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James Clavell

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Kveto from Prague
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James Clavell

Post by Kveto from Prague » Sat June 20th, 2009, 9:09 pm

I couldnt find a clavell thread (i might have missed it)

anyway, Ive read a few of his books.

Shogun
Tai pan
King Rat
Gai jin
noble house

I enjoyed them all (noble house was eh) and its clear clavell had a real love for his suject matter.

surprisingly, my favourite was King rat. this one is set in 1945 at the infamous japanese POW camp Changi, in singapore i believe. it was the only one that Clavell drew on direct personal experience as he had been a prisoner there. so it feels qiute autobiographical. its a great piece about the breakdown of command and how some use their personal charisma to rise to the top. Clavell is very fair in his judgements of peoples actions during these types of situations. overall i liked the character of "the King", kind of the American godfather of the prison camp.

anyone got opinions on this novel or clavells others?

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Post by Misfit » Sat June 20th, 2009, 9:30 pm

It's been a good 20 years but I've read Sho Gun, King Rat and I think Noble House. Enjoyed them a great deal.
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lindymc
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Post by lindymc » Sat June 20th, 2009, 9:44 pm

After years of urging by both my daughter and my brother, I finally read Tai Pan this year and thoroughly enjoyed it. Noble House is on the TBR shelf.
She is too fond of books, and it has turned her brain. (1873) -- Louisa May Alcott

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MLE (Emily Cotton)
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Post by MLE (Emily Cotton) » Sat June 20th, 2009, 10:07 pm

I've read Tai Pan, Noble House (share your 'eh; on that one) and Shogun. The latter made it to my top 10 list, I loved the way Clavell handled the culture clash.
I have yet to read King Rat, altho I own it.

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Post by annis » Sun June 21st, 2009, 1:55 am

I've read all of James Clavell's novels. My favourites are definitely "Shogun" and "King Rat", though the thought of the "Shogun" movie starring Richard Chamberlain still brings a shudder!

"King Rat" is quite different, but a powerful story, one which has some elements in common with J M Barrie's "Admirable Crichton" I felt pity for the "King" when the camp was liberated at the end. Men who had needed him now regarded him with disdain, and he became suddenly diminished, like a deflated balloon.
Last edited by annis on Sun June 21st, 2009, 2:00 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Kveto from Prague
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Post by Kveto from Prague » Sun June 21st, 2009, 6:05 pm

i shouldve guessed youd read them all, annis :-)

yeah, trying to avoid spoilers, but the ending to "King Rat" was very powerful.

"Noble house" to me just seemed an attempt to try to tie all of the different stories together, when, t be honest, there was absolutely no need to do so.

oh and i forgot about his great childrens fantasy story "thrump-o-moto"
Last edited by Kveto from Prague on Sun June 21st, 2009, 6:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: brain fart

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Post by love_uk » Mon August 31st, 2009, 5:35 am

I'm with you, Keny - Shogun & King Rat are his best. Can barely remember the plots of the others!
Joan

My test of a good novel is dreading to begin the last chapter. ~Thomas Helm

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Kveto from Prague
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Post by Kveto from Prague » Mon August 31st, 2009, 12:09 pm

[quote=""love_uk""]I'm with you, Keny - Shogun & King Rat are his best. Can barely remember the plots of the others![/quote]

king rat is one of those rare books ive already read but wish i owned. but i rarely buy books ive already read, there are too many others to read.

yeah, as his carreer got on, clavell became somewhat obsessed with tying all of the stories together. it really felt forced often at the expense of plot.

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donroc
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Post by donroc » Mon August 31st, 2009, 2:21 pm

[quote=""annis""]I've read all of James Clavell's novels. My favourites are definitely "Shogun" and "King Rat", though the thought of the "Shogun" movie starring Richard Chamberlain still brings a shudder!

"King Rat" is quite different, but a powerful story, one which has some elements in common with J M Barrie's "Admirable Crichton" I felt pity for the "King" when the camp was liberated at the end. Men who had needed him now regarded him with disdain, and he became suddenly diminished, like a deflated balloon.[/quote]

Agree regarding Chamberlain. When I read "Shogun" I imagined someone more like Oliver Reed as the MC.

C'est la cinema.
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Kveto from Prague
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Post by Kveto from Prague » Mon August 31st, 2009, 7:58 pm

[quote=""donroc""]Agree regarding Chamberlain. When I read "Shogun" I imagined someone more like Oliver Reed as the MC.

C'est la cinema.[/quote]

ive never seen the film but you arent the first person to mention the miscasting. ill try to avoid it.

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