 Continuing Clavell's Saga = Corporate intrigue and tension wound tigthly around Hong Kong in the early 1960's
Still reading Noble House and I have to say it is a fantastic novel. I've read all of Clavell's Asian Saga, and this is one of the best along with Shogun and Tai Pan.
The book is physically much larger than I thought it was going to be (physical size of the pages, not the number of pages), but this hasn't turned out to be an issue. I was taken aback at first as I thought that the size would end up being a pain, but for a book this long it is actually quite nice.
Clavell has a way of inserting his characters into your head - I find myself saying thinking "so and so wouldn't like that" as I go about my normal day, even when I'm not reading the book. His writing style, plus the fact that he isn't afraid of taking the time to weave his story makes this book a memorably enjoyable read.
This book takes place in the early 1960's and weaves in several characters from his other prior Asian Saga novels. While the read would be enjoyable as it is, it is really a sequel (most directly) to Tai Pan and I would not recommend reading Nobel House without having gone through Tai Pan first. Lucky you! :) Both books are ones that you feel sorry to have finished because now they are "over".
Highly recommended, as long as you don't mind the 1200 pages - I happen to like that, because you get to savor the story...
In defense and with passion
I believe that to many are trying to compare this book to shogun when obviously it has been a progression of the story line. I think that history is magical in the sense that it's hard to comprehend. That is what makes shogun so much of a good read. Now, as we progress through the story line...we... as the reader... start to associate and therefore, lose that magic. Like the Disney ride... It's all about imagination
 Romance, Mystery and Danger in stylish 60s Hong Kong
Noble House is the end of the story of James Clavell's Asian Saga. Having started the history of the Struans in Tai-Pan, set in 1840's Hong Kong, Noble House wraps it up in 1960's Hong Kong. If you haven't read any Clavell I recommend you start with Tai-Pan.
Much of what Clavell's fans expect from him is here: danger, romance, passion, wealth, mystery, high stakes and exotic Asia as the background. Yum.
However, I give Noble House only 4 stars for three reasons.
(1) Noble House is very different from the others in the Asian Saga because of its modern elements. A major storyline involves the KGB and international espionage, which feels more like Ludlum or LeCarre than typical Clavell. This part is well handled but not really the core of what one is looking for from Clavell.
(2) The business storyline is more complicated than in previous works because the tools of business had become much more complex (stock exchanges, international bonds) between 1840 and 1960. This may get a little too involved and detailed for some (and I am a businessman with a law degree!).
(3) Most importantly, Noble House was not quite as fun for me as the others because it had less historical importance. Gai-Jin, Shogun and Tai Pan depict historically important events. In particular, Dirk Struan in Tai Pan is changing history. Unfortunately, by 1960 Struan's, even if it is still called "the Noble House," is not nearly as significant and is more of a family company trying to make a buck. There are still traditions and mysteries associated with the company, sure, but at the end of the day it is one company among many in the world. Wal-Mart could buy them a million times over and barely notice. They're struggling over single digit millions of dollars. That's a far cry from founding Hong Kong. So that was my main problem with Noble House. While the story was fun, like the previous works, it didn't quite have the historical heft of its predecessors. I still give it 4 stars.
Noble House by Clavell
Start with Shogun by Clavell and work up to Gai-Jin, Noble House, King Rat and the rest of the Asian saga. They are tremendous and educational
Too many blunders about Russians
This book is a gripping as other Clavell books. However, I hope his sources of information on Chinese stuff were better than on Russians. Some Russian names and factoids are downright ridiculous. For example, he clearly can't tell Kazakhs, Mongol-related people from Central Asia, from Cossacks, militaristic communities of Russian origin living in Southern Russia and Ukraine. Too bad he couldn't find a Russian person to help out, I would have enjoyed the book immensely if not for this nagging doubt whether the whole book would sound similarly ridiculous to a Chinese person.
|
