The Tale of Genji Group Read

[Selena]

Written in the eleventh century, this exquisite portrait of courtly life in medieval Japan is widely celebrated as the world's first novel--and is certainly one of its finest. Genji, the Shining Prince, is the son of an emperor. He is a passionate character whose tempestuous nature, family circumstances, love affairs, alliances, and shifting political fortunes form the core of this magnificent epic.

Discuss The Tale of Genji here!

Reading Schedule
(Chapters & titles are based off of the Washburn edition I got from my library. Mine didn't come with chapter numbers, so if the count is off, please let me know)
Part 1 (2/26-3/25):
2/26-3/4: 1 (Kiritsubo) - 3 (Utsusemi)
3/5-3/11: 4 (Yugao) - 5 (Murasaki)
3/12-3/18: 6 (The Saffron-Flower) - 8 (The Flower Feast)
3/19-3/25: 9 (Aoi)

Part 2 (3/26-4/22):
3/26-4/1: 10 (The Sacred Tree) - 11 (The Village of Falling Flowers)
4/2-4/8: 12 (Exile at Suma) - 13 (Akashi)
4/9-4/15: 14 (The Flood Gauge) - 16 (A Meeting at the Frontier)
4/16-4/22: 17 (The Picture Competition) - 18 (The Wind in the Pine)

Part 3 (4/23-5/20):
4/23-4/29: 19 (A Wreath of Cloud) - 20 (Asagao)
4/30-5/6: 21 (The Maiden)
5/7-5/13: 22 (Tamakatsura) - 23 (The First Song of the Year)
5/14-5/20: 24 (The Butterflies) - 28 (The Typhoon)

Part 4 (5/21-6/17):
5/21-5/27: 29 (The Royal Visit) - 31 (Makibashira)
5/28-6/3: 32 (The Spray of Plum Blossom) - 34 (Wakana, Part I)
6/4-6/10: 35 (Wakana, Part II) - 36 (Kashiwagi)
6/11-6/17: 37 (The Flute) - 40 (Mirage)

Part 5 (6/18-7/15):
6/18-6/24: 41 (Niou) - 43 ("Bamboo River")
6/25-7/1: 44 (The Bridge Maiden) - 45 (At the Foot of the Oak-Tree)
7/2-7/8: 46 (Agemaki)
7/9-7/15: 47 (Fern Shoots) - 48 (The Mistletoe)

Part 6 (7/16-8/19):
7/16-7/22: 49 (The Mistletoe continued) - 50 (The Eastern House)
7/23-7/29: 51 (Ukifune)
7/30-8/5: 52 (The Gossamer-Fly)
8/6-8/12: 53 (Writing-Practice)
8/13-8/19: 54 (The Bridge of Dreams)

[Selena]

Question for those who are interested in this read!

Since there are so many editions, both abridged and unabridged, do people want me creating the typical week-to-week reading schedule or would you rather the read last a few months (I was thinking 3, but am open to suggestions) and call it good?

What do you guys think?

[Klaudia]

I’m not sure about differences in the editions honestly, but I suggest having some weekly / biweekly schedule, encouraging to read certain number of chapters. I’m basing this suggestion purely on the edition I have, so I won’t be too stubborn to stick to it ☺️

Looking forward to this read 😍

[Howard]

I agree, looking at my local library system there are 5 different versions (different published years). Is there a certain version people would recommend? if not I'll just get in line for the ebook.

[Selena]

I tried to Google which was the best translation and discovered this article: https://welovetranslations.com/2021/0...

There doesn't appear to be a goto translation for this one, unfortunately. Way at the bottom of the article, it suggests:

"Most venerable": Waley translation

Most authentic (but hard to keep track of characters): Tyler translation

Most accessible (but verbose and doesn't stick to style): Washburn translation

Compromise for accessibility and authenticity: Seidensticker translation

[Joseph]

I have the Tyler edition myself. It is a tough read, and I've never finished it. Maybe I can manage it this time.

[Iva]

I would love a reading schedule to try and keep up.

[Selena]

I have a reading schedule up. If we follow what I cobbled together, it'll take about 6 months to read.

[Selena]

My library has a copy of the Washburn translation on Hoopla, so that's what I'll be going with. Should be interesting to compare notes lol

[Joseph]

Well, the first three chapters were interesting. Genji is a regular Don Juan. The plot so far involves struggles for prestige at court, guys talking about wives and lovers, and Genji's failed attempt to seduce a married woman. All of which events are interspersed with poetry. How's everyone liking the book so far?

[Othy]

is this group read still going on? I'd love to chat while reading the novel.

[Selena]

Othy wrote: "is this group read still going on? I'd love to chat while reading the novel."

The group read is over, but feel free to share your thoughts while you read in the discussion :)