Customer Reviews

Shogun (The Asian Saga Chronology)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
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This is easily one of the most enjoyable and rewarding historical fiction novels I've ever read. John Blackthorne's adventures in pre-industrial Japan immerse the reader in the rich Samurai culture of that time in a way that is simply amazing. The drama, suspense, and action of SHOGUN are absolutely top-notch, making this much more than just an educational experience about Japanese culture and history, but a highly successful adventure story that keeps the reader engaged throughout the long book. The characters here are also extremely well done, being memorable, unique, and very believable. In all, this book has earned a top place in the list of my favorite books of all time, and I won't hesitate for a second to recommend it to any reader.

Based on the real-life adventures of the English pilot William Adams (1564-1620; named Miura Anjin and Samurai by the future Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu), SHOGUN tracks nicely with actual historical events that led up to the isolationist era in Japanese history. Indeed, nearly all of the characters in this book are based on real Japanese historical figures (but with slightly altered names). Knowing this only helps to make the intense drama of this story that much more powerful. The way James Clavell portrays the culture of the Japanese Samurai is simply amazing. Seemingly authentic, Clavell paints a picture of a proud and honor-obsessed society that, while unforgiving and often brutal, retains a tantalizing beauty and tranquility that the reader (and John Blackthorne) learns to admire. A culture as different from our own as you can imagine, the Samurai way of life as portrayed by Clavell is both scary and oddly attractive. When living around touchy men with swords almost looking for an excuse to test their blades, walking on pins and needles doesn't begin to describe the way Anjin-san must behave to survive. The strict and formal relationships between husband and wife, child and parent, or master and slave is jarringly inconsistent with what we take to be a fair and just society. But the cleanliness, politeness, respectfulness, and spiritual peacefulness are aspects of Clavell's 14-15th century Japan that most will find appealing, and will cause sadness that these times are long past and that this culture has all but disappeared. Certainly my favorite aspect of this book is its reliable-seeming reconstruction of this almost mystical Japan, and the legitimate historical nature of the story.

Of course, this is also a book full of fast-paced action, intense emotion, and engulfing drama. Blackthorne's interactions with the various characters in this book are wide and varied, from deeply connecting with initially strange-seeming people, to hair-raising standoffs with intensely dangerous adversaries. As the Anjin-san becomes immersed in the Samurai culture and begins to appreciate the various aspects of life in Japan, he undergoes one of the most dramatic (but believable) transformations of any I can think of in modern-day literature. Love, hate, peace, and frustration are at continuous conflict in his mind, but as his transformation reaches completeness he gradually learns to accept his karma, and take life as it comes. A very well-done and dramatic story at the heart of this epic novel.

Also, Clavell's writing style in SHOGUN is part of what makes it such a success. The way he is able to switch between different characters' viewpoints without missing a beat (or loosing the reader) is something that I don't believe I have come across before. And it works wonderfully here, as the story flows extremely smoothly from event to event, person to person, keeping the reader fully engaged and allowing Clavell to get whichever perspective would be best for individual situations to the front. Also, his willingness to use Japanese words in the dialogue was highly successful. Again without loosing the reader, Clavell incorporates common Japanese phrases throughout the story, rarely with a direct translation, giving even more authenticity to the already very believable story. Indeed, through the course of reading this book, you'll find that you actually learned a bit of conversational Japanese! If, like me, you find yourself looking forward to seeing your Japanese friends or colleagues so that you can greet them with "Kinnichi wa!", don't be surprised.

In all, I can't recommend this book enough. Well worth the significant amount of time and effort you'll spend on reading this one, SHOGUN succeeds in every way. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Domo Arigato, Mr. Clavell.

This is the review for this particular edition. I bought it from COSTCO when it carried this newest edition of all James Clavell's books. I heard his books for long time, like Shogun, Tai Pan, Noble House, but never read it before. So I decided to pick one, which Shogun was the one that I had the earliest impression. I got hooked into the story instantly. I can only say that James Clavell is a master story teller. The mix of Japanese culture and adventure story of the main character, both bring the thrill of the story, and also the learning of an exotic culture up and close. This is a book that is in the same level as Ken Follet's Pillars of Earth and World without End. All of them are about 1000 pages long, and I would say not even a single page is a waste.

I also would like to comment on this edition. The paper quality and publish is excellent. I feel great with its sharp edge, bright paper, and the touch of the soft paper. It's an excellent combination of the choice that created a collectible feeling. I would highly recommend people to consider this edition vs any other edition out there.

After I finished this book, I was just sold with all James Clavell's book. I feel regret that I didn't buy all of the books from COSTCO that time. COSTCO does not carry these books any more. So now, I am reading Tai Pan from my kindle, which turns out another great read.

When I read a great book, I wish it never ends. I just had this feeling while reading Shogun. I almost feel lost when I reached final pages, and wished that the story to continue is another few hundred pages. It's truly a thousand page of enjoyment. Highly recommend for anyone loves Japanese history and culture.

Oh, btw, I also watched the Shogun TV after reading the book. Good adaptation, and very honest to the original book. But some how I feel a lot of detail and person's inner thought cannot be possibly expressed through screen. People may just be lost without reading the book first.

I started reading this new edition of James Clavell's "Shogun; A Novel of Japan" just a few days ago, bought from yet another book store being liquidated. What a GREAT SUMMER READ! First published in 1975, Clavell's long-form (1152 pages) historical (Northern Europe's earliest contact with, and role, in the final battle whose victory transformed feudal Japan into the centralized and deliberately isolated command and control society of the hereditary Shogun in Tokyo) novel (epic in intent, form and accomplishment).

This new edition is inexpensive at $7.99 face price. It's from Dell Publishing being reprinted in series as "James Clavell's world-famous Asian Saga ('Shogun', 'Tai-Pan', 'Gai-Jin', 'King Rat', 'Noble House', and 'Whilrwind')". The typeface is pretty small; put on your reading glasses. But for the price it's printed on pretty good paper, and doesn't stink like so many pulp editions.

If the others in Clavell's Asian Saga are as good as "Shogun", then it's good I'm retired with enough free time to devote to them. I'll stay all summer under a fan with lemonade and "Shogun," and abandon time and care.

As deeply satisfying as "War and Peace"! And as long! Longer, counting sequels--oh, goodie goodie!

There is no better author than James Clavell. All of his books are top of the line. Once you get started, it is hard to stop.

Read this a long time ago, but have to say great auther and amazing book. Certainly worth the time, patience, and focus u prob need to read it. Let me know what u think. Enjoy the book...drew. By the way this is not my fav author...there are certinaly much better. However, he is great if u can focus really well...lol. Drew

This book was about 400 pages too long.

You would think that with everyone running around, drunk, with swords, there would be a fight every once in a while! Right? WRONG!!!

It's a fine novel, well written, filled with subtle political manuvering, betrayal, love, lust etc... The only problem is that there is almost ZERO action in a novel that is going to take you 3 weeks or more (probably much more unless you have an hour train ride to-and-from work like I do) to read. I don't know how many times I read something along the lines of, "He leapt to his feet in a blood-thirsty rage to cut down the samurai standing before him, but restrained himself, and apologized." If I had to guess, you will read a line similar to this about 20 times. No joke.

I mean, this is a book about a flippin' SHIPWRECKED PIRATE who becomes a SAMURAI!!! Is it too much to ask for a little swordplay every now and then?

You will not care about a single character, aside from the protagonist and you will probably start skipping every other page once you get close to finishing this weighty tome so you can start reading something else.