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The Tale of Genji
The Tale of Genji | Lady Murasaki
320 posts | 49 read | 5 reading | 94 to read
One of the world's oldest novels and the greatest single work of Japanese literature, this 11th-century romance offers a vast tapestry of court life, rich in poetry and subtle social, psychological observations.
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CarolynM
Tale of Genji | Shikibu Murasaki
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#WondrousWednesday

1. I was thinking it would be something from C18th and I‘d have to research publication dates, but then I remembered The Tale of Genji from C11th
2. The number of books in a series isn‘t a consideration for me
3. The one I‘m most sad about is Reginald Hill‘s Dalziel and Pascoe series because I think he had a lot more to say about the state of the world.

Thanks for the tag @Andrew65

Andrew65 That is quite a long time back to when this book was written. Beat my 1840 handsomely 😂 I loved the Dalziel and Pascoe series, both as books and on tv. 10mo
Eggs Thanks for your thoughtful answers 📚👏🏻 10mo
Lindy I have fond memories of group reading The Tale of Genji 😊 10mo
CarolynM @Andrew65 I couldn‘t watch the TV series after the first episode. I thought they got Peter Pascoe so wrong, not the casting but the characterisation. And their Sargeant Wield had a totally wrong look. 10mo
Andrew65 @CarolynM I watched them years before I read them so this was less of an issue for me. Amazing how often there is a mismatch between books and casting/characterisation. 10mo
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bookishbitch
Tale of Genji | Shikibu Murasaki
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The moment I heard about a book that is over a thousand years old written by a woman I was in. There are several translations of this out there. So far I've heard many people like this one. I kinda want to also get the most recent one (done in 2015) because it has footnotes that provides context. Unsure when I'll get to read this but I'm excited to have it.

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RaeLovesToRead
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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#two4tuesday @TheSpineView

Thanks for tagging me @TheNeverendingTBR & @julesG

1) I haven't read nearly as many classics as I think I have!

2) Lots and lots. The most popular classics that I'm yet to read are:

- The Great Gatsby
- Frankenstein
- Of mice & men
- Animal Farm

I also want to explore Woolf, Updike, Marquez, Achebe, Baldwin, Morrison & Rushdie. Also finally want to get round to The Tale of Genji.

TheSpineView Great choices on your classic TBR list! Thanks for playing! 🤩 2y
wanderinglynn Thanks for the tag! Frankenstein is one of my faves! ❤️ 2y
RaeLovesToRead @wanderinglynn I need to get on with reading it... but first I need to find where it is amongst my many stacks! 2y
39 likes4 comments
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Kenyazero
The Tale of Genji | Shikibu Murasaki
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I'm listening to an abridged version of this #classicLiterature. I don't know why I ever read classics, though... I always hate them! In one of the first chapters, a collection of noblemen bragged about ignoring women. One man talked about a woman he played hard to get with so hard that she died of a broken heart, and then told a story about a woman who didn't care about his aloof attitude and that made him dislile her. #JapaneseLiterature

Daisey This one is tough. Overall, I appreciated the unabridged novel for its descriptive writing and place in history but hated the treatment of women throughout. 3y
Kenyazero @Daisey That's good to know about the unabridged version! I get the sense that most of the charm of this book is its descriptions more than the story itself. I was a little bummed that Librivox only has an abridged audio recording (at least until I started hating the book and decided 1,000+ pages was a little too long for me). 3y
BarbaraBB I was glad when I was done with the abridged version 😉 3y
Kenyazero @BarbaraBB I think I will be as well! 3y
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Lindy
Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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It's been another great year. I will be busy all day compiling reading stats, like the book nerd I am. Average length of book: 242 pages. Average rating: 4.2 stars. #starslut

Ash.on.the.line Great job! I love figuring out all my books stats! How do you keep track? 4y
Lindy @Ash.on.the.line Goodreads shelves help me sort by the categories that are important to me, like lgbtqi, in translation, and authored by women. I have about 250 different shelves in Goodreads. 🤓 4y
Ash.on.the.line @Lindy woah, I don‘t think I could handle that many! 🤯😂 I keep a few journals and a spreadsheet. Have fun doing your book stats! 😄 4y
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TrishB Brilliant 👍🏻 I aim to be you 😘 4y
Suet624 That‘s an amazing number of books! 4y
Butterfinger Awesome! 4y
Lindy @TrishB Aw, shucks. Thanks! 4y
Lindy @Butterfinger Sending you thank you kisses... 4y
Lindy @Suet624 I read about a book a day, but since I have several going at a time, it doesn't seem like I'm going through them so quickly. (edited) 4y
Suet624 Yowzer. That‘s amazing. 4y
LeahBergen Awesome once again! 👏🏻👏🏻 4y
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batsy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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I feel bad to have missed the first two days of #adventrecommends but I love the idea @emilyrose_x so I'm jumping in! I'm focusing on books I read in 2019 & highlighting the ones that were special.

This was a monster buddy read with @Lindy & friends & it was a totally bewildering, frustrating, complex, & beautiful experience from start to finish! I read the Dennis Washburn translation. I felt like I was living another life while reading this 💫

Cathythoughts Sounds amazing ... very long too 👍🏻👍🏻❤️🤔 4y
Amiable Gorgeous cover, too! 4y
batsy @Cathythoughts Yup, a beast of a book 😁 4y
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batsy @Amiable It's a lovely one! 4y
Lindy @batsy It feels like a lifetime accomplishment, to have read The Tale of Genji. I encounter references to it surprisingly often. 😊 4y
rockpools One Day I will finish this! 4y
batsy @Lindy It definitely does! I'm so glad we embarked on this together 🙂 Its cultural influence is tremendous. 4y
batsy @RachelO 😁 Yes you will! 💪🏽 4y
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Tonton
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Japanese imperial enthronement ceremony live right now. October 22, 2019

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brilliantglow
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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That's a pretty cool find! I wonder if they'll add this new found chapter to new editions

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erzascarletbookgasm
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Especially those of you who joined @Lindy in the buddy read earlier this year, look at this!

