Reviews

Shōgun by James Clavell

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francisnolan's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

youraveragedave's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging informative mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

This is one huge book (1100+ pages or 53+ hours audio) and it encompasses a lot. The cast is huge and the plot is sprawling.

Most of the book you feel like Blackthorne, or Anjin-san if you prefer, an outsider to this strange culture, so different from the familiar European way of life Western readers are familiar with. I really liked the way Clavell slowly increased Blackthorne's understanding of Japanese language and way of life, and even his preference for certain things the Japanese did.

The plot is more than a simple stranger in a strange land tale though. We've got culture clash of West vs East. Religion, not only Christianity vs Buddhism, but Catholicism vs Protestantism. There's European wars and hostility between the Spanish empire and the British and Dutch being brought to this foreign land. Added to that is the domestic political intrigue of the Japanese and who will rule and guide this land. Then through in some Japanese societal and family dynamics and you can see why this book is so damn big.

As an audiobook reader, the size of the cast was difficult to keep straight, luckily Clavell gives lots of context clues as to who's talking. Sometimes I wished the plot was simplified and steamlined, but I know that's not how the real world works, it is complicated with many moving parts. Another complaint is Toranaga's omniscience, he seems to always be the steps ahead of everyone and we sometimes get his insight, but not enough for my liking. It can come off as a little deus ex machina at times.

nwilliams96's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

emmaprew's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Re-reading this book after watching the new TV adaptation, and after first having read this 16 years ago. Just as good as the first time around. Definitely still one of my favourite books set in Japan.