Shōgun (Asian Saga, #1) in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

May 04, 2010 Carla rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: not-own, 2010

I started reading this book in English within the month I dedicated to Japan, but because I was too tired (hectic months) the English sometimes seemed like Japanese so I asked Slayra, who had also lent me the English version, to lend me the Portuguese edition. This gave me the chance to go compare the translation with the original and can say that, despite some changes of names and terms less successful, in my opinion, the Portuguese translation didn't seem that bad.

We follow the story of Black I started reading this book in English within the month I dedicated to Japan, but because I was too tired (hectic months) the English sometimes seemed like Japanese so I asked Slayra, who had also lent me the English version, to lend me the Portuguese edition. This gave me the chance to go compare the translation with the original and can say that, despite some changes of names and terms less successful, in my opinion, the Portuguese translation didn't seem that bad.

We follow the story of Blackthorne, the first British pilot to set foot in Japan (actually the fictional story is based on William Adams) after passing through the Strait of Magellan with a Portuguese rutter (presumably stolen). Once there, the integration seems difficult not only because of the obvious linguistic difference but there he also meets Jesuit priests, who consider him a heretic for being Protestant, and Portuguese merchants, who consider him a pirate and see him as a threat to their exclusivity in Asia. Besides that Blackthorne finds himself in the midst of a society with different and incomprehensible ways and in the middle of an intricate domestic politics, with Toranaga and Ishido facing each other. Blackthorne is taken under Toranaga's protection, since he's interested in the pilot's knowledge.

We follow the difficult adjustment of the Anjin-san (Blackthorne) to the Japanese culture, with the assistance of Mariko, a Japanese converted to Christianity and fluent in Portuguese (serving as interpreter between the English man and Toranaga). He falls in love with her but it's a forbidden love, however, since she's married to an important samurai. But he adapts and even embraces the Eastern culture, coming to despise his "unclean" colleagues, seen as barbarians. At the same time, we also get to know the politic which resembles a game of patience, where each party expected the other to take a false step has a way to victory.

A phenomenal book but that should not be read lightly. No wonder it took me two months to read it. It's a book rich in history, politics, intrigue and romance. It provides a great contrast between East and West, and the reader, as Blackthorne, slowly opens his mind and comes to accept what seemed strange at the beginning. Moreover, it has fantastic characters, each driven by its own ambition, heart and reason. A book that I can only recommend and which doesn't get a higher rating because I read it at an unfavourable time, which meant that I would fall asleep at parts for the lack of action. :P ...more

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Nov 06, 2008 Jaime rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2010, historical-fiction, historical-1600s, japan

If you’ve never read this, I highly recommend it. It’s definitely a major time-investment (it took me over 3 weeks to read), but well worth it. Clavell has created an intricate portrait of early 17th century Japan, from the perspective of both insiders and outsiders. And you learn almost immediately that the man could certainly write an action scene. I know very little about ships, but I could picture this perfectly:

He exerted all his strength as the rudder bit into the torrent. The whole ship s ...more

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Mar 27, 2008 Rae rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

Book One in the author's Asian saga. An epic of feudal 17th-century Japan in which John Blackthorne, ashore because of gale force winds, learns to love and acquires status in an alien culture...even rising to the rank of Samurai. This is history infused with fantasy and is excellent reading. ...more

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Mar 23, 2024 Arianna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, library-book

The mini-series, which I happily found out was happening halfway through my reading, is doing this Westernized story so much better justice. BUT the story for the story's sake was enjoyable. I loved the women in this. ...more

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