I’ve never read it. A good friend has chastizied me saying it is like having never watched The Godfather.

It’s a big book. Worth the time?

Yes. It was a wonderful experience. You should also read, Lonesome Dove

Absolutely! A MUST read.

Years ago I belonged to a local shooters board and chose Mr, Sukitome as screen name. Used to pick phrases in Japanese from the book and made all believe I was Japanese.
When they organized a meeting at a range they were expecting an Oriental guy to show up. Ilaughed a lot before introducing myself.



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The novel is excellent as is the mini-series with Chamberlain and Mifune.

An outstanding read. Your friend is spot on!

Absolutely a must read as are all of James Clavell's historical novels. Since the subject came up, I think I'll get the Kindle edition and read it again.

Jim

The book brings out aspects not covered in the mini-series. Reading Clavell is like flying a C5 Galaxy (well, I would assume).

Thanks guys.

Just pulled it from iTunes and beginning it now.

My wife read it.
Like it but said it was too political for her.

Its quite good. I think it was actually one of the first really "big" books I read.

Definitely worth it. Tai Pan and King Rat are fantasticnas well. Whirlwind about Iran and middle east is great background for real world events of today. Michener is another must read - for history Poland is fantastic...

Tai Pan is also a good read. King Rat, I did not like a much.

King Rat was autobiographical.

"Clavell joined the Royal Artillery, and was sent to Malaya to fight the Japanese. Wounded by machine gun fire, he was eventually captured and sent to a Japanese prisoner of war camp on Java. Later he was transferred to Changi Prison in Singapore.

Clavell suffered greatly at the hands of his Japanese captors. According to the introduction to Clavell's novel King Rat (1962), over 90% of the prisoners who entered Changi never walked out. Clavell was reportedly saved, along with an entire battalion, by an American prisoner of war who later became the model for "The King" in King Rat."

I imagine his time in Changi cut short his life. He died at 69 and I bet still had several novels in him. I've read them all including Noble House and Gai Jin which have gone unmentioned until now.

ETA: He was also a co-writer of The Great Escape.

I'm a fan.

Shogun is a great read and I've read it several times. If you enjoyed it and would like to read something in the same vein that is a more realistic portrayal of the Japanese mindset I would recommend Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. It follows Miyamoto Musashi from childhood to his duel with Sasaki Kojiro.

Yes, by all means read Shogun. It's a thick book but you'll wish it was longer because you get caught up in another world.

The mini series is excellent and not butchered like most books that make it to the screen.

Tai Pan and King Rat are both must reads.

King Rat was an excellent movie too. Tai Pan made it to the screen but was butchered and forgotten.

quote:

Originally posted by copaup:
Shogun is a great read and I've read it several times. If you enjoyed it and would like to read something in the same vein that is a more realistic portrayal of the Japanese mindset I would recommend Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. It follows Miyamoto Musashi from childhood to his duel with Sasaki Kojiro.

This, yes THIS!!!

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It's a great summer time read. I give it two thumbs up

Definitely worth a read.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin1069:
Worth the time?

Yes. Then there's the Asian Saga:

Shogun 1975 Asian Saga #1
Tai-Pan 1966 Asian Saga #2
Gai-Jin 1993 Asian Saga #3
King Rat 1962 Asian Saga #4
Noble House 1981 Asian Saga #5
Whirlwind 1986 Asian Saga #6

goodreads:

The Asian Saga is a series of six novels written by James Clavell between 1962 and 1993. The novels all center on Europeans in Asia, and together they explore the impact on East and West of the meeting of these two distinct civilizations. The generally accepted Series order is Chronological, and not by publication date. You will find the numbering on the books reflects the chronological (or reading) order:

1. Shōgun: set in feudal Japan, 1600
2. Tai-Pan: set in Hong Kong, 1841
3. Gai-Jin: set in Japan, 1862
4. King Rat: set in a Japanese POW camp, Singapore, 1945
5. Noble House: set in Hong Kong, 1963
6. Whirlwind: set in Iran, 1979