Rating: 
Summary: Great "culture clash" tale!
Review: I definitely agree with all the others who loved this book, it's truly a grand, sweeping epic with great characters, vivid imagery, historical drama, and much, much more. Perhaps the best part is the wonderful way Clavell handled the fundamental culture clash between the Europeans and the Japanese. It's downright hilarious at times to see the way the two view each other, due mainly to each side's inherent sense of racial/religious superiority over the other. The Europeans see a bunch of ungodly heathens who kill a drop of a hat, often in extremely cruel fashion, and who have no sense of the value of human life. Meanwhile, the Japanese see a bunch of uncouth, filthy, lice ridden, smelly barbarians who sit around eating greasy beef and swilling rum and ale like swine. In time, the smarter characters actually start to see certain values in their cultural opposites, marooned English sea captain Blackthorne learns to appreciate the finer aspects of the Japanese, their highly developed art and manners, their poetry, and their unique sense of honor and duty. His counterparts, Mariko and Lord Toranaga, each respectively learn the virtues of romantic love and the advantages of independent thinking and individual initiative of the Europeans, who have learned to conquer the seas and set up trading empires while the much more insular Japanese preferred to keep to themselves, rigidly adhering to ancient traditions. In due time, Toranaga becomes Shogun, supreme lord of all Japan, and Blackthorne is faced with the following dilemma: has he become too Japanese to ever go back home?
Rating:
Summary: Ignor the pseudo-intellectuals - this is A GREAT BOOK!!!
Review: I get really annoyed when people bash historical fiction as being 'inaccurate'. That, people, is why it is called FICTION! Of COURSE there was no real Toranaga, or John Blackthorne, and no, Japan did not get unified when Mariko opened up all of Japan by saving some hostages. Surprised? People with half a brain will understand that this is a novel, a fiction, a story. They will also know that James Clavell spent 10 YEARS researching Shogun. He lived in Japan, immersed himself in the culture and history, and understood and accurately depicted life in feudal Japan in a thoroughly convincing narrative. So when some freshman with ½ a semester of history behind his belt comes along talking about how 'wrong' the portrayal was, I cringe; because that is to ignore the absolutely wonderful, creative, well-written and exquisitely crafted STORY that uses the historical backdrop. This is a fantastic love story; a fantastic war story; a fantastic story of intrigue and plans and couterplans, of betrayal and revenge and spirituality. It is, simply, a fantastic story. It is NOT a fantastic history book. Wise people will understand and appreciate the difference, and to them I say: Read this book - you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Drivel...utter drivel
Review: I enjoyed this book, until I reached page 350, and realized that there were 800 pages to go and I knew exactly where the book would end up. I'm taking a class on the politics of Feudal Japan, and we discuss this book at length. Leaving Clavell's gross inaccuracies aside, we still have the fact that this is a rather poorly written work. One can tell that Clavell is trying to throw underlying themes and messages into the mix, but they're thinly veiled. If you're interested in good historical fiction, I urge you to invest your time into a better-written title, such as "Carter Beats the Devil." Leave this one on the shelf, save the 8 bucks.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Top Echelon of Historical Novels
Review: Shogun is one of my favorite novels, on several levels. One of Clavell's more admirable qualities is to write engaging, gripping very readable dialogue, without attempting to impress us mortal readers with his command of the English language. He writes the way confident, intelligent, interesting people talk; seriously, playfully, intimately, introspectively. Even characters that are not meant to be intelligent or confident are written so as to clearly define their character traits. Also, Clavell's ability to progress his characters based on their innate traits is outstanding. Toranaga, the warlord, all powerful and utterly alone, navigates his life's plan to fulfill his destiny, with endless subplans and devised plots to achieve that aim. Blackthorne, with his unceasing quest to destroy his enemies and return home, finds his greatest happiness and rewards in the midst of his worst nightmares; and finally understands that life is karma. Mariko, the opposite - that life is more than random events and unswerving duty, and that love is not only permissible but essential. There are other, powerful, influences in the story; Omi, Blackthorne's detested enemy and a friend; Yabu, provider and sadist; Fujiko, the consort. All are remarkable characters. Lest you, the reviewer, think I'm reading too much into this, I assure you I am not. I've read Shogun at least 4 times. The first time was simply to enjoy a gripping story, but each time after that I tried to follow the thought processes and event progressions of the various central characters and how they interact. Each time I read the book there are subtleties that are made apparent to me, and I notice pivotal points that I had not focused on during an earlier reading. Each time I read Shogun, I get something more out of it. That is the defining mark of a brilliant and great novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Long but beautiful
Review: Shogun was long and complex and utterly beautiful, an evocative narrative of 16th century Japanese culture. Blackthorne, the brave but vulgar English pilot who rises to hatamoto status of the venerable Toranaga--Mariko, gentle externally but internally steel. All the clean lovely complexities of Japanese culture that almost justify even the most brutal happenings.
