What can I say about James Clavell's Shogun? When I read this book 8 years ago, I read through the entirety within maybe a month. Rarely do I ever find a 1000+ page books capable of capturing my attention.

The characters are rich and deep, conniving and prevents you from making an educated guess on what will happen to each of them. The brutality and duality of the Japanese and the Europeans. Both idealizing their own culture, abandoning the reputation of each others, claiming the other as savages; Europe, full of smelly war obsessed men. Japan, full of brutal murderers and executioners.

James served in the pacific during World War II, which is where I assume his love for Asian culture came to fruition. Don't mistake. This book clearly was written by a White American. Fear not. This book stays true and what I believe respects Japanese culture. For a male author, and from the perspective of a man, I feel that the lead female character, also is written well. Admittedly at times to serve the plot, however, I gained a deep respect for her and her ability to navigate a Feudal-Masculine Japan.