Rating: 
Summary: MOVE OVER LANCELOT
Review: To this day, I'm not even sure if there was a real Lancelot or if he was a fictitious character all along. But I do know this: Miyamoto Musashi was a real person. Proof? He wrote the BOOK OF FIVE RINGS. In fact it's sitting on my shelf as I write. And Musashi is undoubtedly the BEST swordsman who EVER lived. Sure he killed 50 or 60+ people in his lifetime, but what is really amazing are the circumstances under which he did those things. In this book, you'll see Musashi take on an entire swordfighting school! Guys with muskets! Angry mobs. His guard doesn't even fall when he's in the bathtub of all places. And then there's the ending. And from what I've read, it is mostly fact. A swordfight that was SO BIG that it had to be held on a seperate island. Of course Musashi wins, otherwise he wouldn't be the best. But it's HOW he wins in that last fight. It's truly amazing. I wish more books and movies would end the way this book does. Now, I'll admit that this book is VERY LONG. 900+ pages. I even found that it moved slower than TAIKO by the same author, yet somehow I finished MUSASHI fairly quickly. So what's the plot? A young village brat has had his first taste of war. His side lost. He goes back, gets in trouble and he ends up in a monastery or somesuchplace for 2 years. He comes out, a changed man and decides to become a swordfighter. How does he get better? Fight others! There are a few female characters in this book that add an extra dimension to the work. Although most of the rest of the book is traveling and fighting, at least it's varied. By the way, I have read SHOGUN, which is also a great book, but I like MUSASHI because it gives a JAPANESE perspective on how things were back then. By the way, MUSASHI starts where SHOGUN left off. Sekigahara. Apart from the ending, the other part that really sticks out in my mind in this book is the end of the first book--earth. To me, that last paragraph or two is the best example of "showing, not telling." I had to read it several times at first and I was wondering if the author knew what he was doing. Then I finally figured it out and it was BRILLIANT! Anyway, if you're a history-buff, Japanophile, interested in sword-fighting, etc. then this book is for you!
Rating: 
Summary: I gave this 5 stars only because 6 weren't available ...
Review: This is an amazing book. The first copy I had was a 5 volume, mass market paperback edition. I knew nothing of Musashi historically when I picked up volume 1. The only incentive I had for putting it down was my urgency to find the other 4 volumes in the Ship's Store aboard the USS Saratoga while they were still to be had. To say that the story pulled me in and carried me away would be a classic understatement.If you have read Shogun, please forget everything you think you know about feudal Japan, offer your copy for sale on Amazon, or donate it to a "reading is fundamental program" somewhere. Musashi gives you a peak into the heart and soul of a warrior. Those of you old enough to remember the Japanese Olympian who broke his leg, and still competed on the rings to keep his team in competition for a medal will understand anew the significance of the crowd chanting "Samurai". For some nice background to put you in the correct mindset, also try "The Unfettered Mind:Writings of the Zen Master to the Sword Master" by Takuan Soho, the monk whoplays prominantly in Musashi, and "The Book of Five Rings" by the Swordsman himself. This is on my list of Top Ten Books Ever Read.
Rating:
Summary: Book About the Japanese Warriors, Samurai
Review: I really love this book, Musashi. I think that anyone, even if they aren't interested in Japan, can enjoy this book. The only problem I had was getting past the point that is 970 pages long. It is a great story about swordfighting, war, revenge, samurais, and painful love. I think everyone should give this book a chance.
Rating:
Summary: A Tour De Force!
Review: Brilliant! Yoshikawa's Masterpiece is stunning, the pace and rhythm of the novel is genius and makes Feudal Japan jump out and grab you. The descriptions of the environments, architecture and lifestyle are so real, dangerous and beautiful, you feel that you are there! This is a rivetting story of twists and turns; sinister betrayals galore, danger lurks everywhere and yet exquisite sensitivity and humor can surprise and calm the reader. Also, every character has the power to reflect our individual humanity: it's frailties,ambitions,cruelty,kindness and pettiness. You see yourself in these hallowed pages. I felt and enjoyed this book so much that i had to slow down my reading so as to prolong the pleasure and pain longer. The last beautiful page made me sad -- my heart hurts -- it feels like one has lost a close friend who will never again be a part of my life. Only memories remain...
