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bee_sib's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hillshire's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
jmatusov's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
katiescho741's review against another edition
4.0
I wanted to read this book because I love historical epics, but, going into it, I expected it to be a "white saviour" book with many problems of representation....this was a white British guy writing about Japanese history after all!
But I was so wrong. This book brings you into the world of Feudal Japan and gives us brilliant characters, culture, history, and a chance to make up our own minds about right and wrong. The reader sees the British and Dutch sailors through the eyes of the Japanese, and we watch Blackthorne grow from a stinky prisoner who thinks bathing is uncivilised, into a respected member of society.
The story feels very real and all the characters are well-developed, three-dimensional, and true to the time period. Even though some of the traditions in the society are strange to us, we still empathise with the people in the story, and Clavell never gives his 17th century characters modern thoughts or actions.
I expected this book to be very masculine, but again I was wrong. There are many female characters and they are all written wonderfully. This book surprised with the amount of filth, violence, and cheekiness in it...the sections about the differing views of sex between Western world and Japan were hilarious, there are insults like "motherless offal" as well as several fart jokes.
This book is both a sweeping epic of Japanese history, and an intimate story of people, motives, love, honour, and family. A wonderful read.
But I was so wrong. This book brings you into the world of Feudal Japan and gives us brilliant characters, culture, history, and a chance to make up our own minds about right and wrong. The reader sees the British and Dutch sailors through the eyes of the Japanese, and we watch Blackthorne grow from a stinky prisoner who thinks bathing is uncivilised, into a respected member of society.
The story feels very real and all the characters are well-developed, three-dimensional, and true to the time period. Even though some of the traditions in the society are strange to us, we still empathise with the people in the story, and Clavell never gives his 17th century characters modern thoughts or actions.
I expected this book to be very masculine, but again I was wrong. There are many female characters and they are all written wonderfully. This book surprised with the amount of filth, violence, and cheekiness in it...the sections about the differing views of sex between Western world and Japan were hilarious, there are insults like "motherless offal" as well as several fart jokes.
This book is both a sweeping epic of Japanese history, and an intimate story of people, motives, love, honour, and family. A wonderful read.
megan451128's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
midorukawa's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
khower's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I thought I would love this book, It just didn't jive with me very much. If I hear "so sorry" one more time I may commit sepukku myself.
I see why people love the book it's just not on my list of books to ever read again
I see why people love the book it's just not on my list of books to ever read again