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kanae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
calistareads's review against another edition
4.0
This is the 3rd book in the Asian Saga, but the last book that James Clavell completed. He was working on another when he died. The story of Asia still coming into the west is now up to the 1800s and the American civil war is going on and talked about in the story.
We get into the world of the Japanese, but not as much as in Shogun. This is centered on the English village of Yokohama and the story revolves around how they were trying to open Japan up to trading.
I love Shogun and it's one of my favorite books of all time. Amazing. Tai-pan was a great story too. The amount of work that went into these books is amazing and its understandable that James only had time in his life to write 6 of them. This book was written almost 30 years after Shogun. All the historical elements were there, the research into the culture was there, but the story didn't feel as sharp as the others. Shogun is like a samurai sword slicing perfectly. This story, the blade feels duller to me, less focused.
Plenty happens in these 1100 pages. There is a love story at the heart of this book between Malcolm Straun, the newest Taipan and Angelique, an young French woman. Around them, there is the floating world or the 'whore' houses where all the politics and scheming seem to happen. There are plot twists and each side trying to outsmart the other. The difficulty of the translators is on display and we see how different each side thinks and how they both can't understand the other because their worlds are so different.
There is a band of shishi, which are like terrorist trying to overthrow the shogunate and support the emperor. The shishi are interesting and especially Hiraga. He takes Sun Tsu to heart and he is trying to know his enemy and looks on the outside like he is becoming them. It's all fascinating.
This did take me awhile to read. I am simply having a hard time focusing. One time I would read 100 pages a day and then it might be 2-3 pages with no reading at all and then I would read maybe 20 pages or so for a while. It wasn't the story, it was me. This is my tome for the year, so I am going to try some short fun books to try and ease me back into more focus.
I do love this series and I do plan on reading the other 3 books in the future. They are a lot to digest. This Asian world is so foreign and so hard to believe that's how things were. I'm sure there are still threads that exist in Asia. It's understandable to see why people commit suicide when deals go bad or other people die. It's in their history. Their society is beautiful and oh so harsh.
I would never make it in that society. You have to be so cunning to have a chance at making it in society or you will be under someone's book heel and I am simply not that cunning. Maybe if I were to be brought up to think that way, but the way I am now, oh lord, I would not make it. You have to expect everyone is plotting and scheming against you and you must outsmart them or be swallowed. It's a harsh society in many ways. I do love how clean they are and it simply makes Westerners look so dirty, at that time.
Imperialist western ideas are on full display here and we see the empire building and how they came in and forced themselves on this society who didn't ask for it. They make sure they get the best deals and everything is to their advantage. So much is talked about here as what is happening in world events.
I wouldn't start with this book, but it should be read. James Clavell is a master at his craft and I enjoyed immersing myself in this story. It was worth the time.
We get into the world of the Japanese, but not as much as in Shogun. This is centered on the English village of Yokohama and the story revolves around how they were trying to open Japan up to trading.
I love Shogun and it's one of my favorite books of all time. Amazing. Tai-pan was a great story too. The amount of work that went into these books is amazing and its understandable that James only had time in his life to write 6 of them. This book was written almost 30 years after Shogun. All the historical elements were there, the research into the culture was there, but the story didn't feel as sharp as the others. Shogun is like a samurai sword slicing perfectly. This story, the blade feels duller to me, less focused.
Plenty happens in these 1100 pages. There is a love story at the heart of this book between Malcolm Straun, the newest Taipan and Angelique, an young French woman. Around them, there is the floating world or the 'whore' houses where all the politics and scheming seem to happen. There are plot twists and each side trying to outsmart the other. The difficulty of the translators is on display and we see how different each side thinks and how they both can't understand the other because their worlds are so different.
There is a band of shishi, which are like terrorist trying to overthrow the shogunate and support the emperor. The shishi are interesting and especially Hiraga. He takes Sun Tsu to heart and he is trying to know his enemy and looks on the outside like he is becoming them. It's all fascinating.
This did take me awhile to read. I am simply having a hard time focusing. One time I would read 100 pages a day and then it might be 2-3 pages with no reading at all and then I would read maybe 20 pages or so for a while. It wasn't the story, it was me. This is my tome for the year, so I am going to try some short fun books to try and ease me back into more focus.
I do love this series and I do plan on reading the other 3 books in the future. They are a lot to digest. This Asian world is so foreign and so hard to believe that's how things were. I'm sure there are still threads that exist in Asia. It's understandable to see why people commit suicide when deals go bad or other people die. It's in their history. Their society is beautiful and oh so harsh.
I would never make it in that society. You have to be so cunning to have a chance at making it in society or you will be under someone's book heel and I am simply not that cunning. Maybe if I were to be brought up to think that way, but the way I am now, oh lord, I would not make it. You have to expect everyone is plotting and scheming against you and you must outsmart them or be swallowed. It's a harsh society in many ways. I do love how clean they are and it simply makes Westerners look so dirty, at that time.