Rating:
Summary: **** 1/2 STARS, almost perfect
Review: Whatever it was, whatever it wasn't -
I read every word, every sentence skipped nothing and never grew bored at any point throughout the story. I didn't like the ending because I felt saddened and left hopeless by it. But I didn't want the book to end in the first place.
It was total escapist historical fiction; 1100+ ages read like 300. Such interesting plot twists, but no real satisfaction for poor Mr. Blackthorn, Anjin-san. Oh well, it's only a book.
Rating: 
Summary: It's entertaining, not informative.
Review: Shogun is definitely a grandly laid out, triumphant piece of fiction from pretty much anybody's standpoint. It takes perserverance, planning, and research to put together a novel of such length and scope, especially with regards to all the political maneuvering. However, when one approaches the novel from a cultural standpoint, it fails to hold weight. Of course, there is the comical sprinkling of inaccurate "Japanese" that Clavell probably employed to make the reader feel like he or she is reading "authentic" historical fiction. There are also events and bits of dialogue that seem absolutely ludicrous to anybody even remotely familiar with Japanese culture both modern or otherwise; the most cringeingly obvious of which being the final love affair which, I assure you would almost certainly never have occurred. None of this, however, detracts from the average reader's enjoyment of this big, meaty, admittedly entertaining novel. It's like watching Star Trek or Friends on TV. The shows are fun, despite being ludicrously unrealistic. The problem is that most readers aren't fluent speakers of Japanese or at all acquainted with the real culture and belief system beind the people. And so, unfortunately, many of them take this delightfully entertaining but historically flawed fictionalization to be an accurate portrayal of a history and of a people. Anybody who is genuinely interested in the "historical" aspect of Shogun is encouraged to read with this in mind. Shogun is correct in overall aspect, but individual details and plot points have obviously been tweaked to appeal to a "white" audience. Overall, it's still a good read, but if you're after something more realistic, try Eiji Yoshikawa. For more modern examples, turn to Mishima, Kawabata, and Oe.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book Hands Down
Review: This is quite possibly the best book I've ever read. You follow Blackthorne into Japan where you not only learn about Japanese culture and tradition, but you are witness to adventure, romance, war strategy, honor, and loyalty. I read The Godfather right before I read Shogun, and I found that there are many similarities as far as power, control, fear are concerned. One might think of the hierarchy in Japan as a mafia of sorts, in that they both have a "Godfather" or a "Shogun" that people fear and respect. Many interesting parrallels between the books. Shogun is far better though. The first 300 pages may be a little difficult for some people to read because Clavell is just setting up the characters and the setting, but once you get past that, you will not want to put the book down.
Rating:
Summary: INCREDIBLE
Review: This book was truly incredible. I tried to read it a couple years ago and had trouble. I think I was just too young to take it all in. Now (at age 17) I have finished it and it is quite possibly one of my favorite books of all time. The way Clavell is able to make everything fit together and create such deep characters is just awesome. I loved this book up till the very end. It will teach you a lot about old Japanese culture. Enjoy it!!
Rating:
Summary: Shogun
Review: This book takes one immediately into a time of long ago. A lifestyle few of us can imagine living. Clavell writes a wonderous tale filled with honour romance and intrigue. Japan is where the story begins and ends. As readers we are whirlwinded into a culture of beauty and death-we follow the characters as they unfurl and intertertwine with each other. A book well worth reading that will provoke thought and imagination.
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