William's Reviews > Shōgun

Completely agree, William. This is one of my top ten all-timers.

Zoeytron wrote: "Completely agree, William. This is one of my top ten all-timers."

😊

this novel was horrible the same words repeated 500 times-mini series was good but man

Lol, great review. I am probably due as well, I am just scared of the size and don‘t know, when to fit it in...

I found myself reading in on elevators, a half-page at a time etc. Every spare moment I had it out, reading. Incredible!

And the last 300 pages, I read from dinner on through sunrise and breakfast. Worth every second.

A great review of a great book. I also think his novel King Rat is excellent.

Yes, King Rat and Tai-Pan were also very good.

Noble House was pretty bad.

Clavell was primarily responsible for the screenplay for The Great Escape, one of my favorite movies.

I have 2 copies of it and have never had the will to commit. I've been told by a friend many times that it's "the best book". I have faith that my future self will someday take it on. So many books, so little time.

Gary wrote: "Clavell was primarily responsible for the screenplay for The Great Escape, one of my favorite movies."

I did not notice that, in spite of having seen the movie 10 times!

Yup loved it. And then I lived in Japan and it rang true. Should read it again.

David wrote: "Yup loved it. And then I lived in Japan and it rang true. Should read it again."

It's even better on the second reading, especially after a few years. And especially if you’ve see the tv series for the settings, palaces and costumes. You pay much closer attention to the smaller things on the second read..

Coincidentally I downloaded a sample of - Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai just today. He is a favourite of Masayoshi Son of Softbank fame so interested to see his inspiration.

But of course I should read Taipan since I've lived in Hong Kong for the past 26+ years! That would be fascinating to read to see how the fiction meets the reality of the city.

So many great books - so little time.

David wrote: "Coincidentally I downloaded a sample of - Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai just today. He is a favourite of Masayoshi Son of Softbank fame so interested to see his inspiration.

But of course I..."

Yes, Taipan is definitely worth reading, but not in the supernova class of Shogun.

Great review. This one is in my top five. I keep a copy to read it again.

William wrote: "This is The One -
My favourite book of all time."
"A complete and unflawed, Ten-Star Masterpiece".
"The ONE book by Clavell you MUST READ"

Exactly my sentiments too, William!

Yet to read this but definitely will,great review.

Thank you

I think I read this 40 years ago and still it stays with me as absolutely wonderful. So yes, your gushing review is totally warranted.

Thank you, Jan!

sorry the tv mini series was good but man that book was brutal horrible

@Rich, I loved the settings, castles, and costumes in the TV series. I thought that Richard Chamberlain did a very good job as Anjin-san, and of course, Toshiro Mifune was fabulous. Yoko Shimada was lovely, and the action was good. Even at ten episodes, the series did not cover what I had hoped. Perhaps in future, we will get 3 years of ten episodes each, although the magnificent Mifune is gone now, RIP

Many scenes in the book are truly brutal, and true to life.

I have been a fan of the TV series for many years and have always wanted to read the novel - I'm currently about halfway through and loving it! Being able to visualise characters etc from the series helps, but it's also just a very enjoyable read. It's surprisingly funny (particularly when Mariko et al keep offending Blackthorne by trying to offer him people/animals to 'pillow' with. I was concerned the novel would lean too hard into historical and nautical detail, but it doesn't at all. I struggle to keep up with who's who in terms of family/lineages and relationships - for example Toranaga's and the Taiko's - but I suspect the complexity is partly deliberate to illustrate how knotty these interfamily/extramarital arrangements can be. Brilliant read so far, I'm glad I finally picked it up. And completely agree, I am trying to read a page or two at every opportunity I can.

@Michael, on the 3rd reading, you become even more hypnotised into the feudal era of Japan (and you start to sort out the many characters)

I’ve just seen episode 3 of the new 2024 Shogun series (FX channel?)

This tv series feels JUST LIKE the book, perhaps better than almost any other adaptation I have seen. Astounding, true, real, powerful. Wow.

Update: Astonishingly good, a perfect adaptation, wow.

Excellent review got this book on order for my birthday next week.
Happy reading.

Warrengent wrote: "Excellent review got this book on order for my birthday next week.
Happy reading."

I know you will love it. Be *sure* to see the new TV series. I liked both the 1980s one, and the new one, both very different styles, both excellent