Imperialist western ideas are on full display here and we see the empire building and how they came in and forced themselves on this society who didn't ask for it. They make sure they get the best deals and everything is to their advantage. So much is talked about here as what is happening in world events.
I wouldn't start with this book, but it should be read. James Clavell is a master at his craft and I enjoyed immersing myself in this story. It was worth the time.
geekberry's review against another edition
3.0
This entry to the Asian Saga isn't nearly as good as its two predecessors. Although it has the same gripping prose that can suck you in, it's much too long and has too little substance. Hardly anything of importance happens in the first 500 pages! The second half is much better, with increasing stakes in all story lines, and the satisfying conclusion wants to trick you into thinking the whole journey was satisfying. I haven't yet forgotten the 100 descriptions of the same character's tits or occasionally wanting to piff the book across the room, bored out of my brain. The good bits are still good, but there are way too many mediocre or bad bits to balance out.
nogglization's review against another edition
5.0
History rich, a deeper look into the Western presence in Japan, 1862. Dangerous, lots of blood, samurais, spies, prostitutes - another well crafted masterpiece. The building tension between the Japanese and the foreigners ... couldn't put it down the last half.
vestta's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as shogun but I still enjoyed it. It was definitely too long though with too many unnecessary twists and details at the very end.
justinlife's review against another edition
Unfortunately Goodreads doesn’t heave a “Not finished” shelf.
Let’s talk about why this book is awful and I couldn’t finish it!
First off, I have two other James Clavell books. Shogun and Tai-Pan are fantastic epics that really a reader can emerge themselves in. I loved them so much I bought all of his other books.
I started this one and was able to get about 200 pages and had to put it down. There wasn’t a central character of interest. There were many, but none that the reader could get behind and explore the world Clavell created. It was like he was showing us all the pieces of the puzzle too early and not a single center piece.
Now, I’m all for an epic with 100 characters. If a book has over 800 pages, I’m instantly intrigued. This book didn’t allow me to get to know the world or the characters. It was too much back and forth.
Lastly, and SPOILER if you plan on reading it, the main female character storyline revolves around sexual violence... within the first 70 pages. I’m DONE with men writing plot for female characters that revolve around this. I couldn’t let it go. I did a little digging to see if there was something to it, like if it served the overall plot and it seems it happens to her AGAIN. COME. ON. Enough with this narrative! Give me more.
I know in previous experiences that Clavell really shines at the three hundred page mark, but I couldn’t bring myself to finish. This is probably the first time I’ve stopped reading with no intention of picking it back up.
Let’s talk about why this book is awful and I couldn’t finish it!
First off, I have two other James Clavell books. Shogun and Tai-Pan are fantastic epics that really a reader can emerge themselves in. I loved them so much I bought all of his other books.
I started this one and was able to get about 200 pages and had to put it down. There wasn’t a central character of interest. There were many, but none that the reader could get behind and explore the world Clavell created. It was like he was showing us all the pieces of the puzzle too early and not a single center piece.
Now, I’m all for an epic with 100 characters. If a book has over 800 pages, I’m instantly intrigued. This book didn’t allow me to get to know the world or the characters. It was too much back and forth.
Lastly, and SPOILER if you plan on reading it, the main female character storyline revolves around sexual violence... within the first 70 pages. I’m DONE with men writing plot for female characters that revolve around this. I couldn’t let it go. I did a little digging to see if there was something to it, like if it served the overall plot and it seems it happens to her AGAIN. COME. ON. Enough with this narrative! Give me more.
I know in previous experiences that Clavell really shines at the three hundred page mark, but I couldn’t bring myself to finish. This is probably the first time I’ve stopped reading with no intention of picking it back up.
zombiemaster's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it. Not as much as Shogun or Tai-Pan but it was a good read and I would recommend it to fans of Clavell's other work.
velocitygirl14's review against another edition
1.0
DNF- I really wanted to like this book, but it has aged horribly. The playing fast and loose with history and the gross sexism, particularly when speaking of Angelique made it a big no from me.
Also knowing the history it was based on was also jarring and made me go and no. Just not one of his best.
Also knowing the history it was based on was also jarring and made me go and no. Just not one of his best.
katethekitcat's review against another edition
2.0
Alas, I don't think I'll ever finish this book. I picked it up because Clavell's "Shogun" was amazing, but "Gai-Jin" failed to live up to my expectations. I made the effort to slog through 400 pages, but, having done, I'm still searching for a main plot to follow. Unsure who to sympathize with, confused with where this is going and uninvolved emotionally with the characters, I can't see taking the time to read yet another 600 pages. Clavell failed to develop his characters and a multitude of story lines left me feeling confused and uninterested in anyone's final fate.