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 enlarge | Author: James Clavell
Publisher: Dell
Category: Book
List Price: $7.99
Buy Used: $0.01
You Save: $7.98 (100%)
New (40) Used (222) Collectible (19) from $0.01
Rating:  305 reviews
Sales Rank: 7242
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Edition: 2ND
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 1210
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.7
ISBN: 0440178002
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780440178002
ASIN: 0440178002
Publication Date: June 1, 1976
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: With pride from Motor City. All books guaranteed. Best Service, best prices.
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| Customer Reviews:
 An old favorite... July 4, 2008
This is a good novel, in that it's a well researched, well plotted and well told tale. It's good and long, it holds the attention, and it holds up over re-readings.
Step Inside Feudal Japan July 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I love this book. I'm so mad that I have already read it, because I want to experience it again for the first time! While I am not Japanese, I have heard it said from a number of Japanese sources that Clavell's writing allows you to nearly step inside the Japanese psyche that helped to form the society of today.
While it is a fictional account, the book is loosely based upon the factual journey of William "Miura Anjin" Adams. The character Lord Torinaga is loosely based on Ieyasu Tokugawa.
Overall it is a tremendous read - I devoured the 1000+ pages of the book in under a week. A fantastic story of adventure, intrigue, power, love, loss and hope.
If you like this book, you can go on to the other books in Clavell's Asian Epic. In chronological order, it is:
Shogun
Tai-Pan
Gai-Jin
King Rat
Noble House
I have read Tai-Pan and Gai-Jin, with the former being as good as Shogun, and the latter not nearly as much. I have not read the books that follow - King Rat and Noble House, though I do look forward to doing so.
17th century Japan through the eyes of a western sailor May 13, 2008
Great book about the westernization of Japan and the conflict between European and Japanese cultures in the 17th century. The character development is amazing especially between the main character, Anjin-san, and the Japanese interpreter, Mariko, with whom he falls in love. There is also a considerable amount of action as the samurai class slides into a war that will determine the next shogunate of Japan.
The best story ever April 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
That's not an exaggeration, speaking for myself. I picked this up from a friend who was donating books to Goodwill, and I wasn't really too excited about it; I had no major interest in Japan. But she assured me that it was an awesome book (my copy is a 2 volume hardcover set that is old and worn, and I will never give it up), and another friend agreed.
What I loved about this the most is that Clavell's plots are so cunning; they keep you guessing. Almost every page, or at the least every chapter, I'm saying to myself, "No way!" "I didn't see THAT coming!" "Holy crap, what?" Another thing is the characters; they really are 3D, each with his or her own motivations and development through the story. In fact, Clavell often switches perspective from one character to another, giving you a glimpse into what they're actually thinking, not just what they're doing. Sometimes he even does this within a scene where characters are interacting; one says one thing, and then thinks another thing, and then another says something and thinks something else. The *scheming* that's constantly going on between the daimyos and their vassals is truly epic.
The central character, Blackthorne, is complex and interesting in and of himself, but the end of the book left me pondering, "Was he truly the central character?" Arguably not, and it's not until the very end that it becomes apparent. But his character's development is the most interesting, I think, and it gives a fascinating look at some of the cultural differences between East and West. I could write for pages about how much I love this book, but I'll leave it at that. This is my first Clavell novel, and I'm tempted to just start over and re-read the thing immediately, but instead I'm going to buy another of his books and see how it compares. James Clavell is a gem that I wish I'd discovered years ago!
This is my favorite book of all time. March 31, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought this book for my boyfriend because I destroyed his copy.
I carried this book around with me EVERYWHERE for 2 months.
It starts out a little slow, but James Clavell provides amazing insights into ancient Japanese culture. If you're interested in Japan, this is a very fun book.
It has a very sad ending though.
I actually went into a 3 day period of mourning when my favorite character died.
It is a very long book (1152 pages) but it will keep you entertained for months.
But overall, I highly recommend this book.
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