Placeholder for discussion of pages 91-172.

Anyone but me to this point yet?  I just got through it yesterday.  I'm not sure how I'm liking the book.  I loved the beginning, but maybe that's because most of that was on Lady Utsu and the female side of things.  The majority of this second section was the war (I notice they call it a war but it seems more like just a battle) with the Minagas.  I'd rather read about the girls!  LOL!  Now it's becoming a bit disjointed.  Apparently Matsuhito has become a wandering samurai who changed his name?  I was wondering what happened to the other main characters, but apparently we are going to get that piecemeal.  Last night I left off where Lord Norimasa died.  Stil wondering where Lady Utsu is and Aki.  Guess I'd better keep reading! 

I do like the dialogue in this book.  It's somewhat clipped but it is actually quite witty too. 

Shelley-glad to see your experience mirrors mine--the disjointedness does not improve. The plot events, however, do leave the 'battle' and return to more softer events--a little easier to get thru.  ITA about her style and the dialogue--this is the culture that gave us Haiku, and paintings of single flowers, so I suspect the author uses the style intentionally, to echo the Japanese esthetic that simplicity itself is beauty.

Colleen - Great observation! Thank you for saying so eloquently and intelligently what I meant.  LOL!   As I'm reading this book I keep thinking "How Japanese!"  LOL!  I love reading the dialogue!

I agree, Colleen, that the sparseness of the writing style is intentional, but it does leave me to not be very involved with the characters.  I am kind of liking the wandering samuri and the fox, though.

I too am enjoying the adventures of the wandering samurai and his fox!  So far, it's my favorite part of the book.  I've moved on to the third section now, and after a brief foray into Lady Utusu's life (which has left me confused, but I'm sure it'll become clear as I read), I'm back to the samurai, which I'm happy about!  LOL!