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The Tale of Genji, Volume 1 cover art

The Tale of Genji, Volume 1

Written by: Murasaki Shikibu, Dennis Washburn - translator
Narrated by: Brian Nishii
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Publisher's Summary

Murasaki Shikibu, born into the middle ranks of the aristocracy during the Heian period (794-1185 CE), wrote The Tale of Genji, widely considered the world's first novel, during the early years of the 11th century. Expansive, compelling, and sophisticated in its representation of ethical concerns and aesthetic ideals, Murasaki's tale came to occupy a central place in Japan's remarkable history of artistic achievement and is now recognized as a masterpiece of world literature.

The Tale of Genji is presented here in a flowing new translation for contemporary listeners, who will discover in its depiction of the culture of the imperial court the rich complexity of human experience that simultaneously resonates with and challenges their own. Washburn embeds annotations for accessibility and clarity and renders the poetry into triplets to create prosodic analogues of the original.

©2015 Dennis Washburn (translation) (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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one of the worst books ever

There is a list entitled "100 books to read before you die". Out of curiosity and the desire to expand myself intellectually I have been plugging my why through these books. Many of these books are a part of our life. Like the adventures of Winnie the Pooh and the entire collection of The Wizard of Oz. There are so many more, some fun, others daunting.
The tales of Genji volume 1 and 2, by Murasaki Skikibu is definitely on the daunting side and very misleading.
I was hoping it would be like Shogun or 47 ronin. Looking forward to story's of samurai worrier, an perhaps an honorable suicide.
Instead this story is one of the oldest soap operas, written in the 11th century. It is Long drawn out and very anticlimactic.
The few good parts of this story are some of the poetry and images. Some of which inspired Tomis Harris in his book Hannibal rising.
Sadly that is about all the joy I found in listening to this book. Over 70 hours of my life that were absolute mental torture.
Most of this story is about perfumed noble men committing adultery. Pining over someone they barely caught a glimpse of. Becoming obsessed with the idea of a person not who that person is.
Not one of these nobles carried a sword or wore armor. There is not one mention of samurai. Not one has worked a day in their spoiled lives. No one has fought in any way. Not in war or even a simple fist fight, even over a woman.
Not one of the noble or resplendent noble charters depicted in this story ever got their hands dirty except in acts of lust. Only to lament their own actions in boring melancholy.
Just lord's and their servants and women so oppressed they are forced to hide behind paper blinds. Who just because they are women it is their fault that men are driven to act out of lust and irrational behavior. Men blaming women, outright saying the women are the source of all evil.
There is a lot to be learned about people who oppress themselves and others out of self entitlement. Much like the world we live in now.
Condemned to a life worrying about the opinions and scrutiny of others because of their high station in life. Such noble and resplendent people who do nothing but look down on the people who they rule over and lament a pity party over their all too easy lives.
Many of the characters, both men and women, end up wanting to end their lives in recluse in an attempt to release themselves from the shackles of this world and prepare themselves for the next one. All the while other's work and toil providing these nobles with all of their needs.
How nice for them. These are leaders, rulers, people with powers and positions over others. I am only sorry for the people and not a single character in this story.
This story drags on and on. Men obsessed over a fantasy and not a real person.
The women charter are so restricted by cultural expectations that many of them become aloof and are unable to make up their minds.
I repeat, this is the world's oldest soap opera. The only charter that commits suicide by throwing herself into a river because she is pursued by two man she dose not want to be with, comes back to life and pretentds to have amnesia. Like Days of Our Lives or All My Children.
This story is anti climatic and defined, pointless.
I am at a loss, why is this dreadful book one the list of one hundred books to read. Is it out of spite or punishment? Whoever made this list was likely a sadist.
There are some great books on that list, like, A Wrinkle in Time, To Kill a mockingbird.
Yes there are some really tough daunting books like, War and Peace or, Wuthering Height.
So far this is by far the worst book I have endured.
It may be a good idea to go over this list and remove books like this. It is not written very well and it absolutely doesn't compliment a rich culture and its people.
Except to show that this ruling class of men cried just as much as the oppressed women.
After being exposed to this atrocious literature I am compelled to compose the following.

Thoughts of anger and malicious malice rumble in my mind like hurricane winds. Thunderous thoughts strike like lightning at poorly written poses of preposters pansies.
May your due soaked scented sleeves be drowned by the title wave of much better writings.
Seppuku, that is an honorable death by self disembowelment is a better little death of my soul after enduring this pointlessness.

Normally I would thank the author and all those responsible for sharing a great piece of literature. I am disinclined at this time to do so. One hundred books you should read before you die should enrich a person and should not take a part of the very essence of a person.
The only reason why I endured this….story. Is to say that I did from beginning to ending. I have enriched my mind at the cost of a little death of my very being. I do not recommend this story and vote to take it of the list of books you should read.
That is only an opinion.
Yours, David Evil Midkinight.

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