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Summary: "As Flowing as a Sword's Blade"!
Review: Besides the gripping, surprising, and flowing writing of Takashi Matsuoka, there is also what is to be learned from this novel. Ancient Japanese customs, and just as much of the form of thought at the time and place, is embedded in the pages, and also many sayings and interesting references. It makes you want to buy the second book halfway through the first, and is very hard to put down (but almost as hard to read in one sitting, I imagine). I recommend this book to anyone interested in detail and accepting and/or interested in foreign thought
Rating: 
Summary: Page Turner with an unsatisfying ending
Review: I gave this one 2 stars because although it had action and was a page-turner, the shallow characters and the author's annoying habit of foreshadowing each chapter with a corresponding flashback was annoying and an insult to my intelligence. This juvenile literary device lacked creativity and is more suited for an average action series dimestore book, not a book heralded as being the next Shogun!Coupled with an ending which raised more questions than answers and Genji's inconsistent behavior (how could this sensitive, forward-thinking lord slaughter an eta village because of a traditional stereotype? Be real!), I was left very disappointed. Comparing this book to Shogun is quite an insult. This book is comparable to the Japanese action novels from the early 80's that are now long forgotten and out of print, i.e., Sensei 1 & 2 by David Charney and the Daimyo series by William Morrell. In fact, a lot of the characters and storylines are very similar (if not carbon copies) to the ones in those books. The only Japanese action books that will be long remembered are Clavell's epics and Yoshikawa's masterpieces. Dimestore books like Cloud of Sparrows will not stand the test of time. I predict this book will be out of print in about 5 years.
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Summary: It's worth reading... but
Review: I enjoyed the raw history in "Shogun" and "Gai-Jin." I'm only half way through "Cloud of Sparrows," but disappointed in several historical inaccuracies. Stark, the gunslinger, seems much more of an 1880s model than pre-1861. And years before his arrival in Japan, he joined the less-famous Arizona Rangers. Are these the same Arizona Rangers organized in 1901? Well, I'm enjoying the book, anyway. It's got action, intrigue, excitement -- and is the first book in I-don't-know-how-many that doesn't dwelled on the sex scenes.
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Summary: Implausible and a difficult read
Review: I fell for the marketing hype and bought this new novel. I didn't think I was going to get another "Shogun", but I did think I would be getting a good read. Instead the book turned out to be very difficult to read...definitely not a page turner.
The editor spent too much time trying to make the prose avant garde by adding all kinds of literary devices. Instead of the desired effect, it just tires the reader. The plot also had too many baroque elements to it. The idea of a Western gunfighter in Japan was laughable and totally absurd. Also, it was kind of silly to make Genji somehow clairvoyant. I honestly don't see how this book ever got published by Delacorte Press.
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Summary: Light as air
Review: This is a first novel that reads like a treatment for a TV mini-series. That's not to say it would not be a fun and entraining event. However, many seem to be comparing or marketing this book as a new "Shogun". Well to paraphrase someone else, I have read Shogun (even saw the mini-series) and this is not Shogun. But given that I read it on the beach in Maui I found it literally to be a fun and entertaining beach read. And yes producers, let's make this into a mini-series, I think it would be great fun.
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Summary: Excellent debut.
Review: Takashi Matsuoka, Cloud of Sparrows (Delacorte, 2002) Takashi Matsuoka's debut novel, Cloud of Sparrows, is quite a treat. The similarities between the code of the Samurai and the code of the Wild West gunfighter have been done before, of course, but never within such an elaborate framework. The novel begins on New Year's Day 1861, with the arrival of three American missionaries to Akaoka. Akaoka's present Great Lord, Genji, has a reputation as an effeminate dilettante, keeps company with Japan's most beautiful geisha, has a completely insane uncle who's locked up in a monastery after he murdered his family, is marked for assassination by the head of the Shogun's secret police, and sees prophetic visions, like one member of every generation in his clan. Or does he? It might be a ruse to keep the natives from getting restless. And that's all within the first few pages. The reader is advised to sit back and get ready for the ride. Despite everything that's going on in those first few pages, there's a slowness to them; for about fifty pages or so, as we meet and get to know the characters, the novel progresses at a quite leisurely pace. Don't let this put you off. The book picks up quickly enough and the rest of its four-hundred-odd pages fly by. All that background does have a use. If there is one nit I can pick with this book, it's in the character of Emily, one of the missionaries. As with all fantasies (though this book is far more historical novel; the only real fantasy element in it is Genji's family's gift of prophecy), there is a romantic component. Emily, betrothed to the head missionary, stays quite in character for most of the novel; towards the end, however, she breaks character rather radically. Takashi does his best to hide this (most of it is done offstage), but there's still a niggling in the mind that a book with such well-drawn, true characters takes such an easy way out. In the greater scheme of things, however, this is a minor enough detail when held up against the rest of the novel. Well worth looking into. ****
Rating:
Summary: Not Bad but not Shogun
Review: First and foremost we must address the inevitable comparrison that any novel has about feudal Japan, and that is how its stacks up to Shogun by James Clavell. And the answer is not even close. Shogun is a one of a kind book that probably will never be bested. Cloud of Sparrows, while taking place at about the same time, is not even as good as Gai-Jin which itself is not one of Clavell's best. Clavell was very sick when writing Gai-Jin, its only OK, but its still better than cloud of sparrows. with that said, Cloud of Sparrows is not a bad book. Its like Shogun lite. Its a decent look at Japan just before Meiji, it has some good characters, and it reads fast. Its a good summer read with a little history. If you like Japan you will like this book. But again its no Clavell.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow
Review: I can't really put my finger on why I liked this book so much. There are, of course the obvious things, great writing, fascinating setting, interesting story, plus and an interesting view of a countries unique history and culture. There is something sad and bitter about our hero, and his companions. One thing that is utterly refreshing about this book is that I never knew what to expect. In lesser hands this would have been a goofy exercise in boring fantasy/adventure themes and set pieces. Not Cloud of Sparrows though, not at all. There is geniune surprise in this novel.
I recomend this book wholeheartedly. It is a unique departure into fantasy, with action, intrigue, suspense and character. Also, let us not forget, really exemplary writing.
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Summary: White Knuckled and Wide eyed!!!!!
Review: As a Martial Artist and Student of Iaido I am usually very critical of "Samurai Fiction." However, I couldn't put this book down! This goes right up there with James Clavell's "Shogun". What a great book! I was totally immersed in the story line and the characters. The political intrigue was believable and made me race through the pages. I disagree with the reviewer that said this book contained poor writing. There are quite a few "flash-backs" however, that is what helps us understand the complex characters in this story. I found the writing to be rich and well worth the read. If you're a fan of Historical fiction, this book is for you. I understand Takashi Matsuoka's second book is on it's way and I for one, can't wait to get it !
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Summary: cliched with occasional charm
Review: Although I very much wanted to like "Cloud of Sparrows," I found much of it to be cliched and one-dimensional. There were occasional spots of charm, and I liked the super-samurai uncle as well as a few other side characters. Personally I much prefer "Across the Nightingale Floor," which I found more nuanced and original.
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