TAI-PAN
Asian Saga #2
James Clavell
Epub-655 pages
4 Stars
Historical fiction

Wow. I really enjoyed Shogun, but this was on another level of greatness. Follows one English trader who is trying to get into the chinese market and is lobbying for Hong Kong. Tons of drama and excitement. Political and cultural adventures. Family and Foes. The main character’s strength of will dragged you the reader along with him. I felt excited when he was excited, sad when he was sad, etc, etc. Definitely a favorite now.

I enjoyed this more than Shogun, mainly because the tension was ratcheted up by the quarrel between the Struans and the Brocks.

SHOGUN
Asian Saga #1
James Clavell
Historical fiction
4 Stars
dtb, 803 pags

a dutch sailing crew with an english pilot are shipwrecked in Japan. Follows the pilot as he goes from captive to honored samurai. Around the time of Elizabeth I. Politics within Japan itself, Catholicism and Protestantism, and just plain human beings being human beings.

I enjoyed this but considering it is fiction, have to wonder how accurate the portrayal of Japanese culture is.