Title: Torture of the Highest Order
Product review: I started this book with high hopes, but ended up not finishing it because it became too tedious. Let me preface this point by noting that I regularly read history books, so I do not expect perfect prose and/or excitement at each turn. The writing quality was what many would stereotypically expect of a historian, especially an Asian Studies historian. Specifically, the author spent a great deal of time exploring tangents and nuances, and frankly, the vast array of Japanese names required me to keep a list of dramatis personae while reading. While all of the tangents were (eventually) tied together to make a point, it made for a difficult read. I have no doubt the author did a substantial amount of research, but the finished product was difficult to absorb - it left me feeling as though I was missing something or that I had walked into a lecture halfway before the end.
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