”Now, a fifth chapter has been discovered. Depicting Genji‘s relationship with a woman that would eventually become his wife, the fifth chapter was found among the heirlooms of the home of Motofuyu Okochi, a descendant of a formal feudal lord.”

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/10/09/national/history/missing-part-tale-...

batsy Ooh, cool! 4y
Daisey Interesting, thanks for sharing! 4y
Lindy Amazing! 4y
saresmoore Neato! 4y
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Tanisha_A
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Hi love, look what i found. 😍 Just so thoughtful of you to get me The Little Prince bookmark, i adore it. Also, The Tale of Genji is something I wish to tackle soon, so that bookmark will be put to good use. Thank you, thank you! 💚

@ju.ca.no

BookNAround Look at that Le Petit Prince bookmark!❤️❤️❤️ 4y
ju.ca.no I‘m glad it finally caaaame🤗 and that you like it😘 4y
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GatheringBooks
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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quietlycuriouskate
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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How beautiful is this?
Miss K and I went to see the final part of Bristol Museum and Art Gallery's Japanese print exhibition: nature and seasons. I thought of the Littens even here as there were some prints by Utagawa Hiroshige from a series called "Famous Places in Edo and Murasaki's Genji". This is "Autumn Moon at Ishiyama Temple" where Murasaki is said to have begun "The Tale of Genji" on the night of the full moon of the 8th month of AD 1004.

Oryx Beautiful! 5y
saresmoore Oh, that is so cool! And the painting is lovely. 5y
batsy That is gorgeous and it sounds like an amazing exhibit! 5y
youneverarrived So beautiful! 5y
Reggie Awesome! 5y
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bromeliad
Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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It's been about 6 months since I slogged through a long book, and I wouldn't mind settling in with one for the rest of the summer...do any of these seem like particularly good choices?

1) Underworld by Don DeLillo
2) War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
3) 2666 by Roberto Bolano
4) Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
5) Jerusalem by Alan Moore
6) The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu

Graywacke Welcome to Litsy. I would recommend one if I had read any. 5y
bromeliad @Graywacke thanks! Haha well I appreciate the honesty! 😊 5y
BarbaraBB No real easy summer reads among them but I loved the upper three! 5y
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sudi Welcome To Litsy 💜. I would recommend you a book but i've only read one of them which is War And Peace. It was pretty good though 😊 5y
Billypar I vote for the Bolaño because I just finished The Savage Detectives and am looking forward to 2666. 5y
bromeliad @BarbaraBB yeah, I've always had a weird definition of "summer read"...usually, because I have more down time, I like to find longer books, since during the fall/winter I don't pick them up regularly and then I forget everything lol. 5y
bromeliad @sudi thank you! 😊 5y
bromeliad @Billypar how was Savage detectives? 5y
Billypar I liked it- long and slow in spots, but it really rewards you for sticking with it. I finished it on Saturday and am still thinking about it- philosophical but also kind of playful in a weird way. I should be posting a review soon. 5y
bromeliad @Billypar sounds good! Looking forward to your review! 5y
CrowCAH Welcome to the Litsy family!!! 📚 5y
rretzler Never read any of them but War and Peace and Don Quixote have been in my TBR forever. 🤣 5y
bromeliad @CrowCAH thank you!! 5y
bromeliad @rretzler right?? Same here! 5y
Emilymdxn I loved Don Quixote it‘s an absolute scream! 5y
Lcsmcat I haven‘t read any of these 6, but I‘m the same way with tackling the chunksters over the summer. I‘m reading The Magic Mountain and Of Human Bondage this summer. Previous summer hits for me include Anna Karenina and Les Misérables. 5y
bromeliad @Lcsmcat Anna Karenina and Les Mis were the same for me! Loved both of them. 5y
saresmoore I‘m a big fan of Quixote. I recently read all of Genji—ALL OF IT—and it was pretty brutal. So much misogyny for so many pages. But, still, an impressive feat of storytelling and the history is amazing, so I‘m glad I read it. 5y
Daisey I also read Genji earlier this year and although it was often tough, I truly enjoyed the overall experience. If you decide to read it, I would definitely recommend going back through the hashtag #Genji here on Litsy, and you can even look at posts made in reference to specific chapters. 5y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled Of these I‘ve only read War and Peace (and I don‘t recommend that you waste your time with it 😆) 5y
Becker I vote for Don Quixote 5y
Andrea4 D.Q. 5y
CoffeeNBooks I vote for Don Quixote. Welcome to Litsy! @LitsyWelcomeWagon #LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
bromeliad @CoffeeNBooks thank you! 5y
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Daisey
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Today I visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and enjoyed seeing these screens depicting The Tale of Genji. The book was often a tough read, but it‘s also one of the most impactful that I‘ve read this year.

#Genji #LiteraryTourism

Megabooks Cool! 5y
Daisey @Megabooks It really was! The whole museum was amazing, and I‘m so glad I got to visit. 5y
Megabooks @Daisey did you see the empty spaces from the theft? 5y
Daisey @Megabooks I did! I found the whole story of how the museum was set up and the reasoning behind the empty frames fascinating. I also think sharing that information is an interesting way to keep people aware about the stolen artwork. 5y
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ju.ca.no
The Tale of Genji | Lady Murasaki
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This is Lady Murasaki - who wrote the Tale of Prince Genji (a book that has been sitting on my shelves for many many years... I‘m sure that I‘ll read it one day^^). Today we visited Uji (Kyoto) - the place where the last few chapters of the book take place and where there is a Genji Museum (which we didn‘t see as we arrived past closing time)

