georgiemaher 's review for:

Shōgun by James Clavell

4.0

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I initially struggled with how to rate this one. I do love how the reader’s experience mirrors that of Blackthorne: you start off completely unfamiliar with this alien place, unable to understand or engage with what is happening, but over the course of the novel, you become totally immersed in the culture of feudal Japan, just as the Anjin-san does. I learnt a lot (although sometimes the portrayal of Japanese people as completely and totally duty-bound and honourable, ready to commit seppuku at the drop of a hat, felt a little exaggerated). I was invested in the schemes and machinations of the various daimyos and priests and enjoyed watching them outmanoeuvre each other. Despite the limitations of being a woman living in this time period, some female characters play interesting and important roles (yes, the bar is low). Some scenes totally gripped me — but at other times, they really dragged or were very repetitive. Other parts were quite poorly written. But I just keep coming back to the story as a whole, and I don’t think those things are enough to detract from what really is an epic, sweeping tale, neh?