The Harsh Cry of the Heron

Sob story is sob.



i've just finished reading the 630 paged, fourth book from the Tales of the Otori.

The ending was abrupt, rendering me restless, in disbelief, and driven with mixed emotions, with most of them grief. It was both too beautiful and sobful of a death, resolve, and downfall of whom i assummed the invincible ninja guy, Otori Takeo.

Nevertheless, i could never think of any other ways in which the story could have been put to an end. Even if so, it wouldn't be as perfect and complete.

She brings death to those who desire of her...

And with regard to the above phrase, my sister had told me that Takeo's wife, Kaedae, is bound to cause death to men who were ever close to her, however, with the exception of Takeo who was very lucky. i agreed. But the ending proved our supposed thoughts otherwise. Kaedae's destiny seemed to be true.

Takeo is safe from death except in the hands of his own son...

Hisao failed to killed his own father. At least, the ghost of Yuki wouldn't let him do so. Ironically, Takeo had to close the weapon in Hisao's hands and drive the blade inside himself, tearing his guts, succumbing to his fate. He had succeeded in slipping into another world. He had fulfilled the prophecy, that his life would only be taken away by the hands of his son. i thought that Kaedae played a big part for this outcome chosen by Takeo himself. As a reader, i did not want Takeo to die, but perhaps his death was indeed necessary. His times were over and he had embraced it bravely, as opposed to how he had dealt in the past towards Kaedae. He had did it in the Way of the Warrior.

Apart from the luscious and elegant language used and basically everything that i so much loved and adored in this book, i've to admit that i've been underestimating the plot because i thought i would always fall asleep reading the winding chapters.

Have to mention that i'm an extremely picky reader who wouldn't bother reading stuff that prolly doesn't suit my taste.

i thought the story was a tad bland, but who could have known that the momentum built - events that were so anticipated and unresolved would just fall into the right places, just like that, in perfection when it's merely about ten pages (or lesser) to the last page of the book? It turned out nothing i expected of. It was emotion overload.

Insanely brilliant! D: *bows*

Those who read is yet to find real pleasure in reading if he or she has not read the Tales of the Otori written by Lian Hearn.

:)