Tanisha_A Soooo cool! @batsy 5y
saresmoore Neat! 5y
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mydearwatson
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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batsy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Great idea @Cinfhen here's my #top6reads so far that's bound to change in a minute! 😆 Thanks to Litsy and lots of book chats and group reads I've read so many amazing books, to the point where I've had to leave ol Will Shakespeare out 😅

Thanks for the tag @Leftcoastzen @Ruthiella @readordierachel and I'd love to see yours if you want to share @merelybookish @Lindy @BiblioLitten @erzascarletbookgasm @Reggie @Graywacke

merelybookish Thanks for the tag! I just did mine and also included Shirley and Cassandra. And no Will! (These days he seems to be the only male author I even read. 🤔) 5y
batsy @merelybookish Ha, yes. I didn't even realise my list were all women authors and I notice yours is, too! 5y
Leftcoastzen @batsy I need to get to Genji, need a break from #chunksters for a while , Ghost Wall sounds interesting,on my TBR a good long time. 5y
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batsy @Leftcoastzen Wouldn't have made it through Genji without @Lindy and fellow buddy readers 😁 But utterly memorable and a reading experience that transported me out of my current world! 5y
readordierachel Great list! I want to read all of these! Especially Freshwater. Genji kinda terrifies me though 😆 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Thanks for the tag! I‘m awaiting my copy of Ghost Wall and Freshwater from the recent BD sale. I‘m eager to read Cassandra, so much Litsy love, and it‘s still a bummer I missed the Genji readalong. I loved Shirley too! 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Maybe you need another top 6 just for ol‘ Will 😄😉 5y
vivastory Okay, this is the third or fourth post including Ghost Wall as a best of, so I'm taking that as a sign from the book goddesses that I need to not only add it to my TBR, but move it up 5y
Cinfhen Yay!!!! Was waiting for your list!!!!! I bailed on Fresh Water....maybe I need to try again 😬🙈 5y
Ruthiella Fabulous list! I need to read something (anything) by Sarah Moss! 5y
TrishB Great list 👍🏻 I have Cassandra now thanks to recent swap goodies from @squirrelbrain so will be getting to soon! 5y
Cathythoughts Yes great list ! I see The Genji is quite long 😳.. would be an investment though I‘d say. And I must read Shirley some day ♥️👍🏻 5y
Tanisha_A All of them are on TBR! 🥰 5y
batsy @readordierachel @erzascarletbookgasm @Cathythoughts Genji is quite the Big Book but a worthwhile time investment for sure 😊 5y
batsy @vivastory @Ruthiella It's a brilliant short read and it's definitely made me want to read more by Moss! 5y
batsy @Cinfhen I can understand why, it's the kind of book that depends a lot on mood and timing I think. 5y
batsy @TrishB Ooh, I hope you enjoy!! 5y
batsy @Tanisha_A Cheers to the TBR 😆🥂 5y
BarbaraBB Great choices. Happy to see Cassandra and I have Sarah Moss to be read soon! 5y
youneverarrived Freshwater was one of my most favourite books last year. Great picks 🧡 (edited) 5y
batsy @BarbaraBB Cassandra seems to be a firm favourite! ❤️ 5y
batsy @youneverarrived It's so unlike anything I've read before. Really powerful and one I still think about often 💜 5y
batsy @rohit-sawant Forgot to tag you earlier but I'd love to see yours if you want to share! 5y
sisilia Tale of Genji! The thickness is intimidating 😅 5y
batsy @sisilia It was for me, as well! I found the buddy read structure very helpful 🙂 5y
rmaclean4 Ghost Wall is one of the best books I have read this year also!!! Have you read Lanny by Max Porter? 5y
batsy @rmaclean4 It's so good! And no, have yet to read Max Porter. I definitely want to read both of his books, just haven't gotten round to it 🙂 5y
rmaclean4 @batsy Lanny, Ghost Wall and Spring by Ali Smith are my top three reads so far this year. I read Lanny in one sitting... highly recommend!! 5y
batsy @rmaclean4 That's great! I've only read Ghost Wall from that list and plan to read the Ali Smith seasons books in the order it was published. So many books, so little time... 😅 5y
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SharonGoforth
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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I think today‘s prompt is a pretty accurate description of this classic!

#biginjapan #wanderingjune

Cinfhen Nice choice!!! 5y
SharonGoforth @Cinfhen Thanks!! I really need to read this! 5y
Cinfhen There was recently a Litsy buddyread for this book....I think most enjoyed 🤔 5y
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Lindy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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“To me, what is just as remarkable is Murasaki‘s ability to represent, from the inside, the way men think—in particular, the way men justify to themselves actions whose motives they know to be ignoble and self-serving. She takes a scalpel to the male ego, even as she creates one of the great male characters in world literature.” -Louis Menand #Genji
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-radiant-prince-comes-to-f...

batsy I'd bookmarked this earlier! Need to read it 😁 5y
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Faibka
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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“So he had the cat at last, and he got it to sleep with him at night. By day he caressed it and fussed over it. Soon it was no longer shy, and it curled up in his skirts or cuddled with him so nicely that he really did become very fond of it. He was lying against a pillar near the veranda, lost in thought, when it came to him going Meow! Meow! ever so sweetly.”

