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A review by youraveragedave
Shōgun by James Clavell
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.
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.