".......Mark...Mark, do you hear me? You have got to read this book....ok??"
"Yes, yes I hear you!!!....For frigs sake"
Be honoured as this was the tail end of a conversation with one of my mates down at the pub watching football. He, who shall be nameless, burnt my ear off for a solid 30-40 mins about Shogun by James Clavell.
He has recommended some solid books in the past, for example, Killing Pablo and The Motorcycle Diaries but the passion he showed describing this book was unprecedented. I ordered it the very next morning.
It is described as an epic story of feudal Japan and epic it is. Be prepared to be sucked in completely. Before Shogun, I did not think feudal Japan would intrigue me. The stereotypical image came to mind of geisha girls, alot of opaque paper doors and angry men with swords. I like history so I do not know why I have not delved into this world before. I am so glad I did, as the stereotype was turned on it's head.
This story happens to be a classic tale of culture differences, where English Pilot (sea captain/navigator) John Blackthorne, is shipwrecked on the shores of Japan. Blackthorn and his crew are the first English people to arrive in Japan of their own accord (as it was thought that only the Spanish/Portuguese were the only people able to get to the far east from the known world because of their superiority on the high seas).
This book has everything; love, honour, hate, war, politics, death, east meets west philosophy. The list is endless. You essentially become John Blackthorne when you read this book because you are indeed a stranger in the land of mysterious 17th Century Japan.
As I have mentioned there is politics in this book but do not be worried, it is fascinating. Everyone is worried about John Blackthorne's appearance in Japan. The Spanish catholics are afraid their days of dominating Japanese souls are numbered because Blackthorne's men are the first protestants to set foot on Japanese soil.
Bad: Ok, she's a long old read but if you get the time to take this book in, you will be rewarded with a story that you WILL pick up again. Do not leave this book in the loo to pick up now and again.
Good: Most of my review has been biased probably because it has been such a good read! Characters have so much depth and the scenery painting by Clavell is fantastic.
Summary: How can one man have so much impact on a nations being? Read this book and find out. Very hard to put down! I give it 5 out of 5!
"Yes, yes I hear you!!!....For frigs sake"
Be honoured as this was the tail end of a conversation with one of my mates down at the pub watching football. He, who shall be nameless, burnt my ear off for a solid 30-40 mins about Shogun by James Clavell.
He has recommended some solid books in the past, for example, Killing Pablo and The Motorcycle Diaries but the passion he showed describing this book was unprecedented. I ordered it the very next morning.
It is described as an epic story of feudal Japan and epic it is. Be prepared to be sucked in completely. Before Shogun, I did not think feudal Japan would intrigue me. The stereotypical image came to mind of geisha girls, alot of opaque paper doors and angry men with swords. I like history so I do not know why I have not delved into this world before. I am so glad I did, as the stereotype was turned on it's head.
This story happens to be a classic tale of culture differences, where English Pilot (sea captain/navigator) John Blackthorne, is shipwrecked on the shores of Japan. Blackthorn and his crew are the first English people to arrive in Japan of their own accord (as it was thought that only the Spanish/Portuguese were the only people able to get to the far east from the known world because of their superiority on the high seas).
This book has everything; love, honour, hate, war, politics, death, east meets west philosophy. The list is endless. You essentially become John Blackthorne when you read this book because you are indeed a stranger in the land of mysterious 17th Century Japan.
As I have mentioned there is politics in this book but do not be worried, it is fascinating. Everyone is worried about John Blackthorne's appearance in Japan. The Spanish catholics are afraid their days of dominating Japanese souls are numbered because Blackthorne's men are the first protestants to set foot on Japanese soil.
Bad: Ok, she's a long old read but if you get the time to take this book in, you will be rewarded with a story that you WILL pick up again. Do not leave this book in the loo to pick up now and again.
Good: Most of my review has been biased probably because it has been such a good read! Characters have so much depth and the scenery painting by Clavell is fantastic.
Summary: How can one man have so much impact on a nations being? Read this book and find out. Very hard to put down! I give it 5 out of 5!
No comments:
Post a Comment