Image:"Asakusa Rice Fields and Festival of Torinomachi," Utagawa Hiroshige, 1857

Desha ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ きれいね (beautiful!) 5y
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shawnmooney
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Lindy A great line. 🌸 5y
shawnmooney I thought so too – but also an eye rolling one after all of Genji‘s asshole comments and thoughts in the previous page or two. What an absolute jerk he is! 😛 5y
Lindy @shawnmooney Yep. We talked a lot about Genji‘s asshole qualities during our group read. #Genji 5y
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shawnmooney
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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saresmoore 🙄 That‘s what they all say... 5y
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CindyMyLifeIsLit
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Pickpick

Read this with a group of Litsy ladies—definitely made it much more fun! Interesting from a historical and cultural perspective, and well-written. The meandering structure is different from most of our modern works—it doesn‘t seem to have any type of goal in mind and even keeps going after the title character dies. Still, it is one of the first recorded books ever written, about a thousand years ago, so worth reading!

saresmoore Meandering is a great description! It also serves to sum up the unfortunate proclivity of the title character. 😑 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Well done 👍 5y
Daisey I completely agree with this review! 5y
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CindyMyLifeIsLit
The Tale of Genji | Shikibu Murasaki
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I knew that Ukifune was in that nunnery—I KNEW it!! This is like a modern day soap opera! If they can‘t show you a body, they‘re not dead! 😁

saresmoore Kinda makes me wonder how many other characters are still alive in the mountains somewhere. 5y
Lindy Soap opera was my reaction too. 😁 5y
Daisey So much like a soap opera! 5y
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Lindy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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At the National Museum of Tokyo: A kimono with a design of books and Heian-era carriages. Shades of #Genji

@Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat @mhillis @SoniaC @batsy @KathyR @TheWordJar @Faibka @RachelO @CindyMyLifeIsLit

LeahBergen Oh, you‘re there!! This is beautiful. 5y
SharonAlger What a beautiful, bookish kimono. 5y
erzascarletbookgasm You‘re there?! 👏 5y
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Lindy @LeahBergen @SharonAlger @erzascarletbookgasm It‘s a rainy day in Tokyo; a good day to spend in this extensive museum. 5y
CindyMyLifeIsLit Have a wonderful time!! Does all the time spent with Genji make things seem a little more “familiar”? 5y
rockpools Beautiful. Have a lovely time! 5y
Lindy @CindyMyLifeIsLit Yes, all that time spent with Genji gave me plenty of context for things that I saw at the museum today. 😊 5y
Lindy @RachelO Thanks! 5y
batsy Oh, that is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing with us. Have a lovely trip! 5y
saresmoore It‘s beautiful! 5y
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erzascarletbookgasm
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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“This is the first major loan exhibition in North America to focus on the artistic tradition inspired by Japan's most celebrated work of literature.... Covering the period from the eleventh century to the present, the exhibition features more than 120 works, including paintings, calligraphy, silk robes, lacquer wedding set items, a palanquin for the shogun's bride..”
https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2019/tale-of-genji

erzascarletbookgasm Recent buddy readers of the book would have been delighted with the exhibition! 5y
batsy Oh yes, we totally need a Litsy buddy read school trip 😁😍 #Genji @Lindy 5y
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mhillis Yes, school trip!! I‘m there 😂😍 5y
Daisey This would be so cool to see after reading the book! 5y
CindyMyLifeIsLit Would love to see this! 5y
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Daisey
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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I didn‘t read many books in February, but I completed a few that will absolutely stick with me. Towers Falling is a wonderful middle grade book about 9/11, its impact yet today, and friendship. Prairie Fires is a thorough biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder that I truly enjoyed. The Tale of Genji is not really a favorite, but it dominated my reading this month. The readalong was great, and I will not soon forget it.

#MonthlyStats #ReadingStats

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Daisey
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Pickpick

This book is incredibly difficult to review, but overall I‘m glad I decided to read it. It was by turns beautiful, confusing, infuriating, meandering, frustrating, and challenging. I appreciated the amazing descriptions and how it compelled me to learn a bit more about the history and culture of the Heian period in Japan. I‘m grateful to have read it with a group of readers that made it a truly worthwhile experience.

#Genji #1001books

Daisey Thanks again @Lindy! I‘m still not sure I would have made it through this on my own. The chapter by chapter posts and discussion added so much to my experience. 5y
saresmoore Congratulations on finishing! 5y
Naj Congrats on finishing this! It does look like an exhausting read. 5y
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Velvetfur Wow, that looks like real chunkster, well done for finishing it! 👍 5y
Liz_M Nice! 5y
ephemeralwaltz Woohoo! 5y
Lcsmcat I‘m impressed, but I really want to know about your mug. Do you write on it to change the book title? 5y
Daisey @Naj @Velvetfur @Liz_M @ephemeralwaltz Thanks! It was quite a read! 5y
Daisey @saresmoore Thanks! Have you started on the book of essays you picked up yet? I‘m curious to hear what you think. 5y
Daisey @Lcsmcat Yes! It‘s got a chalkboard finish so I use the chalk paint markers and then just rinse it off with water. 5y
Lcsmcat That‘s amazingly cool. 5y
saresmoore @Daisey I only made it through the first one, which was a slog. I‘m hoping the others will be more interesting! 5y
Lindy @Daisey It‘s been a pleasure. Congratulations on finishing the book! 🥇💐💐💐 5y
batsy Well done 👏🏽👏🏽❤️ 5y
Daisey @saresmoore Hoping it gets better. I downloaded this one from Hoopla to see what it included, but I‘m not sure when I‘ll actually make time to read some of it. 5y
Daisey @batsy Thanks! 5y
batsy @Daisey @saresmoore I've heard good things about Haruo Shirane and was thinking of trying to find a pdf of it or something online, if I still have the brain power 🤞🏽😬 5y
Daisey @batsy Positive reviews might help me get started. Based on the table of contents and page flipping I did today it sounds interesting, but I‘m also not sure I‘m ready to delve into 400 more pages about Genji. 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Bravo! 👏👍 5y
JazzFeathers So you've finished it! I'm happy it was an enriching experience. I suppose this always makes it worthwile, even when we don't totally enjoy the story. 5y
Daisey @JazzFeathers Yes, it's taken me a long time to develop into the reader than can enjoy and appreciate a story even if there are things I dislike and hard reading days. I think it does make me a better reader though. 5y
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Daisey
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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I don't remember seeing anyone else share this resource yet that includes some summary and character information along with a section of photos of places referenced in the story. I specifically looked at the photos of Uji and the river as I read #Genji52 this morning.

