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Summary: Interesting Book
Review: In the 80s the big American fear, especially in California, was that the Japanese businesses were going to take over. Strangely, the fact that the Dutch and British had more holdings than the Japanese never mattered.That said, Japanese conspiracies were popular and this was one of the better ones, which also allowed us to perceive the Japanese manner of thinking. BTW, this book was better than the movie. Overally, a very good read but not great.
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Summary: Wonderfully Engaging
Review: From reading some of his other novels, I already knew that Michael Crichton is a great storyteller. After finishing Rising Sun, I can also say that he is adept at handling diverse subjects. I originally stayed away from this book because I tend to stick with science fiction, but I'm glad I finally came around and gave it a try. I really enjoyed this murder-mystery - far more than I expected, to be sure. The only advice I would give someone thinking about buying Rising Sun (other than to do so) is to keep in mind the state of Japanese-American relations at the time the book was written. Reading it today, it may seem like Crichton is unnecessarily hard on the Japanese, but in 1992 there were serious concerns about the future of our economy and our country in a world soon to be dominated by Japan. Crichton weaves this fear into the novel by taking his protagonist through an eye-opening and life-changing murder investigation involving both Japanese nationals and corporations. But the book isn't just about Japan - it stands on its own as an investigative mystery, keeping the suspense and surprises going all the way to the end. While not a literary masterpiece, Rising Sun is solid, entertaining and fun to read. I recommend it.
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Summary: Michael Crichton's Japanese Murder Thriller!
Review: Because I picked this book out of the fiction section, it was a bit different than I expected. This novel is pretty much a murder mystery, and I very much enjoyed reading it, even though I am not a terrific mystery book fan. In typical Crichton style, this book will keep you in suspense until the very end. When I thought the book was slowing down, there was always an unexpected plot turn to keep my finger under the next page. Special Services Liaison Peter Smith, for the LAPD, is called in to investigate a murder that occurred during the opening party of the Nakamoto's new building in LA. He calls in a man named John Connors, an expert in dealing with the Japanese, who becomes his mentor and helps him solve the case. As mentioned at the end of the book, this novel reflects Michael Crichton's views about how the Japanese are essentially buying out America. There is a heavy dose of his opinion throughout this book that America is increasingly being controlled by Japan. If you disagree about his opinions and reading about them will bother you, then you will probably not enjoy this book. This book may forever be considered controversial, but nevertheless, it is an enjoyable read and definately a page-turner!
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Summary: A time piece
Review: When reading Rising Sun, it is important to remember when the book was written: Japan bashing was a Congressional pastime as the Japanese Diet tried to figure out how to keep Americans happy and trade from going sour. "Buy American" was (and perhaps still is) a buzzword throughout the country, as the "Asian giant" ran rampant throughout the world, buying real estate and golf courses. US hegemony was over. Well, it seems that things are a little bit different than everyone expected. Today, Japan is the "withering chrysanthemum" and Americans now turn their eyes to China and the EU as the new fear. US hegemony is being challenged elsewhere, and the #2 economy is nowhere in sight, even if it is still here in almost full force. Go figure. Now on with the review. Rising Sun can't be blamed for its most obvious shortcomings, as it is simply a window into the world of the scared American. Japan scholars at the best schools in the nation were right there with Crichton as everyone danced around and screamed murder because of an "unfair Japan." With that said, the book isn't half bad. It's fun to read like every other Crichton book, and you still might learn a thing or two. Just remember why it was written and you'll do fine.
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Summary: Mindblowing. Wonderful. Suspensful.
Review: Rising Sun offers an insight into Japan, and Japanese economics that was once unknown. Although it is now a cliché by saying this, Rising Sun brings new meaning into the Japanese motto: 'Business is War'. Japan seems to be a peaceful country but when it comes to business they are like pit bulls. Japan has been slowly taking over the American economy and all of her markets. Major corporations are owned by the Japanese, some even go as far as to say they own some cities and the American Government. Rising Sun uncovers the shocking truth about Japanese business when a murder take place in L.A. in the headquarters of a Japanese corporation called Nakamoto. When the LAPD moves in to investigate they only run into brick walls set up by Nakamoto. Rising Sun has to be Crichton's best novel since Jurassic Park. Rising Sun may be a fairly large book but the suspense will keep you turning the pages. One could read it in a day. You know who killed who'or do you? The twists in the plot will keep you reading. I definitely recommend this book to all.
