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Summary: Brilliant in so many ways!
Review: This is a book has come to be known as one of the greatest fictional adventure stories of all time. It tells of a foreigner to Japan, a man known as Blackthorn whose fleet is shipwrecked off the coast of Japan. Taken in by the natives, Blackthorn becomes assimilated in Japanese society, only to learn of the power and deceit of the country. It is a tale of backstabbing and power hungry lords that scavenge the land in search of anything they can get their hands on. Blackthorne witnesses firsthand, the beauty, terror, and power of the country called Japan in an era of war. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure tale. This is a must have.
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Summary: Breath taking novel!
Review: i would only like to point out that this book is surly one of the best books I have ever read! I can't imagening any one not liking it! A book you can't put down from the first page till the last. The only bad thing about the book is that he doesn't have count less pages, and the story will finally be over!
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Summary: ONE OF THE GREATEST STORIES EVER TOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: James Clavell's Shogun ranks up there as one the greatest stories ever told. It tells the story of an English Pilot(John Blackthorne i.e. Anginsan) who makes it to the Japans and wins favor with a powerful Japanese daiymo (Toranaga). It also tells the story of a forbidden love as Blackthorne falls for his beautiful married interpretor Mariko. A very compelling and powerful story that takes you to a different time and place. This a a story for the ages!!!!!!
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Summary: ON THE TOP TEN LIST
Review: On the list of top-ten, this may be number one. Everyone should read this book. I'd advise it for those over 15, because some of the content is hard to understand, and there is a language transition. But it is a great story, and it really keeps one thinking and reading. It places you in the middle of Japan as you follow the soon-to-be-intermingled lives of dozens of characters. There is English piliot Blackthorne, who ends up on Japan's shore by mistake and ends up bending the situation to fit his own needs. There is the brilliant japanese genral, Lord Toranaga, who keeps all the characters under his thumb. There is Mariko-san, who unwittingly becomes tangled in a romantic plot of her own. There is the Father Alvito, who is working for the benefit of his church, and nothing will stand in his way... or so he thinks. As all these plots meet and unfold, readers will find themselves turning the pages to unravel the next battle, the nexy mystery, the next occurence.
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Summary: An Escaping Read
Review: Being an avid reader since I was a child, I often seek out large books. I do this so my visits to worlds, other than the present, will be extended as much as possible. I've had some good experiences, some not-so-good, and some just terrible. "King Rat" was the first book I've read by Clavell. I was mesmerized by his use of dialogue and insight on human nature-- finding it a very satisfying read. A few friends and my mother had recommended "Shogun." I never followed up on these recommendations, solely because in the past I've been disappointed when trying another piece of the author's work. I assumed the same in Clavell's case. I was wrong to assume. Although I am not currently finished with the book, I am down to the last 200 pages. I cannot bear to part with the book at times. I've extended my lunch breaks and stayed awake long into the night because I'm always wondering what's up with Blackthorne, Omi, those crazy daimyos, and the lovely 'onnas.' Knowing this was fictional piece of work, I didn't expect any historical accuracy. However, I do find myself walking away with a better understanding of Japanese history and philosophy. Especially in relation to other works I've read. Questions I've had before were answered and made clearer. Like every good piece of work, there is always a lull in the story. Even so, I found these lulls to be informative and conducive to the plot. I recommend this book highly to anyone looking for an exciting, colorful new world to dwell for a season. It is a reading escape worthy of my days 30 years ago with Dorothy Kunhardt's "Pat the Bunny." :)
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Summary: Wonderful story, historically inaccurate
Review: This is a wonderful book for the lover of Japanese-themed story. Under a few conditions, that is. Yeah, we all knew there was a catch. This story is *not* exactly accurate historically. Almost all the names of the characters, even the major ones, have been changed some if not completely (Yoshi Toranaga = Tokugawa Ieyasu). If you know the history of Japan and want to keep straight who's who so you don't get confused, I would recommend keeping a list. It does eventually become more or less clear who represents whom historically. There are probably a few other historical details I'm missing, but I haven't been at Japanese history long. Shogun is by all accounts an imposing book (over a thousand pages), but is a very worthwhile read. Read it when you have some free time, over a summer break or company vacation. Finally, this is not a tale for the weak of heart. Feudal Japan (and this is one facet of history quite accurately portrayed) was a very violent place--everyone did what the daimyo said, peasants' lives meant nothing, and samurai were kings. Shogun contains several graphics depictions of the Japanese style of thinking and fighting (like the murder of Jozen) and is likely somewhat unsettling to western sensibilities (many readers, particularly those not familiar with the culture, will likely feel the way Blackthrone does about many of these events). What Shogun has, besides these things listed above, is an amazing intricate and well-woven plot, rich, almost living characters, and everything a novel needs to hook in a reader and keep them there. ~
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Summary: A FAST 1000+ PAGES
Review: I don't read a lot of historical fiction, but from what I have read, I can't deny that Shogun is easily one of the best. To be brief, let me say that this book is a real page-turner and has lots of very moving scenes. However, the story does have its inaccuracies. Toranaga is the REAL, HISTORICAL Tokugawa Ieyasu. There really was a battle of Sekigahara. There really was a Blackthorne, but I don't know what his name is. Overall, this book is fairly close to history and James Clavell just took the liberty of changing some of the names and some of the way things are. As for the authenticity of the language in the book, I'm not sure, 'cause I don't speak Japanese. I did feel, though, that the Japanese came across as dumb. Where the English came across as superior. Well, sorta. The Japanese certainly had better hygiene and swords. One final thing, if I were you, I would read TAIKO by Eiji Yoshikawa. Yoshikawa is a Japanese author. Anyway, Taiko tells of the events before Shogun. Then read Shogun. Shogun ENDS with the battle of Sekigahara. What's really neat is that MUSASHI by Yoshikawa STARTS with the battle of Sekigahara. So, if you read these three books, you will have a pretty good view of Japanese history. Yoshikawa, by the way, uses the real Japanese names.
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Summary: Ahhh.....PERFECTION!!
Review: Shogun has to be the greatest epic novel ever. The massive scale is enormously powerful, the flow of the story is outstanding, the characters are alive and the ending is unexpected but natural. It's useless to describe this book in detail, you can't describe it as perfectly as Clavell wrote it. EVERY SELF-RESPECTING PERSON HAS TO READ THIS UNBELIEVABLE MASTERPIECE!!!
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Summary: What a experience...
Review: A very next day after "Shogun" suddenly came to my mind (I realised I never finished it before),the book was looking at me from the shelves in the bookshop.As most of 131 rewievers before me noticed,this exceptional book is so masterfuly written that at the end of the last page (1210 in my edition) I was deeply saddened that there is no sequel.I dont agree with readers who are taking this book too seriously and criticise details about life in medieval Japan:if you cannot let yourself go and simply enjoy great novel,then books are not for you.Not just that I spend sleepless night while reading this book,it was entertaining and subtly educational,as I didnt know much about life in Japan before,and could easy imagine picture.And Clawell,with his background,knows about Japan much,much more than ordinary reader.
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Summary: Wonderful historical epic
Review: Perhaps the greatest historical fiction book ever. My words can not adequately describe the world you will be emmersed in when reading this book. There is intrigue,love, jealousy and mystery in this medieval Japanese epic. The plot is never dull and constantly moving. You will begin to feel that you are living the story rather than reading it. When you pick this book up, you will not be able to put it down.
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