Wakarimasuka? Do you understand? This is what we used to keep saying to each other over and over again after reading Shogun by James Clavell. The book is based during the time of the opening of the japanese borders to europe and in particular relates to the trying and testing times of an englishman Blackthorne.
The book beautifully describes the japanese way of life - bushido (discipline) and the customs and traditions that to date are still there in the ultra-modern japanese culture. The samurai are shown very majestically and one cant help but feel vaguely romanticized by the notion of being a fiery samurai.
The magic of the book lies not only in the plot and the characters but the details which Clavell has provided. Right from the kimonos, paper walls to the rice paper they use after morning ’’business’’. The hierarchy and the social structure is very nicely written and you will cry for sake at the end of it all.
My association came with this book when a good friend of mine, a bookworm (considering the amount of books he had, literally) gave me a copy which was a pretty early edition and was rare at the time. The book though long keeps you engrossed and for a moment you forget small things like food, baths, and human contact. The book invariably takes you into medieval japan and (it happened to me, my brother and friends) you start thinking yourself to be a japanese, a samurai at that one! Co-incidence that after I finished this book, I went to watch The Last Samurai and could I relate to the movie or what? The authenticity of this book is very good and obviously Clavell has researched a lot on the Asian Saga of his.
I recommend all his books but, Shogun still remains a gem and I had the good fortunes to pick up a copy from Crosswords recently. Now, I have with me the Asian Saga Series (and can therefore achieve world domination!) and I would definitely recommend Clavell.
FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE READ THIS BOOK - CHECK OUT THE MINISERIES SHOGUN IT STARS RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN AND IS AVAILABLE ON DVD. I GOT IT AND FOR A 1980’S SERIES AND THE DEMAND OF THE BOOK ITS PRETTY GOOD!