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Summary: BUSINESS IS WAR!
Review: I have to admit, I was a little iffy about picking this book up to read. I mean, It just seemed so, so, un Crichton. But im glad I did read this. It is one heck of a page turner. This book really makes you think about what goes on behind closed doors in major businesses, and even the government.
When a murder occurs durning the opening party in a major business party, the company is trying to do whatever they can to keep it under wraps. It is up to a young liasion officer and another officer to pin the killer. But that isnt easy for them to do, because they only have one day to solve the crime. And there is much more going on than they or you will every believe.
Every chapter points the murder towareds a different face, leaving you constanly wondering who did it. This book has more twists and turns in it that you will be able to believe. But as Crichton is always able to do, he makes you believe, makes you realize that the whole conspiracy that he has created is very real and very possible.
Although a turn from Crichton's Sci-Fi regular novels, dont let this pass. It is as good or even better than his regulars. And also keep in mind.... this book was his first bestseller!!!
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Summary: GREAT PLOT BUT WEAK THEME
Review: This book is a great crime story that beats CSI and Law and Order. But it seems Crichton has run out of ideas. The whole "Japan taking over America" caution takes away significantly from the action.
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Summary: Is Japan really invading us?
Review: Definitely this book is a page turner, and if it's true that the japanese are buying all the important things of America the government must do something, but I don't believe that in Japan are no poor people, I know that the Japanese get married with their job and company, but it is a very poor country, remember the last earthquake there? they ask for help because they don't have enough money.
Another interesting point of Japan is that they have the higher number of suicide between ages 12 to 25 because of the competition at school or work. Japan is not the easiest place to live, but, we have to take care of what they are buying not only in America but in the world, because they don't invent anything, they copy everything, but they copy it well and they make it better than the original.
The end of the book is not so good because John Connor who knows the japanese very well assume what happened and why, he doesn't really know why ...
Rating:
Summary: Crichton shows how its done
Review: Its funny to read a "thriller" from people like John Grisham and wonder how in the world his books get published. In Rising Sun, Michael Crichton shows yet again his mastery of the true thriller. The plot is masterfully constucted and the characters blend seamlessly into the narrative. Yet again an inferior, though well cast, film was produced from the novel. Stick to the book.
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Summary: A fun, if paranoid, glimpse at Japan v America circa 1989
Review: I'm guessing Crichton wrote the bulk of this book several years before it was published, at least that's the impression you get reading it. It captures with nearly eerie perfection the contradictory ways Americans viewed the Japanese in the late 1980's; the mix of admiration for their business acumen, engineering prowess, long term planning, and social stability blended with fear and resentment, the notion that the ruthless nature of 'Japan Inc' would soon reduce America to a 2nd class economic power. Well, guess what? By the time this came out (with a movie version a year or so later) the Japanese economic bubble had burst, and we got to see that they were mortals after all, just as capable as anyone else of bumbling incompetence. This book has been accused of being racist, and I suppose there's some truth to this charge (after all, what else is the message other than the 'danger' posed by those ever scheming inscrutable Orientals?) but the timing was off. Japan bashing was no longer in fashion because they weren't seen as a threat any more. Still, this book serves a purpose in that it captures a moment in American history, a time when pundits stirred up fears of losing everything from our auto industry to our golf courses to the Japanese while at the same time the business and management sections of bookstores were crammed with titles whose collective theme was that the key to success was to follow the Japanese corporate model. How ironic then, to note how America proceeded from that low point to enter the boom years of the 90's while Japan went into a decade of stagnation from which it has yet to emerge.
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