The story telling and imagery was great. The historical elements taught me a lot about the time period. But geez was it a long read. Took me probably 6 months. Worth the read though, I grew a great admiration for Japanese culture.

This is THE best book I’ve ever read. It is a true masterpiece. I highly recommend it. It’s a very long book, but the way it is written made me want to savor every chapter. I could see the entire story in my mind and it was like watching an amazing movie based on a true story and real people. I’ve never been so immersed in a story and so touched by its characters. This book has something for every reader. Philosophy, action, drama, romance, and history.