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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
This is a well told, if a bit meandering, story of the beginning of Hong Kong (and, relatedly, the end of Macau). I mistakenly assumed that this book would be similar to a Michener or a Rutherford, extending several generations, but the entirety of the book takes place across a single year, 1840 to 1841. The main thrust of the story was decidedly a "clash of cultures" storyline, as Western nobles and rogues meet their Eastern counterparts, and are haltingly able to make themselves understood to the other. There is a significant amount of racism in this book, but more of a kind of the 1840s (where the book takes place) rather than from the 1960s (when the book was written).
My main criticism with this book is that it about twice as long as it needs to be, as there are so many threads that just seem to float, unresolved, or just happenstance resolve themselves. The entire book doesn't resolve via a deus ex machina, so it is still a complete book. I just think there is a lot of extra weight that, while it adds flavor and realism, it tends to add a lot of noise to the main plot. I admit that I am surprised to find that this is the shortest of Clavell's books, but I do look forward to reading his others in the future.
My main criticism with this book is that it about twice as long as it needs to be, as there are so many threads that just seem to float, unresolved, or just happenstance resolve themselves. The entire book doesn't resolve via a deus ex machina, so it is still a complete book. I just think there is a lot of extra weight that, while it adds flavor and realism, it tends to add a lot of noise to the main plot. I admit that I am surprised to find that this is the shortest of Clavell's books, but I do look forward to reading his others in the future.
Well-written, plenty of drama, satisfying ending. The ending did seem a little too easy but I don’t think James “phoned it in” at all. Some characters lacked depth, some characters were entirely irrelevant and too much time was spent on them.
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Honestly shocked to see that some people like this book more than Shogun. I did really enjoy it and thought it was pretty exciting most of the time. However, I feel like we are meant to believe that the main character is a super capable and intelligent person but he finds his way out of some problems through sheer luck essentially. I just found that boring personally, especially when compared to Shogun. I do think I enjoyed this book a lot less because I read it immediately after Shogun and was constantly comparing the two. Also the women in this book are horribly written.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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:
Yes
This book has good joss.
When you see Clavell, it's probably a 5 star review. Otherwise somebody didn't understand the book.
Others wrote "Set in the turbulent days of the founding of Hong Kong in the 1840s. This the story of Dirk Stuan, the ruler - the Tai-Pan - of the most powerful trading comapny in the Far East. He is also a pirate, an opium smuggler, and a master manipulator of men."
Well, the books is MUCH MORE than that! Somebody tried to present an ageless masterpiece as a cheap adventure. Read the fokking book, you will understand.
Others wrote "Set in the turbulent days of the founding of Hong Kong in the 1840s. This the story of Dirk Stuan, the ruler - the Tai-Pan - of the most powerful trading comapny in the Far East. He is also a pirate, an opium smuggler, and a master manipulator of men."
Well, the books is MUCH MORE than that! Somebody tried to present an ageless masterpiece as a cheap adventure. Read the fokking book, you will understand.
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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:
Complicated