isabellarobinson7's review against another edition
Rating: ?? stars
I am having trouble figuring out how to write this review (I've already written one that is basically half a dissertation and another that is me freaking out about all the weird sex stuff) so I think I am just going to write about what Shōgun is and isn't.
One thing that Shōgun is not, is a war epic. You can make up your own opinion if you do decide to read it, but for me, Shōgun doesn't have much blood and gore at all. In fact the majority of this novel is devoted to romance. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of samurai in this book, but not the kind you're thinking off. For instance, there is an old lady in this book. Super weak and fragile. She is samurai. Not a retired one. Just samurai. Because contrary to popular belief, samurai were just aristocratic nobles. They had weapons, yes, but their swords were more ceremonial than anything (mostly for gutting themselves, but I'll touch on that later). They did fight, but that was far from their primary purpose.
But what Shōgun is, is a cultural examination. Though I try not to, I tend to be quite a stickler for accuracy, be it adaptational or historical, but Clavell well and truly did is research, and it payed off tremendously. Emersion breaks can be a real irritation for me, but everything in this book felt so incredibly genuine that I almost never doubted Clavell's Japan was our Japan.
But I also hate contradictions, and 17th century supposedly "Christian" Japan seemed to be absolutely full of them! Though I said there was little violence in this book, almost all the deaths occurred through suicide. I kid you not, someone would make a small mistake, like touching something that was meant to be left alone, and afterwards they sit down on the spot and slit their stomachs! Then they lie there with their entrails in their lap until they die! Huh? Huh?! (Maybe this is just cultural differences, though.) Oh and don't get me started of all the sexy stuff. I don't even want to go into it. There's even a whole chunk of a chapter dedicated to discussing Japanese ways of pleasure, which, safe to say, I skipped. So they can kill anyone they choose (including themselves) at the drop of a hat; sleep with whoever they want, regardless of their gender and not worried about the age gap, thus have children with whomever they wish; and pray to Buddha while they're at it! But don't worry, they're still Christian! From everything I know, that's against quite a few of the Ten Commandments!
And then there is the romance. Or more specifically, the romanticised cheating. And this is not the cultural things Japanese had, this applies to an Englishman who is married with a child. Here's the bottom line: if you have made commitments to someone else; if someone else trusts you; if you are married, or in any romantic relationship of any kind, no matter how serious; and regardless whether they have explicitly told you "don't sleep with someone else" or not,
I am having trouble figuring out how to write this review (I've already written one that is basically half a dissertation and another that is me freaking out about all the weird sex stuff) so I think I am just going to write about what Shōgun is and isn't.
One thing that Shōgun is not, is a war epic. You can make up your own opinion if you do decide to read it, but for me, Shōgun doesn't have much blood and gore at all. In fact the majority of this novel is devoted to romance. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of samurai in this book, but not the kind you're thinking off. For instance, there is an old lady in this book. Super weak and fragile. She is samurai. Not a retired one. Just samurai. Because contrary to popular belief, samurai were just aristocratic nobles. They had weapons, yes, but their swords were more ceremonial than anything (mostly for gutting themselves, but I'll touch on that later). They did fight, but that was far from their primary purpose.
But what Shōgun is, is a cultural examination. Though I try not to, I tend to be quite a stickler for accuracy, be it adaptational or historical, but Clavell well and truly did is research, and it payed off tremendously. Emersion breaks can be a real irritation for me, but everything in this book felt so incredibly genuine that I almost never doubted Clavell's Japan was our Japan.
But I also hate contradictions, and 17th century supposedly "Christian" Japan seemed to be absolutely full of them! Though I said there was little violence in this book, almost all the deaths occurred through suicide. I kid you not, someone would make a small mistake, like touching something that was meant to be left alone, and afterwards they sit down on the spot and slit their stomachs! Then they lie there with their entrails in their lap until they die! Huh? Huh?! (Maybe this is just cultural differences, though.) Oh and don't get me started of all the sexy stuff. I don't even want to go into it. There's even a whole chunk of a chapter dedicated to discussing Japanese ways of pleasure, which, safe to say, I skipped. So they can kill anyone they choose (including themselves) at the drop of a hat; sleep with whoever they want, regardless of their gender and not worried about the age gap, thus have children with whomever they wish; and pray to Buddha while they're at it! But don't worry, they're still Christian! From everything I know, that's against quite a few of the Ten Commandments!