http://www.taleofgenji.org

#Genji

saresmoore Neat! 5y
Lindy Thanks for sharing this. I found other resources online, but not this one. 😊 5y
batsy Oh, cool! Thank you 5y
Daisey @Lindy I found it in the study guide I downloaded through Hoopla. I figured once I was done I might see what other information or analysis it included. 5y
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CindyMyLifeIsLit
The Tale of Genji | Shikibu Murasaki
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Okay, did anyone else have a problem with the older princess just abandoning her sister to a possible rapist? “She felt terrible for her sister, who was innocently sleeping away, and it broke her heart to imagine what would happen.” Are you kidding me?? As the older sister, shouldn‘t she take care of the younger? Wouldn‘t they both have been safer together? Surely Kaoru would have been hampered by the presence of the sister; ⬇️ #Genji #genji47

CindyMyLifeIsLit surely he wouldn‘t try to get it on with her right there! Or would he . . , ? 😜. I would think one reluctant partner would be all he could handle at a time. While the older princess is hiding outside, taking care of herself, it says that he didn‘t force himself on her, and spent the night talking. But then it says “he did not want to leave with his desires unsated.” So? Did he or didn‘t he? (edited) 5y
saresmoore Ugh, this was upsetting. I think he didn‘t, but staying the night in intimate talking was still a scandalous choice. I could be misremembering, though. 🤔 5y
SoniaC Yes just one of the many disturbing aspects of the story. I have come to believe that there was not a concept of rape at that time. The men were highly entitled. 5y
Daisey I was also really frustrated by the older sister‘s choices and wondered the same. It seemed to me that it would have been better for the sisters to stay together at this point. 5y
CindyMyLifeIsLit @SoniaC I agree that the men didn‘t really see it as rape. It seems to be just another step in the courtship process: first you woo her with gifts and poetry, and if that doesn‘t work, you sneak into her room and stake your claim! But the older Princess didn‘t even ATTEMPT to save her sister—that‘s what bothers me! She didn‘t want it to happen to herself, but she let it happen to her sister! 😡 5y
39 likes5 comments
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Daisey
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Time for another Sunday morning breakfast with a book. I have a feeling this is going to be another rather frustrating chapter. There‘s so much secrecy and sneaking around.

#Genji #Genji51 #ReadandEat

JazzFeathers Oh, but that should make for a good chapter! 5y
Daisey @JazzFeathers Not when it‘s a man sneaking in to see a woman who has already been moved from one place when her almost husband married her younger step sister instead, or kidnapping said woman to hide her away in a mountain retreat, or then a different man (who already has countless “relationships” with other women) sneaking off to find the now hidden woman for himself. All while her mother and half sister are pretty much unable to help her. 5y
JazzFeathers @Daisey l became all confused halfway through 😵 5y
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Daisey @JazzFeathers Yeah, a lot of this book is confusing. That was only events from part of 2 chapters. It has been quite the reading experience! 5y
Lindy It‘s like a soap opera. Possibly the people who write the soaps picked up ideas that originated with this tale. 🤔 @Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat @mhillis @SoniaC @batsy @KathyR @TheWordJar @Faibka @RachelO @CindyMyLifeIsLit @xicanti 5y
xicanti The structure reminded me so, so much of a K-Drama. Soap opera to the max. @Lindy @JazzFeathers 5y
Daisey @Lindy @xicanti @JazzFeathers So much like a soap opera! 5y
saresmoore I am SO GLAD Genji didn‘t have a secret evil(er) twin. @Lindy @xicanti 5y
65 likes9 comments
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Severnmeadows
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Already inspired by the ‘Let‘s play the piano‘ event, walking home in sunlit Norwich: then so happy talking of #Genji 😊

review
batsy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Pickpick

I mentioned earlier that reading this felt like I lived an extra life. It's an impossible book to review/rate; I experienced every single emotion reading this strange, wondrous, frustrating, infuriating, enchanting, beguiling tale. We are deeply immersed in Heian-era courtly values in this book, & the fascinating thing for me is seeing the author work out her own ambivalent & contradictory feelings about her society. A tale shrouded in beauty. ⬇️

batsy I had to adjust my own perspective & way of seeing the world and enter into this strange "waking dream", to borrow a term from @saresmoore . As @Lindy mentioned, the characters are unforgettable. The gender & sexual norms are both sadly familiar & incomprehensible. The devotion to aesthetics, rituals, & Shinto & Buddhist philosophies were both fascinating & mind-boggling. The experience was made all the richer thanks to the buddy read. ? #Genji 5y
Lindy ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
Tanisha_A Eve though i was not part of reading this, I had a great time reading everyone's posts. 💚 @Lindy 5y
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Lindy @Tanisha_A Littens are the best. 😊 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Bravo! 👏 Beautifully said, my friend. ❤️💫 5y
Trashcanman I swear you should be a professional book reviewer. It's your true calling. 5y
mklong Beautiful review! You are making me want to pick this one up. 5y
cobwebmoth I agree with @Trashcanman . Your reviews make me want to read books that I don't really want to read.😊 5y
batsy @Lindy Thank you for organising and your daily posts (& the schedule) were excellent motivation 😘 5y
batsy @Tanisha_A I've enjoyed a lot of buddy reads vicariously on Litsy ❤️ 5y
Daisey Wonderful review! I‘ve felt much the same, but cannot say it nearly as well. 5y
saresmoore Gorgeous, my friend, and so well elucidated. I think reading this will prove to be an unforgettable experience. 5y
MayJasper You make it sound fascinating. I love the cover. 5y
batsy @Daisey @saresmoore Thank you ❤️ I enjoyed reading it with you guys and seeing all of your comments. 5y
batsy @MayJasper It really is quite fascinating 🙂 That's the translation I read in the digital version but the cover is lovely, I agree! 5y
RohitSawant Terrific review! And what @Tanisha_A said! Loved reading all the posts. 5y
batsy @rohit-sawant Thank you! This was such an experience. I still can't believe I've actually read this giant book that I've been thinking of reading for decades 😁 5y
Suet624 I loved your last comment. Congratulations on tackling this goal of yours. 😁 5y
batsy @Suet624 Thank you, Sue! I'm still having a bit of a Genji hangover. 🙂 5y
Suet624 I can only imagine. 😄 5y
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Lindy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Sleep was out of the question. Not only did the old mother herself snore in a manner that was positively terrifying, but the two equally decrepit old nuns who slept with her, as though determined not to be outdone, snorted and grunted in their sleep in a way so indescribably ferocious that Ukifune felt she was in a den of wild beasts who might at any moment leap up and devour her. #Genji53 #Genji

