Shōgun question

I loved this book which is why I didn't watch the mini-series.

I loved this book, but I also Loved the Ninja by Eric Van Lustbader, I think a good writer can bring anything to life and when that something is an exotic country with cultures different to what everyone is used to makes it very appealing.

i love this book! but WTF with that end, shit!!!!!!! very disappointing! 3

Everybody is saying they loved it? Well...I didn't.

This had supposedly a big affect on the Western part of the world and made us interested in Japanese culture. To be honest I don’t think it made me want to go study or see more Japanese culture. I don’t get that feeling at all from the book. It’s nothing more than adventure story and it has no literary merit. I would say that the author did put effort into it but its only prevalent theme was that “We are more civilized than we seem, actually no! We are way more civilized than you. You are barbarians!!(Western People). “ It seems like a old cliche. You have to take in account that Samurai were allowed to murder or rape anyone below their class. How is that civilized? It’s just me complaining here, don’t pay no attention to me.

Enough of the complaining from me, the good parts.

The novel for it’s size wasn’t a hard or slow read. You would think after awhile it would get boring but surprisingly the author keeps you entertained most of the time. I will also say that the main love story is a good one(but I have problems with it, if you read it you will find out). This what I applaud the book for, its action. It’s an adventure story like I said.

This is by far his best book. I remember reading it while taking buses and subways to work in NYC. The other books are great. The only other one I didn't like that much was Gai-Jin.

I enjoyed this book enormously!
I read it probably five-six years ago and I re-read it over and over since then. One of my favorite books ever!

It is one of my all-time favorite books. I remember staying up till the wee hours of the morning because I couldn’t put it down. I was sorry when the story ended.

One of my favorite all-time novels. I know it's accuracy has been challenged but it still drives home the fact that different cultures have different experiences, interpretations and expectations. In fact, snippets from the mini TV series were used in my University Intercultural Comm class ("In Japan, there are only Japanese Ways"). I WOULD argue that it does a decent job of explaining the difference in how Eastern cultures view the concept of time relative to our Western understanding. I've spent years diving into various Eastern thought and philosophy (esp. Buddhism) and I would say it's spot on. If you've read this book and want a slightly different variation of the same era, check out Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa.

A story of two competing cultures, of two competing leaders, each mans ego constantly battling for an edge one with the European mind and one with the Japanese soul, of two competing cultures one free and one controlled. All of this entwined into a woman's love, thus bringing her and us the vivid experience of deep human emotions. A once in a lifetime time journey, lifting the reader from the page and into a world he and she will never forget.

I read Shogun when it first came out and it remains to this day one of my favorite books. The first chapter or so is slow and a little hard to get though but after that, I remember literally carrying the book around constantly until I finished - and then I was sad there wasn't more to read. I read several of Clavell's other books and they were also good but Shogun is by far my favorite. It has it all: action, romance, wonderful historical detail, intrigue, great plot and things that caught me by surprise.

I first read this book when I was a student and loved it. Like all really good historical fiction it's not just a good story well told, but it also transports you to a place and time that you couldn't otherwise experience, and in so doing quietly and gently educates you.

I've always been fascinated with ancient civilisations, and particularly ones that are very different from our own. Feudal Japan certainly fell into that category.

I've read Clavells other books and enjoyed them, but Shogun is (in my opinion) easily his best. Twenty-five years after first reading a borrowed copy I finally bought my own and re-read it.

An excellent read.

I first read Shogun in 1977 and have read it at least three times since then, maybe four. I lent my copy to so many family members and friends that I had to purchase another (second-hand) copy for my collection as the original copy fell apart!

When lending the book, I would exhort the reader-to-be to read at least the first 300 pages, as it really takes that much reading to appreciate the characters, the setting and the story line. Inevitably, if the readers persevered, they would finish the book and tell me how much they loved it.

A neighbour actually cursed me (in a friendly way), complaining that she couldn't put the book down and her home and work life suffered as a consequence! My father would ring me saying he was struggling in the beginning, but I convinced him to get through the 300 and once he had, he loved the book so much he got into trouble from my mother because he wouldn't put the book down and go to bed.