And then there is the romance. Or more specifically, the romanticised cheating. And this is not the cultural things Japanese had, this applies to an Englishman who is married with a child. Here's the bottom line: if you have made commitments to someone else; if someone else trusts you; if you are married, or in any romantic relationship of any kind, no matter how serious; and regardless whether they have explicitly told you "don't sleep with someone else" or not,
miniando's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
festiveoatmeal's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
4.0
strajk's review against another edition
3.0
The storyline was too epic and vast for me, got lost often.
Mostly enjoyed the description of everyday life, society, and traditions.
During reading, I had to pause and study the history of shipbuilding, battle tactics, japan architecture, history of Christianity, medicine, …
Mostly enjoyed the description of everyday life, society, and traditions.
During reading, I had to pause and study the history of shipbuilding, battle tactics, japan architecture, history of Christianity, medicine, …
jdmilleresq's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
untitledlullaby's review against another edition
5.0
This book haunted me for the longest time. A very very long book but what an adventure! Excellent story. Sure some things at the start I honestly didn’t like too much but I ended up loving this book. I don’t know because of the story or what but the characters started haunting my dreams. It will be sad to let them go.
tamara_mousa's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing saga!
You can find a summary about it in my blog- https://www.tamarayousefmousa.com/
You can find a summary about it in my blog- https://www.tamarayousefmousa.com/
raj_page's review against another edition
5.0
The book boasts so many Larger than Life characters.
The character's have so many dimensions to them.
On the surface level, one can say that the character's sense of pride, the willingness of doing seppuku at the drop of a hat is a little skewed, but when you try to analyze the characters, it makes sense.
Even the willingness of doing seppuku can be understood by the simple logic in a society which is so intertwined with politics, where honor is used as a political maneuver at times, living without honor can be worse punishment than death.
The ostracization which would follow would be unbearable.
Another thing proving that this book is a good character study is the layers of truth for each character.
Every character has a different version of themselves with each other character and this version can change with time.
Take Yabu for example.
At first, Yabu shows a face of a tyrant who enjoys cruelty.
But by the end, he shows that he is equally capable in poetry as he is in guile.
At first, we see Yabu as a threat to the protagonist Anjin.
But by the end, we see that him as a friend, albeit as a temporary one created out of necessity.
Diving more in the character will be flirting with the spoiler territory but all I can say is that there are many more layers of the characters that we see.
And this is just one of the many characters in the book.
Definitely a recommend.
Also, the TV miniseries could not capture the whole essence of this book. So try reading it instead of watching it.
The character's have so many dimensions to them.
On the surface level, one can say that the character's sense of pride, the willingness of doing seppuku at the drop of a hat is a little skewed, but when you try to analyze the characters, it makes sense.
Even the willingness of doing seppuku can be understood by the simple logic in a society which is so intertwined with politics, where honor is used as a political maneuver at times, living without honor can be worse punishment than death.
The ostracization which would follow would be unbearable.
Another thing proving that this book is a good character study is the layers of truth for each character.
Every character has a different version of themselves with each other character and this version can change with time.
Take Yabu for example.
At first, Yabu shows a face of a tyrant who enjoys cruelty.
But by the end, he shows that he is equally capable in poetry as he is in guile.
At first, we see Yabu as a threat to the protagonist Anjin.
But by the end, we see that him as a friend, albeit as a temporary one created out of necessity.
Diving more in the character will be flirting with the spoiler territory but all I can say is that there are many more layers of the characters that we see.
And this is just one of the many characters in the book.
Definitely a recommend.
Also, the TV miniseries could not capture the whole essence of this book. So try reading it instead of watching it.
mfp's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
falleaves's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
This is a very well researched epic set in feudal Japan. Be prepared for lengthy descriptions of the environment, surroundings and the politics. The main character's is challenged to survive in a society alien to his own. His journey from revulsion to appreciation and adoption of many ideas of this culture into his own life is very interesting. The story though so slow paced has it's nail-biting moments. I highly recommend it.