never! And I can’t wait to read your post!
WHY…have I not been reading your book blog before now, Jenners? WHY? This book looks so intriguing.
I don’t know … but I’m glad I rolled it all together! And that you are a reader!
I’ve got my post about the first book up now.
Cool! Can’t wait to read it! Popping over now.
I had not yet heard of this book, but after reading your excellent review, I think it’s definitely a book that I am going to have to try. I like that you are reading this to connect with your father as well. I would love to read a book that my father loved, but alas, he is not really a reader.
It has been so gratifying to be able to read books my dad loved. I do feel closer to him. Perhaps you can watch some of your dad’s favorite movies?
I wish I had more time to read during the school year. I definitely will add this to my list, though!
Darn school … keeping you from reading.
Hellish is a good way to describe it…I still haven’t read any of the last section. I’m a total slacker.
I finally buckled down and read to the end. Ugh. Never have I been so glad to be done a book. I’m working on my FINAL post and then I will have The Brothers K out of my life FOREVER!
I haven’t forgotten to post. I think I’m going to be completely rebellious and post all of my Musashi posts on Mondays (and not just because it’s alliterative).
I just need to get my act together now and type out what I’ve got jotted down in my notebook. I’m loving the book though, but very behind on everything right now.
I like the quote that your dad highlighted.
No pressure at all! I’m just glad you are liking the book. And Musashi would like a bit of rebellion, I think.
I’m glad you’re enjoying it. I love when I discover that books that have intimidated me (The Woman in White) are much easier to read than I expected. Good luck with the next section. I’ve added it to my list of books to read, but I’ll have to wait until I move back to the States.
It is a good feeling isn’t it? I”m hoping there isn’t an abrupt change in the next section!
I’m glad that it’s turning out to be a pleasurable experience. It did seem a bit daunting! It sounds good enough that I might have considered playing catch-up, too, except for the fact I’m currently immersed in a 700+ page novel for my final RIP book. Just too many good books in the world for a slow reader like me!
It did seem daunting … and that fact that it turned out to be so accessible was such a bonus. Even if you can’t read it now, perhaps some day.
Again, my dad would have loved this book too. I just know it. I’m going to check it out. I love the striking imagery and vivid human connections made in what seems to be simple prose. Love the quote that your father highlighted too. That’s another beautiful gift from him to you. It’s like you had a conversation in that moment that you read what moved him. Awesome!
Your description of the writing is right on … are you sure you didn’t read it already?
Reading this book definitely made me feel a connection to my dad. (Unlike the Brothers Karamazov).
I too am enjoying it, my post will not be as good as yours, I’ll be linking you in. But I’m glad I joined. My headaches have kept me from reading this past week or so, but I hope I can catch up next week.
I’m glad you are enjoying it … and I loved Cat’s post about it.
Oh, I was so tempted to read this post but I should really find a copy and read it on my own. Heck, I live in Japan so I should be THAT lazy about it right? Plus, I can probably get Jason to read it too because he likes that kinda stuff.
You guys would probably get more out of it than most people! I was wondering if Musashi is someone that is a big cultural thing over in Japan. You’d be a most valued resource for this readalong!
This sounds really interesting. I like that quote.
I think it’s grat that you read your dads favorites, what a nice way to connect with and remember him.
I am finding it a wonderful way to feel connected with my dad. It was such a treat to find his highlight in the book!
Definitely great reading and I’m enjoying it very much. Agree the writing is a whole lot simpler than expected.
That is a lovely quote your Dad highlighted.
Whew! I’m glad you are enjoying it. Can’t wait to read your post!
This sounds really great! I was worried about it being ponderous, too, but I loved the opening line. I might try to find it at the library and catch up with you.
It is so readable … I was pleasantly surprised. I’d love if you can join in!