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ehindmon's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This was the most epic adventure I’ve ever been on when reading a book.
Yes, it is really long. Yes, it probably could have been shorter and still managed to tell the story. But what this book did so well was deep character development. Each character (and there are MANY) was fully formed. So yes, the book could have been shorter to get the plot across (because honestly plot-wise not all that much happens here), but perhaps the characters would not have been so fully fleshed out if it had been a shorter book.
I think you will love this book if many of the following apply to you:
•You are not turned off by a large cast of characters
•you do not mind super slow plot pacing
•you appreciate fully developed characters over exciting plot action
•you enjoy morally grey characters and love the nuance that is human morality and ethics
Yes, it is really long. Yes, it probably could have been shorter and still managed to tell the story. But what this book did so well was deep character development. Each character (and there are MANY) was fully formed. So yes, the book could have been shorter to get the plot across (because honestly plot-wise not all that much happens here), but perhaps the characters would not have been so fully fleshed out if it had been a shorter book.
I think you will love this book if many of the following apply to you:
•You are not turned off by a large cast of characters
•you do not mind super slow plot pacing
•you appreciate fully developed characters over exciting plot action
•you enjoy morally grey characters and love the nuance that is human morality and ethics
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, and Colonisation
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and War
Minor: Torture, Vomit, Abortion, and Pregnancy
himpersonal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I first came to know about this story as a child when I had a little crush on Richard Chamberlain and accidentally came across Shōgun on TV. I was too young to understand the full story, but I got the basics. In actuality, I didn't care about the story. I was glued to the TV because it was the first time I was seeing Asian faces on TV in a positive light (aside from the Hong Kong kung fu productions with the dubbed voices that played on Saturday afternoons). The only other "Asians" I'd seen on TV until then were yellow face actors in The Pearl and Breakfast at Tiffany's, terrible characters from Thoroughly Modern Millie, and exaggerated accents by Pat Morita in Happy Days and Karate Kid. I don't actually remember how the Japanese were portrayed in Shōgun back then, but I remember it was the first time Asians were being taken seriously and on their turf. This was all while kids at taunted me that I should go back to China (I'm Korean).
This show opened up a world of new possibilities for me - about how I could see myself in the world and how the world could receive me other than a misfit. It was also the first time I saw a white person trying to fit into a world that looked a lot like mine and not at all like his. It never occurred to me that the reverse could be true. Fast forward many years, one of my college majors being in Asian studies, several years of living in Japan, gaining fluency in Korean, Japanese, and (hopefully someday soon) Hindi, and lots of travel all over Asia, and I feel like this story was what germinated my ongoing pursuit of expanding my appreciation of the nations that make up my origins. So, even though this book was SO long, I was happy to read it. (In truth, I was unsuccessfully trying to find a book longer than Stephen King's It so that I wouldn't have to see it as my longest book of 2024 every time I revisited my 2024 reading list.)
What I liked most - Mariko. Such a great hero. And Toranaga was a close second. These characters are so well developed. And the choice to write this at a time where samurai could choose to fight by the Bushido code and the respect of the sword or lean into modernized weaponry was brilliant. Between Christianity and guns, it seems no country was safe from westernization. I expect the rest of the war in the other books might demonstrate the generational trauma caused by these impositions, but I will need to wait and see until I can get to those other books.
It's clearly written by a white man. Even if I hadn't known the author's name, that much was obvious to me. I read that Clavell considered these works to be very pro-Japanese. I think he achieved that, but there is also evidence of his perspective as an outsider trying to be an insider (which I think culminated in the Blackthorne character). The only concern I have is that those who don't fully understand or appreciate how the Japanese value life will misunderstand the depth of respect Japanese actually have for life, given the number of characters who attempt, threaten, or go through with seppuku. It's actually quite the opposite.
If you are intimidated by the size of the book, it might be easier to read if you watch in the FX remake. It follows the book really well and did an impressive job with the sets and costumes. It deserved every Emmy it got this year.
This show opened up a world of new possibilities for me - about how I could see myself in the world and how the world could receive me other than a misfit. It was also the first time I saw a white person trying to fit into a world that looked a lot like mine and not at all like his. It never occurred to me that the reverse could be true. Fast forward many years, one of my college majors being in Asian studies, several years of living in Japan, gaining fluency in Korean, Japanese, and (hopefully someday soon) Hindi, and lots of travel all over Asia, and I feel like this story was what germinated my ongoing pursuit of expanding my appreciation of the nations that make up my origins. So, even though this book was SO long, I was happy to read it. (In truth, I was unsuccessfully trying to find a book longer than Stephen King's It so that I wouldn't have to see it as my longest book of 2024 every time I revisited my 2024 reading list.)
What I liked most - Mariko. Such a great hero. And Toranaga was a close second. These characters are so well developed. And the choice to write this at a time where samurai could choose to fight by the Bushido code and the respect of the sword or lean into modernized weaponry was brilliant. Between Christianity and guns, it seems no country was safe from westernization. I expect the rest of the war in the other books might demonstrate the generational trauma caused by these impositions, but I will need to wait and see until I can get to those other books.
It's clearly written by a white man. Even if I hadn't known the author's name, that much was obvious to me. I read that Clavell considered these works to be very pro-Japanese. I think he achieved that, but there is also evidence of his perspective as an outsider trying to be an insider (which I think culminated in the Blackthorne character). The only concern I have is that those who don't fully understand or appreciate how the Japanese value life will misunderstand the depth of respect Japanese actually have for life, given the number of characters who attempt, threaten, or go through with seppuku. It's actually quite the opposite.
If you are intimidated by the size of the book, it might be easier to read if you watch in the FX remake. It follows the book really well and did an impressive job with the sets and costumes. It deserved every Emmy it got this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
rogackia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Blood
theneverendingtbr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'd been wanting to read this book for quite some time, due to the overall positive feedback and reviews on it; so here we have it - and after finishing this 1152 page lump of a book...I am exhausted. 😂
It's an epic read don't get me wrong, the writing is admirable but it is hard work as the plot is very complex and over-long.
The story contains ruthless samurai, scheming priests, impenetrable fortresses, dishonourable ninja and everything else about feudal Japan which captures the imagination.
If you like large books that you can get lost in, give this one a try.
Although not for the faint-hearted as there's so many decapitations, a diabolical execution and overall violence within these pages.
Now for some light-hearted reading I think.
It's an epic read don't get me wrong, the writing is admirable but it is hard work as the plot is very complex and over-long.
The story contains ruthless samurai, scheming priests, impenetrable fortresses, dishonourable ninja and everything else about feudal Japan which captures the imagination.
If you like large books that you can get lost in, give this one a try.
Although not for the faint-hearted as there's so many decapitations, a diabolical execution and overall violence within these pages.
Now for some light-hearted reading I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Suicide, and Blood