Spring Snow (The Sea of Fertility)

A doomed romance in early 20th century Japan. Interminably slow, with frequent tangential digressions into philosophy and description. Nearly gave up but something finally happened 100 pages in. The climax verges on the tragi-comic, but it's mostly just brooding & hopeless. I was intrigued by the nobleman who is so elegant that problems solve themselves, hence effortlessly maintaining said elegance.

Its a slow read but then ending is what really pulled me in. By the end of it I was flipping pages like a mad man.
It was a somber, subtle, and ultimately beautiful read, yet I would only recommend if one has the patience to get through it.