Rating: 
Summary: Downgrade from Taipan!!!
Review: After reading "Taipan", it was extremely disappointing going into "Gaijin". The story line just dragged on and on. The author probably could've eliminated at least 200 pages. Also, this book lacks the strong characters that existed in "Taipan". TWO THUMBS DOWN!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Gai Jin
Review: I picked up Gai Jin in a used book store for $1.00 and was hooked by page 3 (before even leaving the store). I vaguely remember reading Shogun as it was over ten years ago. Anyway, Gai Jin's pace is fast and the plot's twists and turns were quite exciting. However, as a Chinese American, I felt the way the Asians (Japanese and Chinese) depicted in this novel-and perhaps in all his books - was less than complimentary. Granted that Gai Jin's heroine and other non-Asian characters were as scheming and devious, I was left feeling a bit queasy as Clavell's books are read by the millions and unless the readers know better, Clavell's images would be all they have of Asians. Otherwise, I thought the book was entertaining and enjoyable. The ending was left a bit too loose as though a sequel could be conjured up. But alas, with Clavell's passing...
Rating: 
Summary: This ain't no 'Shogun', baby
Review: I read James Clavell's other novel of Japan, 'Shogun' obsesively, and finishing all 1000+ pages in under five days. This one, on the other hand, I have attempted to read twice, and NEVER finished it. Compared to the epic 'Shogun', this book was very slow and clunky. It is based in fact - the result of the forced opening of Japan in the mid-late 19th century. however, the story is so realistic as to be dull. Truth may be stranger than fiction, but in this case anyway, it is hardly as interesting. The story itself is very coherent and easy to follow. It is just too DULL. If you are looking for another "Shogun", aside from a few interesting (stress on few) tie-ins to "Shogun", there is nothing there. Shogun was the pinacle for Clavell. This just might be the nadir.
Rating:
Summary: IN DEFENSE OF MR. CLAVELL
Review: Don't expect Shogun. But considering that this 1000+ page monster was written by an aging man, he did a very commendable job. As a matter of fact, he even managed to shock me--REALLY shock me--with that scene after the wedding night. You'll KNOW what I mean when you get there. The characters are somewhat likable and you should have no problem differentiating between who's who. I didn't read it as fast as Shogun, but I still read it. Another part that I really like is this huge run-on-sentence dealing with politics. Bear in mind that Clavell is obviously not Japanese, so, despite his research, don't expect complete authenticity. If you want that, read some works by Eiji Yoshikawa. In the end, apart from a few failings, this book is fairly entertaining and might make good reading while you wait for that special book from your favorite author to come out.
Rating:
Summary: Gai-Junk
Review: James Clavell's writing in Gai-Jin probably contains the worst grammar and syntax ever written by a published novelist. Once you get beyond that though, there's decapitations, rapes, castrations, the mild titillations of the 'Flower World', and a host of laughable characters. There's Andre Poncin, the syphilitic spy with the perverse heart; there's the impossibly beautiful Angelique with the hourglass waist who every man swoons over; there's the tyrannical Tess Straun (whom we never meet) who makes men and women quake with fear. There are plots within plots that are sometimes hard to follow due to Clavell's butchering of the English language. Despite all this, the book is strangely enjoyable in a depraved way. There are so many loose ends at the book's end that it is obvious that Clavell was planning a sequel. Alas, Mr. Clavell passed on and we'll never know what happened to our poor Angelique, the dashing Mr.Gornt, or the wicked Tess.
Rating: 
Summary: I liked it a lot...just as much as the 1st two.
Review: I'm not sure why this book received so many low ratings. I liked it and was able to plow through its 1,230 pages within a few weeks. The story is similar to Tai-Pan as it involves a taipan with a forbidden love interest. It takes place in Japan in the 1800's and concentrates on the resistance/animosity the Japanese have to the colonial British. There is not much for us to learn about Japan like we did in Shogun. I suppose the book could have been a bit shorter but I liked it just the way it is. If you've read the 1st two books in the series I'll bet you'll like this too.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but the sequel doesn't surpass the original
Review: Gai-jin is set after Clavell's "Tai-pan". The heir to the Noble House trading company, established in Tai-pan, travels to Japan to expand the fortunes of his great company. However, the new heir is not a strong as the great Dirk Struan and the rivals of the Noble House conspire to destroy it. All this treachery is set against a backdrop of terrorism and diplomatic intrigue as the warlords of Japan conspire to take advantage of the presences of the "gai jin".This book has the murders, battles, rapes, natural disasters and convoluted politics that are the hallmarks of Clavell's writing. However, just like the Noble House heir, the book starts off wounded and never really recovers. Unlike many of Clavell's other books, there is no strong lead character to really carry the story, and as a result, it does not move as smoothly or as interesting as his previous books, Shogun and Tai-pan. Unfortunately James Clavell has set the bar a little too high with his previous novels and this one isn't quite as good. Still, if you are a fan, it is worth reading. If you have never read a Clavell novel, pick up one of the others first and you will appreciate his writing more.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT FUN ALTHOUGH INCOMPLETE
Review: Halfway through this daunting novel with 600 hundred pages left to go, I couldn't see how Mr. Clavell, with his colorful if longwinded prose, was going to tie all the ends together satisfactorily. My suspicions were confirmed. Turning the final page, it became clear that the novel was unfinished and probably needed a couple of hundred more pages. Many reviewers have correctly noted the weak ending and the general unpolished feeling of this otherwise magnificent tale. However, in the authors defence, he passed away the year after it's publication. It is entirely possible that he was unable to complete the novel due to ill health. Having had the time to read through this romping tale of nineteenth century Japan, I am glad that it was published at all. Since time immemorial, sex and ambition have been the two of the major driving forces behind human advancement. James Clavell's novel is loaded with both. Strong, sometimes politically incorrect, characterization of Asian and European people and language bring this enjoyably detailed tale to life. If you are interested in recent history, Asian cultures and what ideas lie behind them, then Gai-Jin is a fascintating read.
Rating:
Summary: FANTASITIC!
Review: This wonderful read is absolutely engrossing and gorgeous instyle. It intcludes war, sex, betrayal, love, death, life....Everything you could want in a book. It is NOT as good as SHOGUN or TAI-PAN, but it is the next best book. I also recommend THE POWER OF ONE, THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH, IT (king), A CLOCKWORK ORANGE, and OF MICE AND MEN.
Rating:
Summary: After Tai-Pan, after Shogun, there's Gai-Jin
Review: Gai-Jin is James Clavell's "synthesis-sequel" of two of his other epics Tai-Pan & Shogun. The formula works complete with all the classic Clavell elements (political intrigue, espionage, passionate lovemaking, sword fights, earthquakes, fire). Unfortunately, the book barely misses the mark because of its long sprawling narrative (albeit well detailed), keeping all the action restricted to Japan instead of taking the reader to Hong Kong where most of the important events in the book take place, and there's somewhat of a lack of bringing new Clavell readers up to date as to what took place before Gai-Jin started. However, Clavell has my praise for making a bold attempt at extending the memorable storylines of both Tai-Pan and Shogun into one book that is highly entertaining despite its flaws.
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