I don't think I fully understand this one. I found it puzzling and somewhat annoying... when I finished reading, I noticed that the back cover called it a "hilarious" story... I didn't realize it was supposed to be funny, and I guess I didn't see the humor on the first reading. I think I need to learn more about Japanese culture in the 1920s to understand the humor and the social commentary in the novel.

All that said, the characters were certainly well-developed and complex, and the storyline did keep me interested. I picked it up because one of my students recommended it and wants to do an independent reading project on it, so I look forward to learning more and understanding the novel better.