Chapter 22, "The Jeweled Chaplet"
Still plugging away! I put the book on my Palm [*], which helps in finding time to read; but finding time to write is more difficult. However, I rather liked this chapter, so I hope to pick up some momentum as life calms down in other areas.
[*] I figure that if I had wireless, I'd read it online anyway.
Chapter 22, "The Jeweled Chaplet" (text, wiki): In which Tamakazura reappears.
Here's the bare-bones summary I wrote for the wiki, modified slightly:
Tamakazura (the daughter of To no Chujo and the lady of the evening faces, Yugao, back in chapter 4, who Genji discovered and didn't tell his friend about) has been raised in the household of her nurse, whose husband was appointed deputy viceroy of Kyushu, a remote area. A most undesirable suitor, the Higo man, finally prompts the household's long-contemplated return to the capitol. There, they happen to meet Ukon, Yugao's lady and a servant in Genji's household since Yugao's death. Genji subsequently moves Tamakazura into the Rokujo mansion.
At the end of the chapter, Genji sends festive New Year's robes to all of the ladies of the Rokujo mansion, Suetsumuhana (the safflower lady), and Utsusemi (the lady of the locust shell, who is still a nun).
Things of note about this chapter:
- I got The World of the Shining Prince finally, and there's a section about how difficult travel was and how effecively-remote even places within the city could be. All the endless dithering in Tamakazura's nurse's household about fulfilling their father's wish and returning her to the city is more understandable in this light, though it still feels faintly comic to me.
- Another younger-generation character getting a significant introduction, or rather re-introduction. I think she has a touch more personality than Kumoinokari, but that's not saying a lot; however, they're young and I'm sure there will be time for them to get distinguishing traits.
- A bit of snobbishness about the horrible suitor, there, though "I don't care if she is the worst sort of freak. I'll just shut my eyes." was suitably amusing and appalling all at once.
- Can Genji be trusted to be truly fatherly? We all remember his skanking after the Rokujo Lady's daughter, depsite her deathbed request otherwise.
I have to say that I don't think his plans to have other men panting after her are a good start, regardless. Especially since he says he should've done that for Murasaki!
- And we close with clothing descriptions and a bit of snark-Murasaki thinking the garments sent to the Akashi lady "somewhat overdone," and poking fun at the safflower lady-though to be fair, she does make him write back to the safflower lady.
I am excited about this apparent shift of focus to the next generation, and am shooting for another chapter by the end of this weekend.