Musashi

Rating:
Summary: Insightful, inspiring, enlightening, engaging
Review: Yoshikawa is a master of developing characters throughout this fantastic novel. Not only does he adequately cover the development of Miyamoto Musashi into Japan's greatest swordsman, but he shows how Musashi's fate was intertwined with some of Japan's most notable figures (specifically Takuan Soho and Yagyu Munenori). I would recommend this book without reservation to anyone who has an interest in Japanese culture, history, and relationships.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent - combines romance, Zen, philosphy, great battles
Review: I think this book apart from being totally entertaining, can teach the average person about life, it also shows a great insight into what life was like in japan during those days.

Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL EXAMPLE of OLD-WORLD JAPAN
Review: I reccomend this book to anyone interrested in the culture of the sword from Old-World Japan. Though Yoshikawa's book is in fact fiction, the reader gets a wonderful peek into the life of a samarai durring the Tokugawa era. Musashi is a swashbuckling tale of a man in search of the true meaning of "The way of the warrior". If you study the martial arts or have ever thought about it, this book is a must. If you are a student of the way of Japan, you will not be able to put it down. The book may be fictional, but the characters portrayed are real historical figures. The author is true to the nature of the people of Japan and it lets you into a bygone era that will keep you reading for more. It is a long book, but it is marvelous. Read and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent saga of enlightenment and adventure
Review: I read this book as an adolescent and I am now rereading it as an adult. It is a great novel if you like japanese culture, or even if you dont. It speaks to the abilty of the human to evolve into a higher level of self awareness and dignity. But above that, it is a very compelling and interesting story. The fact that it is 1000+ pages means you really get to spend some time with the characters.

I highly recommend this book to anyone age 12-80.

Rating:
Summary: A tremedous insight to a Great Samurai and the period.
Review: I cound not put it down. Anyone truely interested in Samurai warriors and their way of living needs this book. Musashi was almost superhuman. His physical fighting skills and his mental tactics and abilities are unbelievable. I will treasure this book. I ordered his 'Book of 5 Rings' while I was halfway through Musashi.

Rating:
Summary: Especial Martial Art's Epic
Review: Musashi's Book is the most important epic about Japanese Martial Arts available. When you start reading it you can't stop until you reach the final. Very good book.You can't miss it.

Rating:
Summary: Fantasic reading
Review: I can not imagine a sane person not giving this book anything BUT 5 stars. When a person reads a book like Musashi, it ends up meaning a whole lot more to them when they have finished it. It has become a part of them and it is something that will stay with them for the rest of their life. Musashi is my #1 book, the best of the best, my absolute favourite and I don't think I'll read anything that will surpass it. Needless to say, this is one big book. But that didn't trouble me at all. I first read Musashi when I was just 15 and I couldn't tear my eyes away from it. You don't even have to be a fan of Japanese culture (although it helps), the action sequences and the excitment just radiate from the book. If you are reading this, trust me. Go out now and get a copy of this book, you will NOT regret it. Saiunara

Rating:
Summary: WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
Review: Well, friends. I posted my review here of "Musashi" 6 months ago in December, 1998. And not a day has gone by when I haven't considered this epic. It lives within me. All of it. Somehow it has transformed me. And, chances are, it'll do the same for you. If only for one chapter, "The Marriage" which I can't read without trembling. Life doesn't get more beautiful than this. Please write me with comments, and/or recommendations.

Rating:
Summary: An epic-- entertaining even for those who don't read at all.
Review: Books numbering to nearly 1000 pages daunt me-- as you can tell, I don't read very much, even though I should. Of course, knowing vaguely of the legend of Musashi prompted me to pick up this book-- and I haven't regretted it. I am only 60% done with it, but just for that first 60% I'd still give it a five-star rating. Not only was it true to Japanese culture, it was entertaining. (Shogun, the film, was true to form but not very entertaining for me.) What is very fun about the book is the way that Yoshikawa uses characters who existed at that time, and events that took place at that time (mostly the duels), and swirled them into a semi-fiction novel. The character personalities are simply intriguing. For vernacular purposes, "cool" describes many of the ronin portrayed in the book. I enjoy the mixture of arrogance, honor and skill that characterize the samurai-- especially Sasaki Kojiro Ganryu's references to his thirsty Drying Pole.

As a last note, the translation was exemplary. Not only was it technically correct, but Terry managed to transfer Yoshikawa's humor into English so that it was understood, and generally captured Yoshikawa's intentions throughout the book-- it seemed that things which are easy to describe in Japanese, yet having no literal translation in English, were recognized by Terry and converted into understandable English.

After I finish the book, chances are that Amazon.com had better establish a 6 star rating.

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed and was engrossed by this book.
Review: I was orinally fascinated by Japanese culture by Shogun. This is just as enjoyable and truer to form. If you buy this book I think you'll enjoy it.