4. Initial chapter quotes

[CBC]

Each chapter begins with a pair of epigraphs (quotes). Did these lend themselves to the book as a whole, or were they unnecessary?

[Fonch]

I think that the Best of the book are the the map and the western and japanese quotes. Appears writers as Murasaki Shikibu, Musashi Miyamoto a famous an invencible sword Man and Matsuo Basho very close to Shakespeare or Lope in Japan.

[Jill]

I found those usually apt and fascinating to set side by side like that, though Christian quotes (rather than Plato...) would have been better.

[SUSAN]

I enjoyed this fine touch. Converts from all cultures saw many of their traditional lessons reflected in Holy Writ, this may have made them more interested in learning the Catholic Faith.

[Manuel]

25 years ago I wrote a novel and put quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I sent the book to a publisher, and it was rejected. One of the reasons they gave was that initial epigraphs are outdated. :-(

I find most of the epigraphs in Masaru quite apposite.

[Fonch]

I love it for instance my edition of Ivanhoe has epigraphs of famous author and Walter Scott employs for the plot of the chapter. It is a smart way and proves the literary knowledge of the author.

[Miki]

I enjoyed this because I recognized many of the Japanese proverbs. I am surprised by Manuel's comment. I don't think epigraphs are outdated. They are a great way to set the tone.

[Manuel]

Miki wrote: "I enjoyed this because I recognized many of the Japanese proverbs. I am surprised by Manuel's comment. I don't think epigraphs are outdated. They are a great way to set the tone."

I agree. But some publishers don't. In their rejection letters they have also said things like this: "Your novel is sexist because in the story of Adam and Eve you've made the woman appear worse than the man."

[Florentius]

I agree. But some publishers don't. In their rejection letters they have also said things like this: "Your novel is sexist because in the story of Adam and Eve you've made the woman appear worse than the man."

If a publisher is telling you things like that, then you shouldn't entrust them with your work.

[Manuel]

Florentius wrote: "If a publisher is telling you things like that, then you shouldn't entrust them with your work."

In fact, I never published anything with THAT publisher. But they gave me an interesting anecdote to tell in places such as this.

[Isak]

I really liked how each chapter begins with paired epigraphs. It achieves a haiku-like effect, because when two things are set side by side in that way, they naturally invite comparison by the reader. Sometimes the paired quotations were more obviously similar, but it's really neat when they seem quite different, or to be about different things, because that prompts further thought on the part of the reader.

And quoting Plato is a very Christian thing to do! St. Augustine, anyone?

[Fonch]

I agree with Isak it is very good the contrast between Japan and the western culture. About Plato for this reason i say that it was a platonic novel not only for the scene of the cave but also the dialogues and the structure were platonics

[Mariangel]

I really like the quotes and how they relate to what is going to happen in each chapter.

The idea of pairing a Christian quote and a Japanese one is a nice way of showing common ground between both cultures.