The Pillowbook of Sei Shonagon

[meganbmoore]

This is the best known of of the four Heian lady diaries, and the second one that I've read. The other was Murasaki's. Murasaki and Shonagon appear to have hated each other. While Murasaki's diary was fairly focused on details and specific historical events and descriptions-I think someone mentioned that some believe Murasaki was asked to write it

Comments

[meganbmoore]

A fair enough comparison.

[bemysty]

I always found Shonagon to be more entertaining precisely because she's so catty. It's so easy to read this like a bound Livejournal of some unhinged fandom BNF... I can never decide whether she's a Heian period Aja or Laura Hale.

[meganbmoore]

Yeah, Murasaki paints mre of a picture of the time, but shonagon is way more fun.

I'm not familiar with the names you listed, but I get and agree with the gist.