I read this book just before Scorsese's film came out, and mostly in order to see how another author tackled depicting 17th century Japan. The basis of the story is built on a foundation of Christian history in Japan, and it simply and gracefully addresses issues of faith and failure in our attempts to find meaning and individual purpose through our belief or denial of a God. It's a thought provoking tale that's worth your time. ( )

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Wonderful writing. Gruesome and hard at times, worth it in the end. Very thought and spirit provoking. ( )

This was pretty close to a rewrite of The Power and the Glory but had its own merits. The conflict of self-deception was real and worthwhile. Does Rodrigues apostatize because of love for man, or because he fears suffering? Is he stubborn to apostatize out of faith, or a selfish interest in his own soul’s fate? The fumie tells him, “It was to be trampled on by men that I was born into this world.” Is this self-deception? There is no answer; every path leads back to the beginning of the question.

Stylistically it wasn’t my favorite and sometimes it made me sleepy. I probably shouldn’t have read it directly after The Power and the Glory as the latter was just so superior in form.

Edit: raising this to 5 stars after thinking for a couple days — the conflict of faith is just too masterfully done ( )

Set in 17th century Japan, this work of historical fiction tells the story of Sebastian Rodrigues, a devout Portuguese priest whose beliefs are tested to the breaking point. At this point in history, Christianity is being eradicated from Japan by leaders who see it as a threat. An earlier missionary-priest is rumored to have apostatized and Rodrigues hopes to find him. It is based on a real episode in history, but the specifics have been lost to time. Endō fills in a possible scenario and tells a powerful story in the process.

I recommend going into the story without reading any prefaces that may be included, as it contains spoilers for the outcome. It is not didactic. It highlights the need for compassion and understanding above rigid adherence to doctrine.
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