saresmoore I highlighted this, as well. I love these moments of subtle, human hilarity. 5y
Lindy @saresmoore 😁😴👹 5y
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batsy Lol. "Decrepit old nuns" is goals. #RudeLadyReadersSnoring @saresmoore 5y
saresmoore @batsy 😂🙏 5y
SoniaC Lol got such a kick out of that part. 5y
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review
Lindy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Pickpick

#Genji - We started the first chapter on Jan 1 & 54 days later, it‘s over. Unlike one of the central characters, “confounded by this inconclusive outcome,” I like the ending, which doesn‘t wrap anything up neatly. These literary persons are timeless & I won‘t forget them. When again will I encounter ravaged moss & an endless parade of wet sleeves? Thank you, group read buddies; knowing you are out there kept me on track. It‘s been a pleasure.

LeahBergen Woohoo! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 5y
DivineDiana Cheers to the Genji Group! I must say I am intrigued now because of all the posts! (edited) 5y
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Lindy @DivineDiana Thanks! Other Littens have indicated an interest and I would be thrilled to see a new group read happening in the future. (I would be cheering from the sidelines, however. Reading this one time is enough.) 5y
llwheeler Thanks for starting the buddy read and all your posts! I'm nowhere near finished yet as I got so far behind, but I am enjoying it so far and will keep going! 5y
saresmoore Thank you for inspiring me to read this! It was an excellent buddy read and I really appreciated your posts throughout. ♥️♥️♥️ 5y
Lindy @saresmoore Likewise. You and Subashini @batsy kept me entertained and engaged with the text. 5y
batsy Lovely sum up of this enormous book and the reading experience, Lindy. Quite unforgettable indeed. Thank you for inspiring us to take it on! 5y
SoniaC Thank you all for the support. 5y
Severnmeadows ‘When again will I encounter ravaged moss & an endless parade of wet sleeves‘...how lovely. 5y
Lindy @Severnmeadows 😊The imagery in this novel is superb. 5y
Severnmeadows I came to Genji after my partner and I had supported each other through the 5 volumes of the penguin Story of the Stone,- which is wonderful.... 5y
Lindy @Severnmeadows Oooh, 18th c Chinese … that looks intriguing. 5y
Severnmeadows @Lindy we loved it but it‘s a long haul 5y
Severnmeadows @Lindy ...it often felt hard (for me) because they hardly ever get out in the fresh air. A stunning work - usually called the Dream of the Red Chamber 5y
Daisey The imagery is amazing and this buddy read has made it such a better experience than if I would have attempted it on my own. Thank you! I‘ve got just a few more chapters to go. 5y
Lindy @Daisey [insert keep on trucking emoji] 💪 5y
Lindy @Severnmeadows The reading experience sounds like it might be similar to The Tale of Genji. 5y
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xicanti
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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I don't plan to review it (because HOW?), but I finished THE TALE OF GENJI last night and I can't even tell you how glad I am to see it in my to-return pile. I FEEL SO FREEEEEEEEE!

saresmoore 😂 Well done! 5y
xicanti @saresmoore you know where I'm coming from here! 5y
adria74 I am currently reading it 5y
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xicanti @adria74 good luck. Sometimes it's very good and sometimes it's very not. 5y
adria74 @xicanti thank you! 😀 i'm enjoying so far xoxo 5y
Severnmeadows Thanks for the reminder: I read about a ¼ and put it down. I‘ll have another go! 5y
xicanti @Severnmeadows you can do it! 5y
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Lindy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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What really betrays the tale as fiction is simply that it is more beautiful than life. The narration gives grace and harmony to things that might otherwise be too tedious or distressing to sustain the reader‘s interest. It is as though the author has painted an immensely long and accomplished picture scroll.

-Royall Tyler, in his introduction to #Genji

batsy That's a lovely description of its appeal. 5y
Lindy @batsy I‘ve looked at so much art inspired by this novel that a painted scroll seems a particularly apt description. 🎨 5y
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SoniaC
Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Pickpick

So I did it! I finished this beast of a book!!! I‘ve got to say it was definitely challenging at times but I‘m really glad I read it. There won‘t be a reread though 😂

Lindy Woohoo! 🥇 5y
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Lindy
Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu, Murasaki Shikubu
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My mind is quite confused. It all happened a long while ago. It will come back to me in time—like a dream. #Genji54 #Genji

(We can blame the first novel ever written for the “It was all a dream” trope. Image: season 9 of Dallas tv series.)

@Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat @mhillis @SoniaC @batsy @KathyR @TheWordJar @Faibka @RachelO @CindyMyLifeIsLit @xicanti

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saresmoore
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Mehso-so

It is finished. I‘m glad to be done, but I‘m not saying, “Good riddance!” because I think I truly gained something from reading this, though I can‘t put my finger on exactly what. This is an epically long tale with repetitive tropes and an onslaught of despicable characters. If I didn‘t hate them, I felt sorry for them. But there was also something intangible here that laid a foundation for storytelling to come and that‘s not to be dismissed.

saresmoore I couldn‘t possibly give this a rating or tell others whether or not they should read it. I‘ve learned a whole lot about Heian era practices and conventions and, I think, even about the evolution of the novel. This is a perfectly imperfect example of the semi-autobiographical novel that evokes a sense of time & place. It also exemplifies the importance of editing. I wouldn‘t have enjoyed this without my buddy readers! #Genji 5y
RadicalReader Simply stunning fireplace 5y
Lindy A lovely summation of the reading experience, Sara. This novel‘s languorous style seems to be a reflection of the pace of life for the Heian era aristocracy. @Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat @mhillis @SoniaC @batsy @KathyR @TheWordJar @Faibka @RachelO @CindyMyLifeIsLit @xicanti 5y
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saresmoore @Lindy Thank you for tagging! In a flurry of tidying, I accidentally tossed my sticky note with the list of buddy readers. 5y
cariashley “I gained something but not sure what” is such a great description - I‘ve had that feeling many times 🙃 5y
PerksOfBeingABookworm Great review! 5y
batsy I know what you mean! I've been pondering how to review this; a pick or so-so doesn't quite capture the experience. Neither does the star system on Goodreads. It was wonderful to read this with the group and the appreciated the discipline of a chapter a day; thanks to @Lindy for that 🙂 5y
Lindy @cariashley @saresmoore @batsy That intangible element you feel to have gained, Sara, is perhaps the internal enlargement that is a mark of successful fiction. It enlarges our sense of self and how we fit in this world. 5y
Billypar I've been enjoying everyone's posts about this, though I can't say I'm likely to pick it up anytime soon! I'm not sure if the idea of an abridged version is literary blasphemy, but I would be interested in reading one if it were done as part of someone's artistic vision, rather than for expediency. 5y
saresmoore @Lindy Beautifully said! 5y
saresmoore @cariashley I think it‘s one of the main shortcomings of reviewing books—leaves no space for the je ne sais quoi. 5y
saresmoore @Billypar Oh, that‘s a great point re: artistic vision. I think this is one book that really could benefit from a good abridging. 5y
saresmoore @batsy I think I‘ll look back on reading this like some sort of strange waking dream. 5y
Lindy @saresmoore Comparing it to a dream is perfect. I have been mentally composing a review post with a theme of dreaming. 😊👍 5y
Lindy @Billypar My desire to read this grew from reading an extremely abridged version that accompanies a collection of 17th century paintings, one for each chapter, which I have also used to illustrate some of my posts: 5y
erzascarletbookgasm I‘ve been reading everyone‘s posts on this epic book and thoroughly enjoy everyone‘s thoughts on it. Don‘t think I can tackle this tome on my own since I‘ve missed the buddy read experience. Well done for completing it! 5y
saresmoore @erzascarletbookgasm The buddy read is certainly the only reason I finished. If it piqued your interest, though, I do recommend at least looking for something like the book Lindy tagged above. 😊 5y
Daisey @saresmoore @batsy @Lindy I am still a few chapters from the end, but I‘m also at a complete loss as to how I will rate it. My experience is very much a product of the readalong, and many days it is a complete love hate conundrum. Yet, I also feel it is incredibly worthy of recognition for its place in literary history. 5y
Billypar @Lindy Thanks for that recommendation- sounds perfect for dipping my toe in the Genji world, and the paintings look gorgeous. 5y
batsy @Lindy Beautifully put! And I also love your description of the reading experience being like a waking dream, Sara. 5y
Suet624 I‘m so impressed with you and your buddies for tackling this book! (edited) 5y
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Daisey
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Happy Friday! Here‘s my new bookish shirt that I wore to school today. Then tonight I came home and read some more of this massive book. I just finished #Genji49 with a glass of wine, and I‘m not appreciating Kaoru‘s character as much as a few chapters ago.

#Genji #FridayNightBookClub #TeachersofLitsy #bookishshirt

SoniaC Takes after his daddy. Either of them 😂 5y
Linsy Love it! 📚 5y
wanderinglynn Love your shirt! ❤️ 5y
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LogiKitty Where can I get a shirt like that? 😍 5y
LiteraryinLawrence Fantastic shirt! 5y
Daisey @SoniaC True! 5y
Daisey @LogiKitty I looked at a few different versions, but this one I ordered through Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07DD5B7D1/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1&th=1&cus... 5y
Liz_M Ha! I love reading challenges and have long joked that I read competitively. 😁 😁 5y
Daisey @Liz_M A few of my students said that reading is not a sport, but my reply was that when you read like I do, it is! 5y
LogiKitty @Daisey yay thanks! 5y
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Lindy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Those amazing sleeves worn by the Heian era aristocracy are not just for mopping up tears 😭 :
“He seems to have lost his soul among her sleeves” and “I thought I was the only one who cared about her lonely sleeves, but the poor fellow feels the same way.” #Genji

@Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat @mhillis @SoniaC @batsy @KathyR @TheWordJar @Faibka @RachelO @CindyMyLifeIsLit @xicanti

saresmoore They‘re also used to modestly cover faces in absence of a fan. Ooh, and tantalizing bits of sleeve peeking out of carriage blinds. But I think I‘d use them for more practical purposes like dusting or stashing books & snacks. 5y
Lindy @saresmoore I recall at least one instance when a letter had to be written in haste and the writer didn‘t have the perfect paper on hand but his visitor happened to have the right kind in his sleeve. They probably did a lot of accidental dusting, also. 😉 5y
saresmoore 😂 Too true! 5y
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mhillis
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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Here we go again! Looks like I‘m only 40 days behind 😂
#genji13

Lindy Keep going! I finished the last chapter today because I couldn‘t wait until tomorrow. It‘s an amazing novel. 5y
Liz_M 40 days? No problem, the chapters are short, right? 5y
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mhillis @Lindy I will! I plan to check the group‘s posts as I read too. It really is interesting so far. Hope you‘ll have a good trip to Japan!! 5y
mhillis @Liz_M Yeah, only like 1000 pages to go!! 😂 5y
Lindy @mhillis 😘✈️⛩👍 5y
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xicanti
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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We were gonna take a Friday night walk, but certain individuals refused to let me put their cold weather gear on. Now Duffy's on my lap, Casey's beside me, and I'm gonna see if I can finish #Genji53.

