Don’t get me wrong, I think the book is very well written, and it has taught me a lot thanks to its historically accurate facts. I’m pretty sure I’ll finish it despite making this post, but my reading progression has gone way down.
The setup was great, the characters are interesting…but it’s been 200 pages that I expect something to kick in and it’s just so freaking slow. Over and over, it’s just discussions that that more or less lead to the next thing, but in a very micro, subtle way. I look back at what happened and it feels almost completely stagnant.
Toranaga is definitely the most fascinating character of all, and it’s a pain that sometimes we don’t follow him more rather than Blacthorne, As much as I want to cheer for Blackthorne, I often find myself not relating to his views or the way he adresses people.
Anyone else had this feeling ?
by DaArio_007
45 Comments
I have this book in my bookshelf and haven’t read it yet, I wanted to but now I’m not so sure lol, is it that tough?
I enjoyed Noble House much more myself. It’s far faster paced.
I definitely had the same reaction. I did stick with it and finish it, and I’d say it was worth it all in all, but man… it really bogs down at about the 3/4 mark.
When I struggle to keep going with a book sometimes I find it helpful to read the book while I also listen to the audiobook. It’s a bit more engaging. Just make sure you up the audiobook speed beyond 1.0.
OH MAN SO MUCH STUFF IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW
Finish so you can read the jewel of the series
TAIPAN
KEEP GOING!!!!!
You need to take your time and savor it like a fine wine, not shogun it like some cheap beer.
I had a conversation with a bunch of historians on Japan and they said this book is not historically accurate at all so it’s better that the author changed all the names, just to note this.
I just finished Shogun and it took me a long time. I promise you that the back half of the book is going to be an awesome roller coaster that sometimes will have lulls but you know that’s just climbing to the next drop. It’s awesome. Next time you have an hour just give it one shot.
It’s beautiful. Honto.
Have you watched the mini-series?
Plow through, then read the books in order of era, not order of publication. Taipan, Gaijin King Rat, Noble House. They are all good once you get the hang of his style. I will admit that I lost interest before Whirlwind was published.
I’ve wanted to read this book for a long time but it’s sheer size is intimidating. I don’t know if I have the power to start, let alone finish it.
I haven’t read Shogun but i did read foreward in Musashi where editor compared Shogun and Musashi and said Shogun was more romantacized version and not that historically correct (since I haven’t read i can’t comment but considering how he translated Musashi etc it might be true.)
I would highly recommend Musashi and Taiko if you do like Japanese samurais and Japanese history.
I felt the same way. I read the book last year. You will have the same feeling after 500 pages, 800 pages and 1000 pages. It continues the same slow build right up until the end and the end is abrupt.
It’s a slog around there for sure.
I remember struggling when I read it during a stretch towards rhe middle. Keep going. The last 2 or 300 pages go a mile a minute
I remember reading Shogun and, despite it being massive, it felt like it ended just short of where it ought to have. Seemed like it should’ve had about 100-200 pages and covered the Battle of Sekigahara
Yes!! I just finished the book last month and felt exactly the same way.
The book builds and builds and builds and builds and then it ends, pretty much. Even when there seems like natural points to skip ahead a bit the book always tracks back to re-tell events after the fact. It was a very interesting book, but it could have been edited down about ~600 pages and been just as good, if not better.
It’s ok to admit it’s boring.
Put it down at one point and only finished out of guilt for time invested.
I enjoyed it quite a bit and all, but I remember being soured by the historical comparisons between Japan and Europe being… not great. I realize that Blackthorne is suffering from Stockholm syndrome to a degree and all that, but some of the observations he makes just frustrate me. I can’t remember what they were specifically, they related to population sizes, life expectancy, etc.
To answer your question, you should still push on to finish, but the book definitely slowed down in the latter half and I was also stuck wanting more from Toranaga and other Japanese character and found myself frustrated with the arc of Blackthorne’s story for awhile.
