GrogHeads Forum

IRL (In Real Life) => Books & Reading => Topic started by: Gusington on July 29, 2012, 06:40:37 PM

Title: Taiko
Post by: Gusington on July 29, 2012, 06:40:37 PM
Anyone read this title? It's a novelization of Japan's 'Age of the Country at War'...the era that the original Shogun 2 covers. It is a classic in Japan and has many fans internationally. Of course I have a copy, but it weighs in at a hefty 1000 pages. Want to ask you guys who have read it, if any, how much of a slog that 1000 pages is.

Here's a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Taiko-Eiji-Yoshikawa/dp/4770026099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343605197&sr=8-1&keywords=Taiko

Thanks all!
Title: Re: Taiko
Post by: Martok on July 29, 2012, 10:31:46 PM
Hmm, that looks good.  May have to scour the local library system for a copy. 


Title: Re: Taiko
Post by: Gusington on July 30, 2012, 08:41:49 PM
I remember seeing the book in a shop for the first time years ago but being too intimidated to pick it up, until now. Sometime 1000 page tomes breeze by, sometimes they drag like a sack of anvils. Not sure what this one will be.
Title: Re: Taiko
Post by: GDS_Starfury on July 30, 2012, 10:11:50 PM
Werth's Russia at War was one of those books that dragged.
Title: Re: Taiko
Post by: MetalDog on July 31, 2012, 10:41:26 PM
My Asian history is sorely lacking, so, something like that, with the odd names and geography, would be a slog for me.  If you're comfortable with those things, you should do fine.  I would think.  Total conjecture on my part.  :-)
Title: Re: Taiko
Post by: Gusington on August 01, 2012, 08:59:13 PM
Admittedly I also judge by font size. The font of this one is pretty small. But even then, sometimes it doesn't matter. Crucible of War is another favorite title of mine with a small font and ~1000 pages that was so good I did not want it to end. Dreadnaught and Peter the Great are also long but also so good I was sad when I finished. Inspiring reads.

Can't tell if Taiko is in the same vein.
Title: Re: Taiko
Post by: Toonces on August 10, 2012, 09:34:10 PM
I have Musashi, by the same author.  It is really good.  I only got about halfway through, then got into a different book, and enough time has gone by that I've just recently restarted Musashi.

The writing is strong, as is the story.  I'd say Taiko is a safe bet.  They have a copy here in a local used book store that I'm probably going to pick up eventually.
Title: Re: Taiko
Post by: Gusington on August 10, 2012, 10:23:02 PM
I've been wanting to read "Musashi" forever too. Is "Musashi" the same book as "Brave Warrior Musashi"?
Title: Re: Taiko
Post by: Toonces on August 11, 2012, 02:27:00 AM
This is the book to which I am referring: http://www.amazon.com/Musashi-Eiji-Yoshikawa/dp/4770019572/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344669790&sr=1-1&keywords=musashi

I don't know if it's the same as the book you said above.  121 5-star reviews can't be wrong.  Like I said, I read about half of it (500 pages, very small font) and I really enjoyed it but I took a break from it and by the time I got back to it I had sort of forgotten what was going on.  I picked it up at Disney World Epcott Center, in the Japan country gift shop of all places! 
Title: Re: Taiko
Post by: Gusington on August 11, 2012, 09:45:16 AM
I think both titles refer to the same book...I think...