A simple and enjoyable but very interesting read, especially if you happen to be interested in Japanese culture, cuisine, and language, or if you're simply a lover of words. The story follows the thirteen year process of the Gembu publishing house's making of a new dictionary called The Great Passage, and how each major character's involvement with the dictionary transforms his or her life.
I think you'll especially enjoy the book if:
-You don't mind fairly straightforward prose. Personally, after reading a few very heavy books, I was glad to take a break with a book whose style is pretty simple. This isn't to say that the writing isn't good, on the contrary. There's a placidity to it that I really enjoyed, but if you like a lot of acrobatics and stunning imagery in your literary fiction, this may not be the book for you.
-You like a bit of sad poignancy in your stories, but not too much. For the most part, this is a happy, feel good story. No huge changes in a character's fortune, or grand dramatic plot sequences. Rather, the story is about people who would otherwise never interact, but who over the years become incredibly close through their shared passion for bringing The Great Passage to fruition.
-The idea of reading a fictional story about how a dictionary gets made makes you rub your hands together in anticipation. If the idea instead makes you yawn, you might want to skip this particular book. I was fascinated by the entire process. Miura clearly either had experience in the industry, or did a STELLAR research job. Lovers of books, of words, and of reading about other people's jobs should enjoy the details about the dictionary making process.
-You're interested in Japanese culture. I've traveled to Japan a few times for business, and felt while there that I was missing the current of meaning underlying every human interaction. Missing this meaning and context left me feeling clumsy and awkward. I loved that the Great Passage is straightforward enough that you glean a really interesting and clear view into Japanese culture--commonly held mores and values, and how these play out between people. In fact, since most of this book is about interactions between colleagues, it's arguably much more helpful preparation for a trip to Japan than one of those "How to Do Business in Japan" books. I LOVED this aspect of the book. I also love Japanese food, and the characters spend a lot of time going out to dinner after work. You see how food is important to social cohesion in a very different way than it is in western cultures. Finally, you also learn about a few Japanese words and the differences in nuance between them, though I personally would have liked to see more about the language itself.
I'd absolutely recommend this as a fairly light, feel good read for people who love books and Japan.
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