Rating: 
Summary: Enering the Land of the Samurai
Review: This book takes place in 16th century Japan where feudal lords ruled over the land. A place where foreigners were called barbarians and any contact with them was considered preposterous. After a young talented captain lands in Japan in a storm he quickly adapts and learns the customs and over time is let into the Japanese civilizations. This captain was rare because he was English. He sailed with a mostly Dutch crew. When he lands in Japan he faces more problems then just the samurais and lords. The Portuguese and Spanish also had had landed in years before and since at the time England and Portugal were at war they treated him very harshly. He becomes a samurai and learns the languages. He quickly becomes a key player in the growing conflict between the two most important feudal lords. Since he had the power over ships and understood operations of the ships. One of these lords was Toranaga he was on the regent council of Japan and basically ruled Japan. He took the captain Blackthorn under his wing and helped him. Shogun has so many leaders and characters. Shogun has literally hundreds of side plots that lead up into the larger plot. From assassination attempts to ninjas to coups to basically anything else one could think of. I wouldn?t recommend this book to any one though. It does have some mature content, and shouldn?t be read by anyone under the age of 14. It has a great plot with many plot twists. The number of characters is endless and is very historically correct. I give it 5 out of 5 stars for the mature reader? Many people may give up on it because it is so long, I believe that every part of the book was required and help add to the plot.
Rating:
Summary: epic, epic, epic
Review: What every great protagonist must have is smarts and imagination and the hero in this book pulls some amazing stunts. A love that is so respected, so cherished, so honored. The ending however, brings such an original twist to this tale. These days, the only thing we ever pledge allegiance to is the flag, and even that, only half-heartedly. In Shogun, allegiance means lifetime, at least until a better offer comes along. I've read it three times and I've spoken with people who've read it eight times. It's that good. And the series aspect, viewing a family down through the generations only enhances Clavell's greatness.
Rating: 
Summary: A Japanese Epic Worth Catching
Review: Of all the authors I have read books from in the past years, none have caught my eye like James Clavell. Gai-jin is the third book I have read by Clavell, and it does not disappoint.
I have never read a book with more depth and research evident in the topic. James Clavell has obviously spent many months studying the lifestyles of Japan circa 1850, and he captures the feeling perfectly. Every detail is explained, from the style of speak to eating habits and manners. The reader is immersed in ancient Japanese culture. The only author I can use as comparison is James Michener, when I read Hawaii.
If you have a bad memory, you may want to bring a pen and pad along for the ride. Gai-jin rivals The Lord of the Rings trilogy in terms of names and places, and it can become quite confusing at times. The sheer number of proper nouns, many of them Japanese, can overwhelm you, especially when the names are as similar as Ori and Shorin. With careful reading, however, it becomes apparent how deep the story is. It may dive to deep for some readers, though, and there are many chapters where nothing would be lost if they had been left out.
One thing that struck me as something Clavell left out was any kind of satisfaction at the end. The character left standing is not a role-model, and the heroic characters slip into obscurity. This left me feeling a bit cheated at the end, as the book did not give me the ending I wanted. However, I would recommend it all the same, as it delivers the same punch reminiscent of his earlier works. It is not up to the bar Shogun set, but it will live as a masterpiece for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: The book that always pleases!
Review: John Blackthorne is a Dutch trader sailing along in his boat along with his crew when he decides he wants to find the mysterious Japan he's heard so much about. However time and fate have caught up to him. A storm bellows up and strikes his ship. His ship crashes into Japan and he is washed ashore. Once awaken he stumbles to adjust to the monarchy as samurai may wield there swords at will kill whom they please.
After finding his crew he can only be slightly relieved as there ship is under siege by samurai control and there are more to these traders that meet the eye. They are thieves with stolen merchandise and two stolen rudders. While the crew sits in custody and wait to be found out they begin to go crazy. Casting blame and anger. A verdict is finally reached, guilty. The items are found and with the Japanese the punishment is simple. Depending on the crime you have 1 of many ways of execution. Held in captivity where any retaliation resulted in being dumped with fish guts, silt, and infested water, they were given 1 choice. They may be let lose if by the next morning they choose 1 person among them to die. They only exception was it could not be Blackthorne. The high lord Toranaga had plans for him. Toranaga was a daimyo, which was basically a ruler over a part of land. He was planning a secret war that would finally bring him to the title of Shogun, the almighty ruler of Japan. He is scheming to use Blackthorne's skill as a pirate to bring him to victory. It's a story of love and war as Blackthorne falls in love with the beautiful Mariko, who is his personal translator. Throughout the story all Blackthorne wants to do is get to his ship and crew and get home safely.
The story is very strong and is one of the best stories I have read. James Clavell has created an amazing cast based on some fact and some fiction. It is historically accurate and once the plot is set you will be reading for hours.
