Noble House.
by James Clavell
Noble House.
James Clavell |
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 828)
Read in January, 2001
recommends it for:
Anyone
In many ways, this is my favorite Clavell novel. I'm kind of a big sucker for it.
It's a huge, vastly sweeping epic contained entirely within a single week in Hong Kong. It's a blockbuster of a novel in every sense, bringing equal amounts of entertainment and intellectual provocation.
There's something else going on in this novel which gives it added joy for those who have devoured the rest of the Asian saga -- in Noble House, Clavell begins to tie together the characters from all hi...more
It's a huge, vastly sweeping epic contained entirely within a single week in Hong Kong. It's a blockbuster of a novel in every sense, bringing equal amounts of entertainment and intellectual provocation.
There's something else going on in this novel which gives it added joy for those who have devoured the rest of the Asian saga -- in Noble House, Clavell begins to tie together the characters from all hi...more
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First off, this book is really long so be ready to commit a big chunk of time to read it. That being said, there are tons of plot lines so you never get lulled into boredom following one character for too long. I don't claim to know much about older Hong Kong culture but this book really makes you feel like you are in one something very different and intriguing (whether it has any factual basis or not I can only guess). Fantastic character development is definitely a strong suit for this book...more
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My favorite of James Clavell's "asian" novels. This book is HUGE...I mean a really long novel with teeny tiny print to maximize space on each page.
It has about 30+ different character story lines and everyone of them is interesting and it's amazing how Clavell ties each one together.
Very compelling story and I could not put it down--I read it twice I enjoyed it so much. But it is in a series and though you don't HAVE to read the others before reading this, I recommend it just...more
It has about 30+ different character story lines and everyone of them is interesting and it's amazing how Clavell ties each one together.
Very compelling story and I could not put it down--I read it twice I enjoyed it so much. But it is in a series and though you don't HAVE to read the others before reading this, I recommend it just...more
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Read in January, 2008
My first book of this year--and I'm not even done yet! It's got almost two thousand pages of a million characters, intertwined plots, secrets, money, death, and a whole lot more of Hong Kong. This sequel to Tai-pan brings you to Hong Kong in the 1950s and '60s to the descendants of the original Tai-pan, Dirk Struan. It gives you a more present-day feel with present-day conflicts as well. The rivalries between the main characters of the previous novel remain but new facets to their competition, w...more
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Read in March, 2007
recommends it for:
Anyone who loves richly textured "generational" fiction
Finally finished this well written slightly trashy book about Hong Kong in the 196s. It's hard to believe that barton will be there in three months!
The book is a great insight into both the wheeler-dealer free market that existed (and may still-- I just don't know) as well as relations between the quai lo (Europeans) and the Chinese -- with the Eurasian population caught in the middle.
Additionally the book touches on the women's liberation movement --- as well as the qualities of leader...more
The book is a great insight into both the wheeler-dealer free market that existed (and may still-- I just don't know) as well as relations between the quai lo (Europeans) and the Chinese -- with the Eurasian population caught in the middle.
Additionally the book touches on the women's liberation movement --- as well as the qualities of leader...more
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Read in January, 1996
It took some time but I finnaly finished the book. (not recently) My mom loves james clavell and I had seen the made for TV mini series. Naturaly to book is so much better, although I feel that the cursing could have been reduced considerable. The book might have been a 1/4 small if all the foul language was taken out. The history of the people involved is amazing. I have yet taken the time to read his other works but plan to some day. The way the cultures mesh together and also how they ba...more
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My wife handed me this book and told me that I would love it. I said "I don't think so.", or something to that effect. I could not have been more wrong. It turned out to be my favorite of all time. My most treasured book in my library is a signed copy. I have read it many times and it never fails to provide me with literary enjoyment. As for describing the book itself, I will leave that to others. I enjoyed the book so much that I would not know where to begin.
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I liked this book, but I didn't like it as much as Tai-Pan. The plot is very similar, right down to the natural disaster at the end. That didn't bother me too much, though. I think I just thought Dirk Straun was a more powerful character than Ian whathisface. You hate Dirk Struan and like him all at the same time; Ian is just a nice guy. And I also felt like he had too little to do with his ultimate victory. Someone else had to come along and save him.
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recommended to Aimee by:
My mom
I didn't think Clavell would be able to out do Shogun. That book had been my favorite of his until Noble House. I think I enjoyed this title better because it was more modern day and the whole thing takes place over such a short time. If I had to, I would say that Shogun was my favorite "historical" and Noble House my favorite "modern." In either case, the far east was never so enjoyable.
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Read in July, 2004
Continuing the Asia Saga, Clavell brings us into the 20th century. The families are still players on the international scene and things are wildly unpredictable. I enjoyed this one, but could feel things winding down. At times I was rooting against the protagonist and thought Clavell would let me down. He pulls it out in the end but I was sad to say goodbye.
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Read in July, 1983
I read this in a week on a beach in Nice and it was absorbing enough that I didn't spend all my time looking at topless women but intellectually, it was a lot the same. Lots of sex, lots of intrigue, a week of machinations that left me no better off than when I started. a successful exercise in time-killing, nothing more.
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I went on a real Clavell bender there for a bit too. I absolutely feel in love with Sho-gun, I blazed through the series and even spent an entire 2 days with the Sho-gun mini-series. But the farter you got into the story the less the storyline intrigued me. It needed the historical reference to be enjoyable for me.
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Incredible saga of a book. About 1200 pages. All of it incredibly detailed. It was work reading it, but absolutely worth it. The curses in cantonese and shainghainese are hysterical. Part of an enormous serious which I will seriously pursue. Recommended highly.
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Book Four in the Asian saga. Ian Dunross, head of Struan's, makes his appearance in the middle of a typhoon, and from there to the end of this book, the action never lets up. Lots of culture. I have not read Book Five in the series, called Whirlwind.
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Read in October, 2006
One of the best book, ever read. And I was reading everywhere I could. Its true, that after end, You want to start again. Light scent of exotic with China - West touch. Economy as background, but very interesting, and distant feeling of 60/70s. Must Read.
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Read in January, 1992
This was the first James Clavell novel through which I was able to sit. The insight and juxtaposition of the eastern cultures and western cultures really caught my attention. The storyline explores those issues and entertains simultaneously. Clavell FTW!
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Read in June, 2008
Great page-turning swashbuckling fun, although the feminist characters and perspectives are a little stilted and dated. It starts to lose steam towards the end, but, in general, it's the kind of book you can immerse yourself in for a few weeks.
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Long, never tedious, action packed. Rescuing one of the commercial houses that controlled Hong Kong in the backdrop of communism, intrigue, spies, love, storms, etc. A monumental saga (epic?). Fun read when time permits.
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Majorly long book and has a ton of characters which can make it confusing. Also the Chinese English can make the comprehension tough. That being said, I am enjoying the mystery so far.
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Obviously, I'm a fan. This whole series of books was rich in history, and gave me a perspective of this part of the world that I never could have enjoyed without them.
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