Gai-Jin: A Novel of Japan [Import] (Unbound)

~ (Author)

Product Details

• Unbound
• Publisher: Dell Pub Co (1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440218098
• ISBN-13: 978-0440218098
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (76 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,595,651 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Clavell was the best dest Gai-Jin, January 24, 2004

By	Shogun Len "tokieyasu" (Arizona) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gai-Jin (Mass Market Paperback)

First and foremost James Clavell was one of the most talented writers ever. Especially if you like fiction about Asia. Not only did he tell great stories but his books were filled with so much good history and culture about places like China and Japan. Though I was never a fan of "King Rat" books like Shogun, Tai-Pan, and Noble House were some of the best I ever read. They were books you never wanted to end.

Gai-Jin starts off that way as well. The first 400 or 500 pages of Gai-Jin are classic Clavell. Combining many of the stories and characters from Shogun, Tai Pan, and Noble House. The books first 500 pages are terrific. Clavell using some familiar faces from his other books sets the stage for the Meiji Restoration in Japan.

The book in typical Clavell fashion talks about the history of Japan after the arrival of Commodore Perry in 1853 as well as of China while it was divided up into spheres of influence.

Gai-Jin is so good at setting the stage for Meiji with its characters discussing Japan's options of either learning for the Gai-Jin or attempting a futile resistance and facing humilation like China suffered under the Opium Wars.

Unfortunately Clavell died shortly after finishing this book. And unfortunately the affects of his illness affect the second half of the book. The book just loses focus 1/2 way through. My gut feeling is that Clavell's illness just caught up to him. Because the book just goes downhill and nowhere which is not typical of Clavell.

Clavell will never be replaced. Other fictional books about Asia do not even compare. Cloud of Sparrows, The Laura Joh Rowland Books, are ok but not in Clavell's league. The first half of Gai-Jin reminds us how good he was. Unfortunately, he will never be replaced.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good story, but not up to previous works, March 15, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gai-Jin (Mass Market Paperback)

Before this book was, I wanted nothing more than another Clavell novel. King Rat was probably the moodiest book I have ever read (Very well done movie adaptation, too), Tai Pan the most exciting and both Shogun and Noble House the grandest. Gai Jin, like his previous efforts, had a wonderfully complex plot, with many interesting characters and scenes of extreme violence.

The book also gave a good view of 19th century Japan, but made many errors. While I can't remember the particular details (I read it four years ago), I do remember many errors in Japanese naming, wording (I speak Japanese and have read 19th century literature), and political events. I can forgive a lot for a good story, and this qualifies, but being from Clavell, I expected perfection.

That he was old and sick when he wrote the book does make me thankful that at least I got one more Clavell novel to enjoy. It is still better than the Asian Historical Fiction of most other authors (and there are so few).

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Gai-Jin" worth the effort, March 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gai-Jin (Mass Market Paperback)

Lots of negative comments are listed here regarding "Gai-Jin", which is in equal parts sequel to Clavell's "Shogun" and "Tai-Pan." Indeed, I'd strongly recommend reading both of those novels before tackling "Gai-Jin," which builds tremendously on the characters and histories established in those works. All I want to say is this: I don't read Clavell for historical accuracy, nor am I offended by his supposed racist portrayals of Asian characters. This book, like all of Clavell's others, breaths tremendous life and will suck you into its many-layered web if you give it a chance. It's intense, so funny, so wonderfully dense, lots of action and intrigue, immensely informative, and oh so insightful into the cultural war of 1860's Japan. If it's less than historically accurate, I could care less --- this is a huge novel, a great story, a wonderful read. Pick it up, treasure it, give it a chance.