Part 4/7:
As the trip progressed, I found myself entrenched in a world rich with political machinations and diverse character motivations. It amazed me how Clavell deftly navigated these intricate plots, continuously introducing new complications and plot twists. Despite not reaching my ambitious reading goals, I embraced the journey of discovery through the narrative.
However, by the end of the train trip, a sense of discouragement lingered due to not meeting my halfway target. I had envisioned reading 50% of the book on the way out to San Francisco, but reality proved that 1300 pages of profound storytelling demanded more time.