Rating: 
Summary: A good story, but not up to previous works
Review: Before this book was, I wanted nothing more than another Clavell novel. King Rat was probably the moodiest book I have ever read (Very well done movie adaptation, too), Tai Pan the most exciting and both Shogun and Noble House the grandest. Gai Jin, like his previous efforts, had a wonderfully complex plot, with many interesting characters and scenes of extreme violence. The book also gave a good view of 19th century Japan, but made many errors. While I can't remember the particular details (I read it four years ago), I do remember many errors in Japanese naming, wording (I speak Japanese and have read 19th century literature), and political events. I can forgive a lot for a good story, and this qualifies, but being from Clavell, I expected perfection. That he was old and sick when he wrote the book does make me thankful that at least I got one more Clavell novel to enjoy. It is still better than the Asian Historical Fiction of most other authors (and there are so few).
Rating: 
Summary: Gai-jin - An unworthy end to a great career.
Review: I was captivated by Shogun, and it sparked what has come to be a life-long fascination and study of Japan. As I learned, I recognized that Clavell's characterization of Japanese culture and this particular period in Japanese history was not entirely accurate. But he was telling a story for Western audiences, and it was an historical novel, not a history. Had he not taken artistic license, perhaps I would not have been so entranced.
The opening of Japan is one of the country's most fascinating periods, when centuries of tradition were turned topsy-turvy and the way of life was wrenched into the Modern Age almost overnight. I eagerly awaited Gai-Jin and Clavell's interpretation.
Perhaps he was old and forgetful, perhaps he was too sick, or maybe he was so important a writer that no one dared tell him, "Jim, you need to do more research before you publish this -- your Japanese characters are using Chinese(? - anyway, not Japanese) words, and phonemes that aren't even in the Japanese language. You've given men's names to women, and bonze (Buddhist priest) names to young men who haven't retired to the priesthood, and your leading Japanese character only has half a name." (Yoshi is a sometimes a modern nickname, but for a "full" given name like Yoshinobu, Yoshitada or Yoshi-e. No samurai or noble would have ever used a half-name in a formal introduction.) As I read further, I found that the mistakes weren't just in the details, but even in the fundamental characterizations of the factions and forces that were struggling within Japan about what to do with the foreigners on their shores.
Historical fiction has constraints that other forms of fiction do not, and writers who choose the genre have a responsibility to their readers to provide a well-researched framework in which to cast their story. To the best of my knowledge, Clavell did this in the other books of his Asian saga, but when it came to Gai-Jin, he apparently couldn't be bothered. I felt cheated, and did something I have never done before: halfway through, I threw the hardcover book in the garbage.
Rating: 
Summary: Well...
Review: I heard somewhere that this was the sequel to Shogun. It is not. And I am glad it is not. Shogun is perfect as it is. But this is most deffinantly a sequel to Tai-pan. Many of the characters from that novel are mentioned, but only one ever appeaers in this book. The rest are either dead, or are the post office's best friend. So in this book you get a lot of Tai-pan-isms of business dealings and rude servants. But because the Toranagas are still in power, after 250 years, from Shogun, you get a lot of Shogun-isms too. Like sneak attacks, swords, and pillowing. But all that there is to follow up on Shogun is about a pageworth of what happened to Blackthorne (sort-of). But you learn alot about the Noble House, and that's good.
I am giving this book a 10 because there is somthing on every page, and some great action scenes. Plus if you know a thing or two about the real Japan and its history, you will discover a lot of subtle things about this power struggle going on, that are kinda hidden throughout the text. The big problem is (and I know this is why it has recieved less than favorable reviews) that there is no real ending, and throughout the book I never knew who to root for. The shishi, Yoshi, Angelique, Malcom,or what? (But I know that we are supposed to boo Tess). Plus I loved the last page of Tai-pan, and this book burst that bubble. But it is Clavell, and his writing is facinating
Rating:
Summary: Historical novel about the Japanese and Asian settlers.
Review: Very good, but very long and at times confusing. This book is basically a sequel to tai-pan, 20 years later. The continuing feud between the Struans and Brocks, the introduction of the hag and Gornt's who we read about in Noble House. With every Clavell novel you learn about times, places and people, Gai-Jin is set in Japan in 1862. Gai-Jin is another grand historical novel with tremendous character development and insight to the Japanese.
