Ronin

This is a retelling of a Japanese fable or legend by American author William Jennings.<br /><br />It is a strange little book, obviously set in the times of Samurai and Ronin, Daimyo's and traditional villages. Probably the basis for The Karate Kid - as there are characters very much on the Mr Miyagi and Daniel-san mould. But neither of these are our main character, who is (at the start of the book) an unlikable character.<br /><br />We start out with our wandering Ronin making his way through villages, full of attitude and a high opinion of himself. Partly for good reason, as he is a skilled swordsman, but taking advantage of village people seems like basic bullying and boorish behaviour. He takes a position as a Samurai for the Daimyo in a particular city, for a change of pace, and decides quite soon to have the Daiymo's wife. This sets of a chain of events and a revenge story spanning the next generation.<br /><br />There are a few clues above, but I don't want to give too much more away. <br /><br />I picked this up with a bundle of other books about Japan, without really knowing what it was about, and it turned out a fun short read. I think a second reading and there would be much more to pick up. There are plenty of zen lessons to pick out, some obvious and likely some more intricate. Also some clever writing and playing on words.<br /><br />3.5 stars, rounded up.

In the table of contents of this English-written novel, there are altogether 27 chapters in which we would find no chapter number inside; instead each starting with a seemingly Japanese-style, sword-related drawing followed by a phrase. For instance, presumably Chapter 1 A great rustling behind him. …, 2 Watching from the shadows. …, 3 The honor of being chosen. …, etc. (p. 13, 19, 25) so I could not help finding such a chapter style mysteriously exciting and I enjoyed reading since the beginning. However, I could keep reading it about two-thirds then my focus started to wane due to its obscure characters, plot, climax, etc. In short, it is like being in a surreal myth till I wondered if the author’s writing style is a kind of Zen myth uniquely presented to his readers in this genre.<br />Therefore, I think these three-part extracts taken form the last episode, that is, Chapter 27 And become what I am. . would help to illustrate my point:<br /><br />Every evening of the next two years, the young Daimyo entered the Tunnel with a bundle of wood, built the fire, laid aside his clothes and greeted the Enemy with the six syllables of hate: “Still digging up your dead?” Then the two worked steadily through the night.<br /> There was talk at first, then only some. Then none. Very little can be said with words.<br /> It was the fourth month of the thirteenth year with Spring still timid on the slopes. The big man looked over at his young executioner and said, “Tomorrow morning at the Hour of the Ram.”<br /> “Tomorrow morning what?”<br /> “It will be done.”<br /> “Maybe. There has been a change in the sound of the rock.” (pp. 155-156)<br /> …<br /> The big man looked at him: “I’m not forcing you to do anything.” The young Daimyo burst out, “But you know I must! You know I will!”<br /> The big man went to him, took him by his arms and laid his cheek upon the young head. He spoke soothingly: “I know and I’m glad you can’t forgive. It becomes you and gives meaning to your dream of goodness.”<br /> The young man pulled away: “Damn you, don’t say this holy trash! You can’t woo me from my Vow!”<br /> “I wouldn’t want to.” (p. 157)<br /> …<br /> The Ronin walked to the fire: “No, let’s have the duel and get it over.”<br /> The young voice was loud with anger: “I can’t finish this alone! It’s not my work!”<br /> “It’s anyone’s. Let them,” and he began to walk away. “Bring the swords and let’s get out of here. It might cave in.”<br /> The young Daimyo didn’t move: “But you can’t just leave it like this! Come back here and I’ll help. Time’s cheap.”<br /> The big figure was striding naked toward the other light: “Not mine! No more! Not me!”<br /> The young man screamed after him: “But you can’t leave a thing like this undone! It’s wrong not to finish what you start!”<br /> And the big voice echoed from a vast distance in the dark, “The hell with it!” (pp. 158-159)

