I looked forward to this book as I enjoy stories on Japanese history and this is certainly one of the most famous, but also I liked the movie with Keanu Reeves >< But I also wanted to read the true story and not the Hollywood-ized version.
The book is nothing like the movie and quite frankly I would think the Japanese people would be a little incensed that a Keanu would insinuate himself into a story like this.
The story is about 18th century historical event. When samurai were bound to houses for life, the shogun ruled militarily and if your lord died you would become a ronin (leaderless samurai). When daimyo (feudal lord) Asano Naganori was compelled to commit seppuku (ritual suicide) for assaulting a court official, his samurai avenged their master's honor, after waiting and planning for a year. In turn they were granted the honor of committing seppuku.
It's a very thorough retelling of the story and it is told very well. It's not like a historical telling but it's more like reading a novel (if that makes sense). Their sense of honor and right in that time is far different than what we know in today's world. And this book takes you back to that time, plants you firmly beside Oishi (Asano's principal counsellor) and makes you begin to understand their way of that honor.
It is a shorter read and because of it's nature (and history) it is violent.
Still, if reading historical books is your thing then this book is for you.
Again, it's NOTHING like the movie.
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