I am 75 years old and an avid reader with quite a large collection of books (I hesitate to call them a 'library') and I think Shogun is simply the best novel I have ever read. I have read all of James Clavell's books and while I enjoyed most and tolerated some, none, for me, reached the heights of Shogun.

Read it over 20 years ago and then again last year together with my 15 year old son, who loves ancient Japanese culture (and to be fair probably knows more about it than I do). We both really loved it and apart from being a really great read, it really gave us lots of thought for discussions around different cultures and imperialism.

Read many years ago when I was in my teens or early 20's. I found it absorbing back then. Can't say if it would hold up as well now if I were reading it for the first time but I'd definitely recommend it.

Loved Shogun. The book is so well written, the story compelling and the intelligence and aptitude it took to write it is awesome.

I've read all the Asia books. Shogun is my second favorite after King Rat

I'm glad I ran across this thread. It reminded me how much I loved Shogun as a young girl. The book was a lush visual experience. Even before I saw the mini series, the time and characters were firmly fixed in my mind. So much so that many scenes are still vivid
even now. Mariko was an amazing woman - her final scene broke my heart. I'm ordering the Kindle version today for a re-read. Love the idea of a remake with Russell Crow. Richard Chamberlain didn't have enough grit in the original, imho.

Shogun and Taipan are memorable classics, and I've read and reread both a few times.

Excellent have read it multiple times. One of my favourite all time books

I recently read Shogun and found it very engaging. I understand why it was so popular when released. It was well researched and stitches together characters based on real people and real events. I read The Moghul a few months before this one and found both enjoyable, but completely different.

I just finished this during my school break and it was fantastic. I first read Tai Pan and I got so into that book. This book was amazing. James Clavell is a genius. I'm so glad I picked this work up. I am going to read more of his stuff as time permits. It is an investment to read this and I feel it's a good investment. Clavell's characters are never safe. You never know who is going to live to the end I learned quickly. As this is based on historical events, the story goes on after Shogun ends. I do find it funny that it's called Shogun and we don't actually see someone become shogun. The is a paragraph alluding to it at the end. Still, nothing but love for this book.

I thought this book was fantastic. I wish I never saw the miniseries because I'm afraid that if I reread Shogun, I'll associate Blackthorne with Richard Chamberlain

I adored this book. I have seen the miniseries as well, and enjoyed it. I felt this book was a good account of what Japan was like during the time of the samurai - it wasn't all rainbows and roses - and what the world was like at that time as well. Plus, I felt the characters were very interesting and engaging.

Without question my favorite novel of all time. And I've been an avid reader for the past 60 years.

Loved this book when I read it in the 70's. The only HUGE disappointment is that Clavell should have stopped it before the end and called it VOLUME I! A second volume instead of the rushed ending would have made it so much more satisfying.

It's one of those books that had a big impact on me when I was young. In fact, it was one of the things (in addition to my own partly Japanese heritage) that inspired me to go to Japan. I lived there for four years and was sufficiently inspired to write my own work of historical fiction. While not nearly as long as Shogun, I believe anyone who liked Clavell's work would enjoy mine as well.

Masaru

I enjoyed the book! Love to learn the Japanese custom for it is still applicable in our time.

I tried twice to enjoy it. And I like it for the most part. I think I would love it if I were younger. Now I feel like every time I open to read it, I should be reading something different. I always wish I could just sit back and enjoy a book to enjoy a book. But this is what happens when you spend your life in literature. There are pieces of writing that have changed the world and have moved my mind. This is one book I may never get through even though I would like to say I have. Please, someone say something that will get me to read it straight through.

I read it many years ago and enjoyed it a lot. I also liked the tv series based on it.

One of my favorite books of all time. Nobel House, IMO, is Clavells second best book.

This is my favorite of all his books. It was a fascinating story about a time and place I knew little about.