There are also some interesting references to the U.S. civil war. Although I liked the book, I must admit I was a little disappointed and felt the book could have cut out 300 pages. A must for fans of Clavell, fourth in line for those that haven't read his other masterpieces
Rating: 
Summary: BE SURE TO HAVE A STRONG BOTTLE OF GIN WAITING FOR YOU
Review: The best way to describe "Gai-jin" is to compare it to a fringed rug: a bunch of loose ends woven into one whole. "Gai-jin" was compiled of too many stories of different people with no real endings. As I read this book I felt like Clavell was leading me on to several great endings to the characters' ordeals, and I eagerly anticipated them. What I was most interested in was "meeting" the infamous Hag Struan. The Hag had been discussed and deeply feared by many of the characters, and I expected her to make a grand appearance in the end. But what did Clavell leave us? Some lame letter written to Angelique. The book was less written for story, but more as a transitional type of novel where it served mainly as an elaborate introduction to these characters in later novels (which will never materialize). I was deeply let down by Clavell in this book, which was so unlike his other novels of the Asian saga. After reading the last page I closed the book, stared at it for a few minutes, and decided to take a drink
Rating: 
Summary: Not Shogun
Review: Very disappointing. Anyone looking for Shogun II, can't help but be let down. Kind of a hard act to follow.
I especially didn't like the way the main protagonist was treated. Why he chose to do that to him half way through the book is a mystery to me.
Don't waste your time
Rating:
Summary: The Asian Saga continues. Another superb effort by Clavell!
Review: Hold onto your hat! James Clavell has done it again. After "Shogun" and "Tai-Pan," one has to wonder how he could come close to a better effort, but in "Gai-Jin," he's done it. Action that begins right in the first pages never lets up. This book is exteremely well written, the characters well developed, and all eventually tied together in a remarkable climax that will shock even the reader accustomed to Clavell's writing.
The story of the Struan family continues with young Malcolm, the next in line to be Tai-Pan after the death of his father in "Tai-Pan," and Angelique, the object of his affections and his mother Tess's objections. Clavell takes the reader all over Japan, including right into Osaka castle and conflict with the Japanese, with more drama and suspense than one could hope for.
"Gai-Jin," set around 1865, not only gives the reader an insight into 19th century Japan, as the Shogunate era is approaching its end (in 1868), but it also ties in the stories of "Shogun" and "Tai-Pan" with references back to characters and events from those books. I would recommend reading those two first, then take on Gai-Jin; it all makes for sense that way. If you can't wait to get into it, though, go ahead -- Clavell has not made Gai-Jin dependent on the others.
Rating:
Summary: The Asian Saga continues. Another superb effort by Clavell!
Review: Hold onto your hat! James Clavell has done it again. After "Shogun" and "Tai-Pan," one has to wonder how he could come close to a better effort, but in "Gai-Jin," he's done it. Action that begins right in the first pages never lets up. This book is exteremely well written, the characters well developed, and all eventually tied together in a remarkable climax that will shock even the reader accustomed to Clavell's writing.
The story of the Struan family continues with young Malcolm, the next in line to be Tai-Pan after the death of his father in "Tai-Pan," and Angelique, the object of his affections and his mother Tess's objections. Clavell takes the reader all over Japan, including right into Osaka castle and conflict with the Japanese, with more drama and suspense than one could hope for.
"Gai-Jin," set around 1865, not only gives the reader an insight into 19th century Japan, as the Shogunate era is approaching its end (in 1868), but it also ties in the stories of "Shogun" and "Tai-Pan" with references back to characters and events from those books. I would recommend reading those two first, then take on Gai-Jin; it all makes for sense that way. If you can't wait to get into it, though, go ahead -- Clavell has not made Gai-Jin dependent on the others.
Rating:
Summary: Long & Painful...
Review: I have read the first 2 books, Shogun and Tai-pan and this is definitely the least best of the 3 so far. Not just that, but man it's long...it could have been so good too.
Seems like we'd spend 100 pages leading up to something, only to have it figured out and counter played by another character and nothing happens. This happened over and over...drove me nuts.
The book ends and after you think about it...thing really happened...it was just 1230 pages of, nothingness...
Gonna take a break from this series and live life again
Rating:
Summary: Almost, but not quite
Review: Clavell's usual mastery of Asia and the complex plot lines are still there. However, if you spend 1200 pages building up to a climax and it never comes, you are left spent and pissed, as I was, completely. I almost regretted reading the book - almost.
If your goal is to see the Struan's be who they are - Heroic idealists, and overcome impossible adversity, save your money and reread Tai Pan and Noble House.
The writing is great, yes, but the story's conclusion is not quite worth your effort. Certainly, there was another book in the works as is evident from Whirlwind and Gai Jin plot lines but with Clavell now gone, it may fall to a talented fan of his to finish the saga off.
Are you reading this George R. R. Martin?
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