Next to "Expiation" (Elizabeth von Arnim), this might be my favorite book of the year. The two are joined at the hip, despite being of entirely different genres - Expiation: a sort of "domestic" novel, written by a woman in 1929 - Ronin: a sort of "adventure" novel, written by a man in 1968. You wouldn't think they'd have much in common. But the idea of expiation is everything in both - <br />(<i>Expiation: noun<br /> the act of making amends or reparation for guilt or wrongdoing; atonement.</i>- in case you wondered, which I did).<br /><br />On the one hand you have a woman who has had a long affair; and on the other, a man who has murdered, raped, and destroyed many lives. How to atone? <br /><br />But aside from all that - the writing! It's been age since I read a book that appealed to me so much. Jennings does this sort of what I imagine in my ignorant Western mind to be a "Zen-ish" style - compact and vivid and full of little memorable phrases. <br /><br />Rather than review, I'll just put some examples in here.<br /><br /><i>"To him, sainthood was just a villain's loophole of escape."<br /><br />"First, it took eons of awkwardness to discover that all gifts are not welcome, that a show of gratitude is not mandatory nor desired by the best of givers, that contests of reciprocity are a bestial travesty on man, and that the sweet or deadly reason for giving is more important than the gift."<br /><br />"It was very much like having a pubic hair caught under one's forskin while being crowned Emperor."<br /><br />"It is understandable that the new samurai should be deeply hurt that anyone could be so utterly right about his character on so little eveidence. It is only natural that a murderer prefer to be hanged rather than lynched."<br /><br />"When life is more terrible than death, than it is the truest valor to dare to live."<br /><br />"From his extreme humility, everyone at once sensed that here was a sinner desperately afraid of Hell and using them as a bribe to slip into the suburbs of Heaven."<br /><br />There was talk at first, then only some. Then none. Very little can be said with words."</i><br /><br />Just typing those makes me want to re-read the book. It's violent, ugly violent at times, but wow. Amazing writing and storytelling. Maybe one of my all-time favourites.<br /><br /><br />

OK so aside from all the rape, and the rape, and the raping of the rapist, and a little more rape, and a large dose of vengeance, I felt like this book has to be given some credit for the Karate Kid. There is a definite Mr Miyagi character in the book and a strong candidate for Daniel-san. I felt like a lot of the fleshed out scenes were gratuitous and unnecessary and were probably not part of the original Japanese folklore. So in some ways, I am going to say Jennings might have been a perv. However, the core of the story is great and there are some lessons to be learned. Wax on, Wax off.

It is always very difficult to pick a favorite. Can you pick a favorite child? Probably.<br /><br />This is quite possibly my favorite book. <br /><br />I've looked for an audiobook for years, but have never found one. (But that's no reason to dock any stars, this is easily a 6-star in my book)<br /><br />This is based on an old zen tale, about a Samurai and his story through life. Amazing action and humor, but will also pull at your heart strings and make you stop and think. <br /><br />I cannot even put into words how incredible this book is.<br /><br />Do yourself a favor, and read it.<br />Then read it again.<br />Then read it once a year for the rest of your life and you will be happy.

This is a well-written tale. It's central character is a ronin, an unemployed warrior, who has mastered the outer strength. He is powerful, strong, skilled, experienced, angry and cruel. No one can defeat him in combat or bring him to justice. He is his own justice. He encounters someone who annoys him, he hurts with with his sword. If they annoy him any more, he kills them, sometimes in one cut, at others, if he wants them to suffer, he cuts them so they die slowly.<br /><br />Not exactly the main character most people want to read about. Some not-so-positive reviews of the book are written by readers who could not get through seeing the gore the ronin dispenses and simply give up. The man is beyond redemption. The author more than does his job in setting the ronin up.<br /><br />Jennings' tale is, as stated in the title, based on a Zen Myth. The ronin is not mono-dimensional. The author by showing, at least at first, presents his crudeness as other see it. The ronin gets by through inspiring fear in others because the ronin can do so much damage. Yet isn't it because the ronin himself is afraid and by honing his skill with a sword he masters the very thing that causes him fear.<br /><br />In a surreal scene, as far as the ronin is concerned, the tory pend as the ronin comes to a town where people do not show enough fear of him and one softly says the ronin is not as great as he thinks he is--after the ronin buys food, eats it, and then says he does not have any money. And thus begin a series of events where people do not cower before his blade, even though it means their own death or injury.

The best book I own. Sometimes I wish it were the only book I owned. The prose is quick, zen and enticing. It reads like a movie and leaves you wanting.

Read this, it'll change your life for the better.

This is one of my favorite Japanese folk tales of all-time. There are different versions of this one but William Dale Jennings adaptation is my preferred way to digest this short but POWERFUL tale.<br />There are so many layered themes in this story that you can think about it for years and years (at least I have, anyway). <br />If you are into Samurai tales but want something with a deeper web of complicated themes, this is a perfect book for you....

Dense writing. I don't know if it is literary writing or just pretension. Zen style? Difficult to understand. I very much prefer straight story telling.