Rating:
Summary: Great fiction. Not so great history.
Review: Musashi is one of the most enthralling novels that it has ever been my pleasure to read. I read the whole 1000-odd pages in about a week - I was so engrossed that I could hardly put the book down. As other reviews note, the novel follows the life of Musashi, regarded as the greatest swordsman ever in Japan, as he evolves from a young defeated ronin to a powerful, thoughtful and practically perfect poet-warrior. In presenting this story in a way that is easily readable and interesting, the novel is superb. I was particularly impressed with the calibre of the translation - I find that English translations of foreign books can be bogged down in the language making it hard to read, but with 'Musashi', this was not the case. However, the novel puts a very glossy view on the life of the real Miyamoto Musashi. Historically, he is still seen as the greatest Japanese swordsman, but historians tend to view his life in a different light than that suggested by the novel. The real Musashi was known to be violent and scheming, and not quite the 'gentleman' portrayed in his novel. Still, do read Musashi - but keep in mind that it is 'historical-fiction' that draws on the life of Musashi as the basis for the novel, rather than portraying a realistic account of his life.
Rating:
Summary: The meaning of life
Review: Excellent! I read this book in 1992 while living in Okinawa, Japan and learned alot, but not about swordsmanship. I learned about life as well as many of the basic principles that we can use to help us have a meaningful and productive life. Ours is a world that is so often complicated for less than important issues upon which we place importance if we read between the lines in this book we can learn that there is no need for this complication we create.
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Summary: OF THE BOOKS/AUTHORS THAT I HAVE ENJOYED THE MOST
Review: "Musashi" is an epic saga based on the mythical and true life figure of Miyamoto Musashi, often talked of as the greatest samurai of all of time. The story is based in Japan during the feudal era and through the retelling of the story through many generations in Japan, Miyamoto Musashi has reached mythical proportions. The story is perhaps one of the most well know and most often retold stories in Japan having multiple releases in book form, in film form, many times on stage, as well as a mini-series nationwide. I found the story to be very reminiscent to the Louis L'Amour books I read in my youth, both of which contain great wisdom and honor. The samurai "code" of the individual and the cowboy's "code of the west" are both similar and prevalent throughout the story. I was also exceptionally intrigued with the amount of eastern history and philosophy contained in the Yoshikawa books. "Musashi" tells the story of Takezo through his early manhood as a wounded and defeated samurai, through his subsequent trials and tribulations, his growth into a man, his renaming as Miyamoto Musashi, his "capture" by a Zen monk, through his life long love for the woman "Otsu", and to his mastery of the Way of the Sword and the Art of War. There is no end to the nobility in Musashi's life and the story is told in a manner that moves the heart and the spirit to want to follow the samurai's path of honor to the highest degree. Very motivating as well as entertaining and enlightening. Also note that the hardcover book of "Musashi" is made up of a series of five paperbacks which are sometimes hard to find. I have read a second epic novel by Yoshikawa that I found dry by comparison.
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable.
Review: An amazing book. While not necessarily the best written book I've ever read, it is an unbelievable tale written completely appropriately and with a style all its own. This book is a highly-valued addition to any library. Superb. I couldn't possible sing enough praises for this book. What I tell my friends who want to read it is: Think of a kurasawa flick, only on paper.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome book
Review: A very good book on many levels. As an epic I can see why many people call this the "Gone with the Wind" of Japan. Its very interesting watching Musashi evolve from a young swordsman ready to show the world that no one can beat him to an elder one who appreciates beauty in paintings, flower arrangements, and tea pots but is non the less a much better fighter. There is also a philosophical part of this book which I love.
Rating:
Summary: This book made me think of life in a different way
Review: This is one of the greatest books I've ever read. It gives the reader a good idea of what Japan was like a several centuries ago. Plus, it let's you share a journey with Musashi and his friends. After reading this you'll understand why he's called a Sword Saint. I was late for work several times because of this book. I couldn't put it down. If you want action, humor, and love then this is the book for you. I wish there was more of an ending though. It doesn't really say what happened to Musashi at the end of the book.
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