Noble House (original 1981; edition 1999)

All along while reading this book, I couldn't shake the feeling, that I might not have read this one before.
ususally, even after many year, I do at least remember part of the plot, the main characters, some of the twists and turns. But while reading this book, I finally came to the conclusion, that I did not read it. It must have been one of Clavell's other books, or I must have wanted to read it, something like that.

So, this book moves now officially from being a re-read to read for the first time.

And I liked it a lot. It is hard to compare it so other books, but when I have to, it looks a lot like books by Tom Clancy. Many plotlines, many characters, who are all plotting, scheming, betraying, spying, lying, loving, hating. It is quite a lot to keep track of, but miraculously I didn't find that difficult of annoying.
It is also quite a lot for the only one week that the book describes.

That being said, I must admit, that I like Clavells' books on the earlier history of Noble House better. Not because the books are better, but because I find the subject much more interesting. I guess that's because it is such a strange world to me, the medieval Japan / China and the period shortly following thereafter.

Modern times there, even though a lot of the eastern customs are mentioned and well put into the story, I find not as interesting.

Nevertheless: for those who loke a fast paced book based in Asia, a mixture of eastern and western habits, I can surely recommend this book. ( )

The weakest of Clavell's Japan novels. I didn't enjoy it near as much as Centennial and Tai Pan, but still rich history, characters and plotting as well as the usual healthy dose of foreign culture. This one takes place in modern Japan. ( )

I usually like James Clavell, but I nearly gave up on this. It was so-o-o-o long, and it seemed to get hopelessly bogged down in complex share dealing. Incidentally, this was the first time I had heard of 'short selling', a concept which was quite topical in the UK while I was reading this, with every media outlet seeking to explain it in words of one syllable for the masses. (I didn't understand it then either).

I missed the cultural clash that was evident in Clavell's previous Asia-based books, the only one here being the difficulty the Hong Kong businessmen had accepting the American businesswoman. That I thought was handled perfectly. ( )

second only to Shogun

Dang, this was a great read! I've just finished reading the entire "series". Too bad he's dead... there's so much more story to tell. Someone needs to climb in Clavell's shoes and walk a few more miles. There's gotta be at least one thousand page novel devoted to "Hag" Struan! And how about more on Japan!?

WARNING: Do NOT, I repeat: NOT, watch the TV mini-series based on this book!!! ( )