Clavell is in top-notch form in this sequel to Tai-pan, the second novel in what will be the Gai-Jin. James Clavell, Author Delacorte Press $ (p) ISBN . A sequel to Tai-pan (), this is the sixth novel in Clavell’s Asian saga and takes place in The gai-jin (foreigners) have arrived, intent. The heir to the magnificent English trading company, the Noble House the direct descendant of the first Toranaga Shogun battling to usher his country.
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Both felt the pressure of trying to live up to their illustrious ancestor. Poetry, not at all, calligraphy nothing, sword-forging a little, politics, yes, but only as it affected trade, but an opportunity to sell something for a profit ja,es anything, a ship or a canon or cup or knife or length of silk — brought instant results.
Gai-jin (Asian Saga, book 3) by James Clavell
There were just so many characters jamed the novel and different factions within Japan fighting for power that I had a hard time following it and the main character was just not strong enough. Perry landed on Japanese soil in after the Japanese could no longer hold off the threat of the technologically superior American navy.
Taking place about 20 years after the events of Tai-Panclabell chronicles the adventures of Malcolm Struanthe son of Culum and Tess Struanin Japan.
Some reviewers have complained that this gives the reader no one to ‘root for’. Not as good as Shogun, but similar in many ways: One star when the stories centered on the European characters. I’ve seen reviewers to point out the book is too lengthy or that it lacks a main, central hero in the story and gwi why it’s not as good as the other Asian Saga stories.
He gradually adopts the same position as Lord Yoshi, his implacable enemy: He is your goal, the one for whom you must be the foil. Unsourced clzvell may be challenged and removed.
James Clavell’s Gai-Jin : A Novel of Japan
Gai-jin is a very easy way of gao about Japanese characters, characteristics, attitudes toward sex, food and politics, which apply today Okay, that’s a bit harsh. I just can’t make it past a certain event mid-book can’t disclose a spoiler. Perhaps it is the quintessential saga. They are c,avell precariously on the edge of the Islands in a small town where ongoing negotiations with the Japanese are taking place. Jul 16, Pages. Perhaps if i had read Tai-Pan before reading this novel i would have enjoyed it more.
GAI-JIN by James Clavell | Kirkus Reviews
Gai-Jin is a narrative of the trials of the new tai-pan supreme leader of Struans — Malcolm Struan. The Japanese are portrayed to be rather conscious of the largeness of the foreign penises, but they save face by assuring themselves that they know more about how to use it, and ridicule the foreigners by saying that they are so ignorant when it comes to sex. It is a suspenseful book with a stress that learning the language of the culture is a must. The French spy introduces Tyrer to the delights and protocols of Japanese brothels.
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Gai-Jin isn’t as famous as Shogun but is essential reading for a true fan. While on an outing with friends, Malcolm is attacked by ronin shishi Samurais and seriously wounded. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Yai using our website you agree to our use of cookies. This is a great achievement, though some may criticise Clavell for being amoral as a consequence.
I could almost hear “Wild Horses” being covered in Japanese as the page wrap up montage carried me to freedom from this drivel. Jul 31, Theophilus Claavell rated it really liked it. Books by James Clavell. However, I couldn’t jamrs Gai-Jin despite starting to read it three times over the last 10 years.
Malcolm Struan, at twenty, is heir to the title of tai-pan of the most powerful and bitterly contested English trading company in the Orient, the Noble House.
These so far are the players. In Yoshinobu stepped down and returned power to Emperor Meiji. This great understanding and sympathy suggests that he is a compassionate man, able to clavelll everybody’s actions as they are motivated by different and conflicting agendas, whether it is the shishi and their sonno-joi movement to expel all gai-jin and restore power to the emperor, a British official and interpreter wanting to advance himself, or clavll French girl trying to use all her sexual charms to win the hand in marriage of the richest man in all Asia.
If I hadn’t read Clavell before, or hadn’t been lent this by a friend, I probably wouldn’t have carried on for as long as I did gao I became more interested in what was going on.
But, of course, I don’t even know what happens at the end, because I didn’t get that far! Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. This mistake is minor but it undermines the reader’s trust in his authority as a Japan expert.
Morphine – Turning sick people into pill addicted lunatics since ! Cant remember that ever happening. After the Battle of Sekigahara in the beginning of the seventeenth century Ieyasu Tokugawa was the only remaining general of consequence in Japan. My love for Shogun and Tai-pan really carried me through and probably kept me reading longer than I would have.
Inevitably they had to give up their honourable retainership and take up any job that was available to feed their families.
The only thing I am critical about, is that this book in the saga does not fill in the storyline to any significant degree between Tai-pan and Noble House, something I was looking forward to.
Other books in the series. When I finished the book, it all suddenly clicked in my head and I realised who’s probably the biggest hero in this story. Clavell has never managed to create characters as compelling as Dirk Struan and May-May in the novel Tai-pan.
Also, the Toranagas are based on the Tokugawa Shogunate established by Ieyasu Tokugawa after the battle of Sekigahara. Foreign trade was limited to a small outpost in the south, religious freedom was curtailed and the already sidelined emperor was further sequestered. Dec 11, Sue rated it it was amazing. Their lives continue, your life continues. To view it, click here. Historical Fiction Historical Romance.