You must bear through a good part of the first book; there are five books within this gigantic adventure, as it is introducing the characters, tries to show you Japans lifestyle, and how different and difficult a stranger in a strange land can be. However, this is no different from any other great novel. The way I see it, the longer time taken to build the plot, the more vivid and amazing the story will become. This is a excellent book and I recommend it to everyone. James Clavell is an amazing author and I look forward to picking up his earlier book entitled Tai Pan.
Rating:
Summary: One of the two best epics ever!!
Review: SHOGUN and AZTEC are the best historical epics ever, in my opinion. SHOGUN is fast moving, takes place in a society we don't know much about, has engaging heros and villains, is stunningly detailed and well-researched, and is quite violent. These days, historical epics also spend a lot of time on sex, and SHOGUN comes from a more old-fashioned time, so it is fairly tame in that respect, but for violence, you'll be hard pressed to find more.The book is insanely long, and yet as it begins to reach the end, and you realise it's almost over, you'll be sad. You want to keep living with these great characters. Sorry I'm not summarizing the plot again...that's been done quite well here several times. I just want to chime in with my heartiest recommendations. It is flat out one of the most entertaining reads you'll ever find. Not great literature, but an absolute classic of its genre.
Rating:
Summary: Adventure as it should be told
Review: First some gushing but essentially content-free accolades: This book is terrific. It held my attention for two weeks during which I raced through it. Though it starts out a tiny bit slow, before long it slides effortlessly into what has the feel of an epic saga, even if the story time is only on a fairly short scale. I don't honestly know how accurately Clavell described feudal Japan, but I'm pretty sure most of it was well researched. Certainly, as a reader, it felt real to me, more so than most books I've read. This is adventure fiction at its finest. We have a brave hero who actually acts like someone stranded in an alien culture and know of precarious his situation is, but still manages to survive and thrive and live life to its fullest. The supporting characters are all well thought out. Virtually every character of any importance comes alive on the pages of Shogun. So well crafted is the cast that even the villains start to seem, if not likeable, then at least like they have real concerns and cares and feelings. It left me so engrossed in Clavell's world that I wanted a sequel, though that is obviously impossible now. In short, I think that Shogun will end up a classic for future generations. The style and plotting is, in a way, reminiscent of Alexander Dumas's Musketeer books. They too are not literary, but remain beloved even after nearly a hundred fifty years. Fast paced, exciting (even when there's no action happening), with detailed and rich characters that live on after the book is done, what more can one wish for?
Rating:
Summary: The Best Clavell after Nobel House
Review: I loved this book... I read it first in the early '80's. It has caused me to have a life-long love of Japanese culture. I do find it interesting that part of the authors background included a stay in a Japanese POW camp. Somehow he went behind the anger and horror of war and became interested in the culture of his captors. This is not a historical novel but does indeed teach much of Japanese custom. Thank you James Clavell for one of the best books I have ever read!
Rating:
Summary: GREATEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ
Review: Shogun is a book which captures any reader's imagination. Clavell follows the English sailor Blackthorne, or as the Japanese call him, "anjin-san", as he experiences, and is shaped by Japanese cultures, to the extent that he becomes repulsed by, and ashamed of his old crew. It is this culture, and the effect it has on Blackthorne which is one of the most beautiful aspects of the novel. The Japanese way of life was very different to Blackthorne's. Clavell demonstrates the "honour" it was for a samurai to commit "seppuku": suicide, and the importance of formality and obedience in ancient Japan. The events are often shocking and violent, but always very profound. Clavell makes it difficult for the reader to show anything but admiration for the Japanese samurai. The culture Clavell descibes is, for me the most intreiging and powerful aspect of Shogun. This book will keep you occupied, with its length and incredible content. One of the greatest books i have ever had the pleasure to read.
Rating:
Summary: GREATEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ
Review: Shogun is a book which captures any reader's imagination. Clavell follows the English sailer Blackthorne, or as the Japanese call him, "anjin-san", as he experiences, and is shaped by Japanese cultures, to the extent that he becomes repulsed by, and ashamed of his old crew. It is this culture, and the effect it has on Blackthorne which is one of the most beautiful aspects of the novel. The Japanese way of life was very different to Blackthorne's. Clavell demonstrates the "honour" it was for a samurai to commit "seppuku": suicide, and the importance of formality and obedience in ancient Japan. The events are often shocking and violent, but always very profound. Clavell makes it difficult for the reader to show anything but admiration for the Japanese samurai. The culture Clavell descibes is, for me the most intreiging and powerful aspect of Shogun. This book will keep you occupied, with its length and incredible content. One of the greatest books i have ever had the pleasure to read.
Rating:
Summary: All time favorite
Review: This book, without question, is my favorite book of all time. It took quite a lot of convincing from my friends to pick up this 1000+ pager, but once I started the prologue, I couldn't put it down. It is the kind of book that makes you wish you could read faster so you can find out what happens next, yet also the kind of book you never want to end. If you're interested in reading a beautifully crafted epic of romance, political intrigue, warcraft... indeed, a study of the human spirit in a brilliantly articulate style... then read this book! And though you'll have to sacrifice a week or so of your life to get through the seemingly endless pages, it's well worth it!
|