Don’t continue
I had the same experience. I won’t say much in an effort to spoil anything but going into I thought it was going to be very war/action heavy >!(I go so excited when the ninjas showed up and thought they would play a much bigger role than they did, so disappointed!)!< Overall, it was a good political/historical piece but not what I signed up for. Still worth it though!
I’m right around 750 pages into Shogun right now too and feeling the same way. Still enjoying it but it seems that not much is happening, it’s just a running list of conversations and meetings.
I found this book as a paperback in my parents bookshelf as a teenager I loved it, but not the fact that it the cack cover and last page was ripped out!!
I had to go to the library to read the last page
Back in the day when this was popular, television was the only screen in the home, and there were 4-5 channels. We all had MOUNTAINS of free time, and a desire for escapism outside of work and chores. A truly long meandering book was just the ticket to spend a week or two on.
I don’t think anyone feels the same way anymore. It’s one thing when the book has genuine literary merit (War and Peace, etc). But b.s. books like these were a “beach read” for men. Ain’t no-one got time for that.
I read this book way too young. There I am trying to process what Clavell meant by her ‘heavenly chamber.’
I read it when I was quite young and recently re-read it. I found it quite engaging but ultimately frustrating at the way the storyline just fizzled out. I could remember the vague plot from the first read but even so I was surprised when the book ended when it did. Almost like Clavell just had an idea but no real solid ending. Just about to start King Rat which again I also read when probably too young to fully appreciate it. I used to just read whatever my dad had on his bookshelf. Typically a lot of Bernard Cornwall, Stephen King, Wilbur Smith and Tom Clancy.
Pretty remarkable you made it so far. I did not.
>it’s just discussions that that more or less lead to the next thing, but in a very micro, subtle way. I look back at what happened and it feels almost completely stagnant.
The one thing about Japanese culture he got right.
Read Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa after you finish Shogun. It’s the better samurai book. It actually starts just after the the last battle in Shogun, which was an actual battle. The guy who wrote the Foreward throws a bunch of shade at Clavell related the the historical inaccuracies in Shogun.
Dude…I feel your pain.
I crushed the first 600 pages and then hated the next 500. I wouldn’t have finished it if I wasn’t so far in already.
It doesn’t get any better.
Why people talk about this book as if it’s great is beyond me. It’s long and boring.
Good book, but boring.
I read it when I was a kid and I found the first half cool, but then yeah… It just becomes boring… I think something happens at the end, but I no longer remember it, because the slog made me forget it.
I stopped at this point too, it had weirdly turned into a very slow moving love story.
Hate not finishing books usually but didn’t regret this one. Let me know if you finish it up!
If you want novels from the same period written by a Japanese author then I definitely would recommend Musashi and Taiko by Eiji Yoshikawa.
Then stop… you don’t have to finish a book just because you started it, if you’re struggling to read and it’s not keeping your interest go read something else. Life is too short to struggle through something that you’re supposed to enjoy
there is a TV series from circa 1980 that is outstanding. This is one of the cases where I miss blockbuster. you used to be able to just run out and get it. now you either gotta buy it or hope one of your streaming services has it.
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I watched the mini-series when it was out on television decades ago. A few scenes have stuck with me. So while I have an old copy of the book I got for free kicking around, I never pursued actually reading it.
It was a very popular book back then, as the whole US nation expected Japan to take over global manufacturing and banking but then a few recessions happened and a different nation fills that special concern today.
Shogun is one of my favourite books of all time, the last few pages are so good and really turn the whole thing on its head
ToranagaSama
Book is worth it stick with it
Stop reading dog. I put down Stephen’s kings the Stand after 850 pages lmao
I tried to read it as it was my grandfather’s favorite book, but, uh, there are some scenes in that book that are awkward to think about gramps enjoying.
I think I gave up 3/4ths in for similar reasons as you described. I kept it on my shelf for another attempt in the future, maybe.