"Is Shogun a good book?" Topic

I have never read Shogun by James Clavell, but I did see the mini series years ago. I am interested in reading it now but I'd like to know if it's a enjoyable book.

I read it years ago, and recall really enjoying it.

I liked it.
If you can trust my judgement.
I remember the miniseries being very faithful to the book.

Clavel had a bunch of very interesting books, including King Rat. It's set in the Changi POW camp in Singapore. Clavel was a POW there. Good movie too.
Fascinating history in his novels.
"If this is the kind of thing you like, you will like this kind of thing."

Then read "The Chinese Bandit", by Becker. A MARINE has adventures pulling a camel from Peking to Tibet.

I've read it and I enjoyed it.

I remember reading it and enjoying it. Having said that, I read it in the '90's and I don't know how faithful it was to history if that is important to you

History? Well, it was "based on" an English sailor. And it's "based on" blah blah blah. But as a novel, it feels right.

I think its a great book and the the mini-series is great also and you'll have learned some conversational Japanese. Need to watch it again to brush up on my Japanese.

I really liked it.

I only just revisited the book this spring after first reading it exactly ten years ago. It's a page-turner!

Best to avoid his Tai Pan though. In many ways it's a rehash of Shogun, except it actually predated the better known book.

I enjoyed it – and the book on the true story behind it 'Samurai William' by Giles Milton.

I have been reading his Asian series interspersed with some other books. Have the last one, Noble House, coming up. I liked Shogun It is one of the better ones along with King Rat, and Whirlwind *(IMO the best of the ones I have read). Gaijin and Taipan are average I think.

The Chinese Bandit sounds interesting, I'll have to look that up.

I like all of Clavell's stuff. "Shogun" has always been my very favorite.

I read it after watching Richard Chamberlin play Blackthorn in the 1970's mini series.

I painted a 15mm army then later in life a 28mm Samurai army and another to fight them, then Koreans and currently Ming.

I'm reading the Lost Samurai, about Samurai hiring out as mercenaries to the Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch. I'm halfway through, so I might paint up some Samurai to help my Portuguese fight the Dutch in Asia; the land mass not the 80's rock group.

I think I was in college in the 70's when I read it. But I was captivated by it. Couldn't put it down.

Good book. In the same vein of books about different cultures, Aztec by Gary Jennings is also a good read.

Shogun was the best of his books that I read.
I think I read it three times over the years.
It inspired me to buy too many 15mm Samurai!

There are a couple of great out of print novels by David Charney set in feudal Japan.

Sensei
Sensei II: The Swordmaster

I read it last year, and it is still really great!

I read it years ago & enjoyed it,
Paul

Good read. Highly recommended

Great book and great miniseries

It's a good read, based (loosely) on real life Richard Adams. The names are changed,eg; Tokugawa Ieyasu is named Toronaga in the book, same with Odu Nobunaga and Ishida. The mini-series was good (for TV)(plus it had Toshiro Mifune in it!), but the book is 'grittier' and more real life like. I enjoyed it.

Steve