[Aptorian]

BOOK CLUB: SHOGUN by James Clavell

January 1st - April 1st 2022

Quote

After Englishman John Blackthorne is lost at sea, he awakens in a place few Europeans know of and even fewer have seen--Nippon. Thrust into the closed society that is seventeenth-century Japan, a land where the line between life and death is razor-thin, Blackthorne must negotiate not only a foreign people, with unknown customs and language, but also his own definitions of morality, truth, and freedom. As internal political strife and a clash of cultures lead to seemingly inevitable conflict, Blackthorne's loyalty and strength of character are tested by both passion and loss, and he is torn between two worlds that will each be forever changed.

Powerful and engrossing, capturing both the rich pageantry and stark realities of life in feudal Japan, Shōgun is a critically acclaimed powerhouse of a book. Heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat action melds seamlessly with intricate historical detail and raw human emotion. Endlessly compelling, this sweeping saga captivated the world to become not only one of the best-selling novels of all time but also one of the highest-rated television miniseries, as well as inspiring a nationwide surge of interest in the culture of Japan. Shakespearean in both scope and depth, Shōgun is, as the New York Times put it, "...not only something you read--you live it." Provocative, absorbing, and endlessly fascinating, there is only one: Shōgun.

New Year, New Book Club, New Reading Schedule.

1st quarter of 2022 we're reading The Black Tongued thief by Christopher Buehlman and Shogun by James Clavell

To make participation more inclusive and easier to follow along with this year, we're doing quarterly reads and picking two distinctly different books. Meaning for the members with busy lives and slow reading progress, it'll be easier to finish and you can chose whether you want to read both books or stick to one.

1st rule of Book Club: You are allowed to talk about Book Club.

2nd rule of Book Club: You are allowed to talk about Book Club even if you're not participating in Book Club.

3rd rule of Book Club: Spoilers are to be put in a black box and labelled properly with a chapter number and if you like to be precise a page number. Overall thoughts and feelings are fine and don't need to be spoilered, use discretion.

4th rule of Book Club: We'll make it up as we go along

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Reading prompts:

What do you think of the authors writing?

What do you think of the books story and plot?

What are the characters like? Who's your favorite? Who's your least favorite?

Are there any books you would compare this book to? Any you would recommend?

Did the book surprise you or disappoint you? Give us examples.

Is there any memorable quotes?

Would you recommend this book to others?

Did you like the book overall?

How many racist stereotypes or outdated ideas show up or does the book stand the test of time?

How does the book compare to the mini-series with Richard Chamberlain?

This post has been edited by Aptorian: 02 January 2022 - 10:53 AM

[JPK]

I'm starting with this one and plan to read 2 chapters per day.

[Briar King]

One of the best fucking books I’ve ever read. Enjoy it you fuckers.

[Tsundoku]

I read it back in the 90s and enjoyed it, but not enough for a re-read.

Enjoy the advantures of John Blackthorne. And IMHO it's better than the mini-series, which I recall getting the paterfamilias' ringing endorsement of "Not bad".

This post has been edited by Tsundoku: 03 January 2022 - 08:35 AM

[Mentalist]

I've read this a few years ago. It's quite good.

[Stalker]

I started this a few years back and didn’t get far in before dropping it. Not that I didn’t like it - just didn’t grab me immediately and I wanted to move on to something else. Been meaning to get back to it ever since, so glad to have this push.

[QuickTidal]

Prologue

Spoiler

I had forgotten how much of the prologue focuses on the ship and the storm and the cranky Netherlander crew who don't like that an Englishman is their pilot. Funnily enough, my PO'B reading has prepared me to fully understand the sailing bits. There's not a TONNE here, but some character development for Blackthorne, and Clavell gives us a good view of the general personalities of the crew who will end up initially with John in Japan.

Book 1
Chapter 1

Spoiler

It SEEMS like they land on Izu, which is a satellite island near modern day Tokyo, while not super relevant, it's a good way to make sure we know that whoever we meet there are not the main crowd of Japanese characters yet. What we are seeing is the very edges of Japanese society in a fishing village from the view of a lower caste. I like how Clavell incorporates not only the language barrier (the misunderstanding between Blackthorne and the women in Mura's home is still really funny, and how disgruntled the older woman gets when she gets in the buy for him and he's like "Nooooo".), but also the fact that even though this is a fishing village and these are lower caste Japanese people, they still keep things infinitely cleaner than the Europeans are used to, the shoes being left outside (something Blackthorne immediately sees as a smart thing), and especially the practice of bowing to show respect are all handled incredibly well and easily by just actions as things go. Like we don't have to stop and have character explain much....Blackthorne (and the others) infer a lot in-situ and then if we need a little further clarification it will come, but it never feels "explain-y". I also like the Japanese language on the page without a direct translation...it helps throw you in with Blackthorne as an outsider trying to parse what's going on. I also forgot about the beheading. It's so visceral and immediate and jarring, and it unsettles you as much as it unsettles John. Great first chapter.

