Book Review: THE GREAT PASSAGE by Shion Miura

The Great Passage by Shion Miura

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"A dictionary is a ship that crosses the sea of words... Without dictionaries, all any of us could do is linger before the vastness of the deep."

I will be forever thankful to a certain Professor for lending me this treasure of a book! It is something I would never have read on my own, but she spoke so convincingly about it that I felt I had to borrow it.

(And guys, if you have a choice between "BORROW" and "BUY," go for BUY! It's a keeper!)

Simply put, it is the story of how a dictionary is made.

You would think it's boring, right? Since dictionaries are often associated with less-than-pleasant required reading in English classes? But did you ever wonder what kind of people would spend their lives making one?

"Majime looked easygoing, but his soul was on fire."

This book made me realize just what a dictionary is: a symbol of hundreds of people's passion, perseverance, and prowess. Making one is a testament to human enterprise; it can take decades! And the definitions need to match the changing times, as language is fluid and never static.

The book tells of the dictionary's creators and champions... people who obsess over the specific type of paper required (waxy enough so that only one page at a time is turned with ease... thin enough so the volume won't be too bulky... but thick enough that the ink does not bleed through...there's SO MUCH to consider, it boggles the mind!! And that's JUST THE PAPER!!!!!)

Surprisingly, I had tears in my eyes at the end. I never expected I'd cry over a book about a dictionary, but there you go!

This book also made me realize how little I've read of Asian literature, which I shall seek to remedy. I mourn how I'm unable to read the great poems of Saigyo, except in translation.

Another thing to treasure about this book is the unforgettable love letter at the end!

"All I ask would be to walk my path sensing your gaze upon me. And if I might be allowed to do so, I would want nothing more than to watch over you from the shadows."

It's a testament to how well-loved this novel is, that it has been turned into both an anime series and a film! And now I can't wait to watch them and compare them with the book! (The trailer for the film : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlTjg... )

And gosh darn it, now I badly want to eat Nupporo Number One noodles!!! Thank you so much, Professor Or!



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