I like this chapter more than the last few. PLOT TWIST!

tpixie Pretty puppy 🐶 5y
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Lindy
Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu, Murasaki Shikubu
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“But do not think that your spells could have ever sufficed to subdue me. It is at the bidding of Kwannon, who all the while has protected her, that I let go my hold.” #Genji53 #Genji #evilspirit

(Speaking of Kwannon, I plan to visit the Asakusa Temple of the Goddess of Mercy on March 18.)

@Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat @mhillis @SoniaC @batsy @KathyR @TheWordJar @Faibka @RachelO @CindyMyLifeIsLit @xicanti

saresmoore Neat! I‘m vicariously anticipating your trip! 5y
Lindy @saresmoore ⛩😁 5y
batsy Same; I'm very much looking forward to your trip, as well! 😁 5y
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Lindy @batsy I will be checking in here on Litsy. 😊 5y
Daisey I‘ll definitely be looking forward to what you share from your trip as well! 5y
Lindy @Daisey 😁✈️ 5y
Tanisha_A Not much time to go! Yay 5y
Lindy @Tanisha_A I got some yen yesterday. 😊 5y
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Lindy
Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu, Murasaki Shikubu
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“People are always telling these stories about foxes changing themselves into human beings,” Sozu said, “but so far as I know no one has ever seen it happen.” #Genji53 #Genji

(Internet photo of Toyokawa Inari shrine)

@Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat @mhillis @SoniaC @batsy @KathyR @TheWordJar @Faibka @RachelO @CindyMyLifeIsLit @xicanti

Lindy “Fox isn‘t a fellow to do any real harm. He just likes to give people a bit of a fright sometimes; that are all.” He seemed to regard their discovery as a matter of very little interest. The truth was that his mind was otherwise occupied; for he had come straight from the kitchen where it was proving far from easy to supply all these suppers at short notice in the middle of the night. 🦊 5y
batsy I highlighted this same passage ? Thought it was ironic how caught up in ~feelings and spirits and aesthetics~ the nobility are and this guy's like, "I have a job to do in the real world!" 5y
Lindy @batsy Yep. A practical guy. 5y
saresmoore @batsy Good point! It‘s one of the few glimpses we get of a character who‘s not in the melancholic-leisurely or priestly-aloof classes. 5y
Lindy @saresmoore @batsy Another practical matter that I noticed regards travel in bad weather. Niou couldn‘t get to Uji when rain had made the road impassable, yet he could send a messenger with a letter. I wondered about this until I guessed that a messenger could go there on foot, slowly. (Uncomfortably, & risking bandits.) 5y
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Lindy
Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu, Murasaki Shikubu
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(Niou‘s wife): He is impossible. He has done each of the women here—every one who has at all caught his fancy. #Genji51

It piqued him that among his own sister‘s gentlewomen there should be any good-looking girl who had not allowed him to cultivate her acquaintance. #Genji52

#randyprinceNiou

@Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat @mhillis @SoniaC @batsy @KathyR @TheWordJar @Faibka @RachelO @CindyMyLifeIsLit

saresmoore He is deplorable. But, then, they pretty much all are. For example, “In this way, Kaoru pleaded his case, and the Akashi Empress had no inkling of his lascivious ulterior motives.” #manipulativeKaoru 5y
Lindy @saresmoore I feel no pity for any of the men. I liked this sentence: Kaoru seemed now to have got into a state in which his life consisted solely in rushing from one senseless agitation to another. 5y
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Lindy
Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu, Murasaki Shikubu
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If this terrible river had not been so close at hand, the idea of taking her own life would probably never have entered her head. Here she had hardly a step to go. A sudden desperate impulse & the thing was over. If she had been somewhere on the hills, for example, however desperate her state of mind had been, she would never have set out to trudge the countryside, vaguely hoping to find a river. #Genji52 #dontblametheriver

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Lindy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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“there is no knowing now where this drifting boat is bound” #Genji51

(I fear this drifting boat‘s destination. I missed reading #Genji yesterday because I was away from home all day. I plan to catch up on chapter 52 later today. What a distressing love triangle!)

@Daisey @llwheeler @bianca @saresmoore @bookandcat @mhillis @SoniaC @batsy @KathyR @TheWordJar @Faibka @RachelO @CindyMyLifeIsLit

saresmoore It is a particularly terrible love triangle. At this point, I felt like things were really coming to a head. The position of Ukifune in the midst of it all is both heartbreaking and, I think, revealing, given that it‘s so near the end. 5y
Lindy @saresmoore Indeed. The rhythm of these post-Genji chapters is different, but I like it. I admit that I will be relieved to get to the final page, however. 5y
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Lindy
The Tale of Genji | Murasaki Shikibu
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His Highness never forgot that all too approximate twilight encounter. She seems not to have been anyone of any great moment, he reflected, but in herself she was certainly *very* nice; and he chafed, ever the incorrigible gallant, at that frustration of his desire. #Genji51 -Tyler #translation
(“Incorrigible gallant” is one way of putting it. 😏 I‘m going to paste the corresponding text from Waley in the comments for comparison.)

Lindy “Meanwhile Niou thought constantly of his brief meeting with the mysterious occupant of the western wing. Probably she came from some quite ordinary family; but she was certainly a delightful creature, and nothing could have been more irritating than that she should disappear after a single encounter of so tantalizing a description.” -Waley translation (edited) 5y
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