Non-spoilery, my copy of the book that I got new, done by Blackstone publishing, is trade paperback size (it's the one in Apt's image above) and it's STILL a heavy bastard. It is much easier to Read than the old MMPB I had with tiny type. I also got GAI-JIN and same deal. I think all Clavell's stuff is this heavy weight-wise. They are gorgeous though, and I think I'll get them all.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 05 January 2022 - 05:08 PM

[JPK]

I'm about to start chapter 7. This is a very good book and I'm struggling to limit myself to 2 chapters a day.

[Macros]

Going to go dig it out tomorrow so I can start reading spoiler tags.
I remember the main plot notes but a lot of the small stuff has slipped

[QuickTidal]

JPK, on 05 January 2022 - 07:42 PM, said:

I'm about to start chapter 7. This is a very good book and I'm struggling to limit myself to 2 chapters a day.

It's definitely one that drives you to keep reading the next chapter.

[Aptorian]

Elantris is quite the opposite.

[QuickTidal]

Aptorian, on 05 January 2022 - 08:20 PM, said:

Elantris is quite the opposite.

Well then finish it up and start this one.

[pat5150]

One of the few novels that got a perfect 10/10 on the Hotlist.

Sadly, Clavell's other books are not as good.

Have fun!

[QuickTidal]

For everyone participating in the book club for this...be aware that the reward at the end of this will be the TV series that FX is making for SHOGUN with Hiroyuki Sanada as Toranaga, and Cosmo Jarvis as Blackthorne. The original miniseries from the 80's (with the unequalled Toshiro Mifune, and Richard Chamberlain in those roles respectively) was good, but it will be nice to have an updated version. So that should be solid.

Either late 2022, or 2023 though.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 07 January 2022 - 03:11 PM

[Vengeance]

James Clavell's early work. Shogun, KingRat, Taipan are brilliant. Nobel House is decent. I thought that his work dropped off a little bit with Whirlwind. Gai-jin was ok. I have read Shogun and Tai-pan probably 10 times each. Brilliant books. Enjoy your read through.

[Macros]

argh, my copy is in the farmhouse, no access until mums covid clears

[JPK]

Macros, on 07 January 2022 - 07:31 PM, said:

argh, my copy is in the farmhouse, no access until mums covid clears

Unless you buy another copy for your kobo... think of the reduced strain on your wrists!

[Aptorian]

Finished the prologue. Clavel can write. I was fully engrossed in the sailors voyage and plight.

Thank God I wasn't born 400 years ago!

[Aptorian]

Chapter 1.

Spoiler

Quote

But you are not to leave the village. Your crew are confined to their house and are not allowed to leave it. Do you understand?’ ‘Yes. Where are my crew?’ Father Sebastio pointed vaguely at a cluster of houses near a wharf, obviously distressed by Omi’s decision and impatience. ‘There! Enjoy your freedom, pirate. Your evil’s caught up with—’ ‘Wakarimasu ka?’ Omi said directly to Blackthorne. ‘He says, “Do you understand?” ’ ‘What’s “yes” in Japanese?’ Father Sebastio said to the samurai, ‘Wakarimasu.’ Omi disdainfully waved them away. They all bowed low. Except one man who rose deliberately, without bowing. With blinding speed the killing sword made a hissing silver arc and the man’s head toppled off his shoulders and a fountain of blood sprayed the earth. The body rippled a few times and was still. Involuntarily, the priest had backed off a pace. No one else in the street had moved a muscle. Their heads remained low and motionless. Blackthorne was rigid, in shock.

What was that about? Why did that guy "challenge" the samurai? Was it an act of defiance? Or some kind of suicide by cop?

And then afterwards the samurai starts chopping the body to pieces? What the hell?

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 07 January 2022 - 03:10 PM, said:

For everyone participating in the book club for this...be aware that the reward at the end of this will be the TV series that FX is making for SHOGUN with Hiroyuki Sanada as Toranaga, and Cosmo Jarvis as Blackthorne. The original miniseries from the 80's (with the unequalled Toshiro Mifune, and Richard Chamberlain in those roles respectively) was good, but it will be nice to have an updated version. So that should be solid.

Either late 2022, or 2023 though.

Counterpoint - skeptical.