I saw the mini-series when I was young a teenager and then read the book. What did I think of this book? Well, I studied martial arts for a decade and a half and trained Buddhist meditation with various masters for twenty years. I think we could say that it changed my life.

Terrific! Clavell's best, though Whirlwind and Noble House are also excellent.

I enjoyed everything that Clavell ever wrote. The mini-series of Shogun really deviated from the book. On TV it was mostly a love story. The book was about "STRATEGY". I remember working at a law firm about the time the book originally came out and it was required reading for all the new Associates. Originally, the young lawyers couldn't figure out why they were required to read a "novel" on joining the firm. By the time they finished, the thoroughly understood why they had been given the book.

I read this 15 - 20 years ago and I loved it. I'll have to do a re-read now. Thanks for the reminder.

I love this book. I have read it many times and each time I find something new in it. Tai pan and then Noble House are also on the list of exciting reads. Dirk Struan and May May are huge characters and will live for ever in my mind!

I'm a massive nerd when it comes to Japanese history and while Clavell takes some liberties with the truth, I find this one of my favorite books to pick up when I have the "itch" for Feudal Japan and nothing seems to satisfy. Not a year goes by when I don't pick this back up again.

Easily one of my favorites ever.

Definitely my favourite of Clavell's. Would have given it 10/10 when I read it as a teenager, maybe 7/10 rereading it a couple years ago. But some of that was probably because so many others have copied off it in the meantime.

I read this between Jr. High and High School (20+ years ago) and remember really liking it. My parents taped the resulting mini-series, at that time it took a half dozen VHS tapes. The mini-series did okay by the book.

Loved it!

Shogun and Noble House are hands down my two favorite books of all time. My mom bought this book when it first came out, and it was split in two hard bound copies. I started the first and was unable to wait for my next visit home so I bought the paperback. For a while the book looked funny, the first half was clean, and the second half of the book it was dirty.
But due to multipule rereads it now has duck tape holding it together.

Shogun changes everyone's life who reads it. It exploded my knowledge of oriental culture and history, and carried me along on a tour of Japan of the 15th Century in an enjoyable and dramatic narrative tale with all the emotions most important to a life. Perhaps the best of Clavell, but you forget that judgement when reading about "Dirk Struan" in Tai Pan, and Noble House.

For the devotee of Clavell I recommend Eiji Yoshikawa's "Musashi", a 970 page fictionalized odyssey of real life feudal era Miyamoto Musashi who rises to become the ultimate samauri sword master of Japan in early 1600's. This covers the same era as "Shogun" (or just after) as Japan consolidates after the battle of Sekigahara. Fabulous too!

I read this books years ago possible in the 80's. I enjoyed this historic book well written page turner however did not like the mini series. Book was better. The mini series needed a stronger cast for Blackthorne and Richard Chamberlain did not fit the Character at all.

Loved this book, made me want to visit Japan and meet Japanese girls. Thrilling read and one I intend to enjoy again one day. That mini series was ok but nothing compared to the book.

SPOILER ALERT. I'm late getting back to Goodreads and can't recall how to comment with a spoiler and make sure new readers don't read it. Help!

This is a fantastic book. It turned my perception of the Japanese culture upside down (even though I do understand it may not be 100% authentic presentation of it). Also it gave me a taste and a motivation to explore this topic further (which I do and going to continue doing). The book is definitely in the list of my most favourite books.

Shogun is simply outstanding. I never thought I would enjoy a book about Japan, let alone one that is 1,000 pages long. It's brilliant.

I read this book many years ago and then enjoyed the miniseries with Richard Chamberlain. He wasn't my first choice for Blackthorne but I thought he did a credible job. This book gave me an early appreciation for Japan. When I visited the country many years later I felt like I already had a window into the Japanese culture.

definitely an all time favorite along with Taipan.
The mini series actually kinda turned me off...I mean come on...Richard Chamberlain as Blackthorne???!!!
I read all his books years ago and have reread them all.

This could quite possibly be the best book of all time!!!