Shogun - Review
Link to the author's (J. Clavell) personal website
Genre: Fiction
Publication Type: Book
Tags:
- Average Age of Main Characters (33)
- Length (8 / 10)
Series: Asian Saga
Link to Goodreads
Blurb: After Englishman John Blackthorne is lost at sea, he awakens in a place few Europeans know of and even fewer have seen--Nippon. Thrust into the closed society that is seventeenth-century Japan, a land where the line between life and death is razor-thin, Blackthorne must negotiate not only a foreign people, with unknown customs and language, but also his own definitions of morality, truth, and freedom. As internal political strife and a clash of cultures lead to seemingly inevitable conflict, Blackthorne's loyalty and strength of character are tested by both passion and loss, and he is torn between two worlds that will each be forever changed.
Review: This book is a journey and a half. I was absolutely riveted from the start, and found the characters and their relationships beautifully written. Mariko, John, Toranaga, and Yabu are all such complicated characters, and watching the drama of their stories unfold is an addictive tragedy. It is one of the best examples I've read of how notable points in history can be used in a fictional setting, with true events being outside influences on the plot.
It should be said that this book has a potentially unhealthy portrayal of Japan. The fanatical levels of loyalty and oppression presented in the culture, while amazing for the reading experience, seem not wholly realistic. This shouldn't stop you reading it however, and I very much recommend this book. The journey of John is sooooooooooo fun to read, and the ending of this massive story is magnificent. It remains on my re-read list.
See the series review here.