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Summary: Breathless Action Adventure Epic
Review: This book is over 1200 pages long, but don't let the size intimidate you. If any book makes reading an effortless exercise, it's this one. The writing is sharp, tight, and exhilirating. The action is relentless. Of course, if you're looking for precise historical accuracy, look elsewhere. Some have criticized the limitations of Clavell's Japanese. It seems obvious that the book uses only a few words for limited effect; it's not meant to be a primer in the language. The greatest thing about this novel is its presentation of action, romance, war, and all that good stuff. It is also interesting to see Blackthorne move from hatred of the Japanese towards an appreciation of their culture. It's great when Blackthorne sees his former comrades-in-arms near the end and feels mostly disdain for them. Blackthorne seems to feel this disdain because they are not civilized and sanitary in the Japanese sense. The Europeans are definitely the protagonists at the beginning; we can only sympathize when they are beset by the tortures of Yabu. But throughout the 1200 pages, Blackthorne learns and changes. It's a great journey to be on.
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Summary: I have read Shogun 13 times or more
Review: This book is very definately one of the very best books ever written, I wore out my first copy and had to buy a second. Buy it you wont be disapointed. J. Holroyd
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Summary: Shogun is a complicated saga of love and death in Japan.
Review: I throughly enjoyed every minute I spent reading Shogun. The Japanese culture is portrayed in a way that the most ignorant reader may feel connected to the characters and and be drawn into the book. Shogun is one of the best historical novels I have read. The most distinguishing aspect of the book are the detailed descriptions of each and every character. I would recomend this book to anyone who likes to get a full circle story. Lastly, Shogun is not for the tender-hearted.
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Summary: Entertaining Fiction - Clavell's Best Work
Review: Although I did not finish Shogun, I thoroughly enjoyed what part of it I did read. It is an extremely entertaining and exciting novel about a forgotten period. Despite the errors in Clavell's portrayal of Japanese language and to some extent, culture, as an Englishman, he has a penetrating insight comparable with Pearl S. Buck and James Michener. I strongly reccomend this book to anyone. Its length is shortened considerably by its intricate plot - a bit of patience will reward the reader greatly. I salute Clavell on this magnificent book.
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Summary: Good, but...
Review: I've just finished Shogun and wanted to share my impressions with the rest of you. This very long novel was very entertaining, since it has got everything: courage, love, hatred, wars and so on. Unfortunately, as far as I'm concerned, it doesn't portray the japanese's culture at all. I've been studying Japanese for three years now, and am by far a "connaisseur" of the rich an amazing Japanese culture. Nevertheless, even I was able to notice many, and I put the stress on the "many", mistakes. First of all, the use of the language. The author mainly use :"wakarimas", "nan desu ka" and that's all. From time to time, he calls on other phrases, but he mainly stick to his "leading sentences and expressions". Moreover, the Japanese people never just reply "Hai" when wishing to agree. They might say : "Hai, soo desu", or simply "hai, wakarimasu", and so on. But they NEVER simply say "hai" (=yes). It's a spelling mistake. Furthermore, when Japanese people are congratulated, they never reply by: "thank you". They say: "we are only trying to help you", or "that's nothing", and so on. If a Japanese people say to a foreigner: "Your Japanese is perfect", the foreigner should always reply:" Not at all, I a merely trying to learn the language". Beside those small details and other Historical mistakes, the book was very enjoyable and I liked it very much, mainly for the plot- not for the historical and cultural background
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Summary: A compelling tale of cultural discovery
Review: Shogun is easily the best piece of fiction I have ever read. The story is riveting, and gives the reader true insight into life in 17th Century Japan. The book was so fascinating that I read all 1100-odd pages in less than 2 weeks. James Clavell provides a thought-provoking account of the interplay between Eastern and Western culture.
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Summary: The Never Ending Story Just Got Longer
Review: Shogun is definitely a masterpiece. Clavell gallantly portrays his knowledge of Medieval Japan in this stunning work. The only problem with the novel, however, is its length, which most definitely prevent it from being read as much as it could be. Clavell could have easily divided the novel into three separate books, which would be more readable, and therefore more appealing to the everyday reader.
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Summary: The Novel to end all Novels
Review: James Clavell masterfully recreates the genre of feudal Japan in the days of Warriors and Peasants when the outside influences of Western civilization began to seep its way into the previously untouched land of teh rising sun. Clavells ability to create character development and interplay is nearly unmatched, and his talent for creating a highly interesting, adventurous, and vivid setting entraps the reader into a time long since past but not forgotten. The plot, character development / interplay, setting description, flow, writing style, and depth make this book a masterpiece. This book has it all...love, romance, intrique, war, politics, religion, honor, death, loyaly, and betrayal. I highly recommend this book to anyone!
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Summary: The lord of the Kwanto pins the queen's navigator at 140E.
Review: I read _Shogun_ in 1978 as a young naval officer, while my Pearl Harbor-based submarine was in drydock for a year-long refueling overhaul, five years after I spent a summer learning celestial navigation and piloting aboard the Portuguese naval academy's sailing ship 'Sagres'. It is still one of the three most memorable novels I have ever read. I was riveted by its portrayal of the bond among members of the Elizabethan era's tiny brotherhood of truly competent deep-ocean navigators. As this story unfolded, the phrase "brother to corsairs..." came alive for me as it never has before or since. In 1600, when reliable measurement of longitude was still several generations in the future, an experienced voyager and shipwright who knew the latitude of The Lizard (for example) was worth many times his weight in gold to any nation. Pinning down a world-class navigator, as Toronaga does in _Shogun_, could give a leader a tactical advantage similar to the pinning of a well-placed knight in chess. Demonstrating mastery of the closely guarded lore of global navigation to a fellow pilot could also inspire his instant friendship and a claim on his aid when in danger far from home. As they built upon the great tradition of Prince Henry, da Gama, Magellan, del Cano, Hudson, Drake and the English "sea dogs", captain-pilot John Blackthorne of the Erasmus and the Portuguese captain-pilot of the Black Ship inspired far more awe in me than did any other figure in this novel. Often overlooked, this subtle thread in Clavell's masterpiece is what holds the entire tapestry together. Without the navigators' courage and skill, the Portuguese Jesuits, Spanish Dominicans, Dutch Calvinists and Japanese samurai in this masterful tale of religious and political intrigue would have lived out their lives in complete ignorance of one another.
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Summary: Brilliantly written!
Review: This is my 2nd favorite book in the entire world. I was so impressed with this book, I went out and bought ALL of Clavell's other books! I couldn't put the book down; I literally carried it around with me so that I could use every opportunity to read it. I wish Clavell was around to write more books! I've recommended this book to all of my friends and family.
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