004 4 Cloud of Sparrows , the first novel from Takashi Matsuoka , spins a complex yarn set in 1861 Japan - - this is a classic East Meets West tale , but it is told with brutal clarity and riveting poetry that sets it apart from more mundane works .
While Matsuoka's characters are initially bound by their rigid perceptions of each other ( the Japanese see Westerners as uncivilized oafs while the Westerners see the Japanese as heathen wretches crying out for salvation ) , Matsuoka uses flashbacks and current crises to highlight the underlying similarities between the two cultures . Both groups , Japanese and American , are capable of and commit acts of horrifying barbarity as well as acts of exquisite kindness . Revenge and honor motivate both groups , as well - - the goals are merely pursued in different ways .
The story focuses on the rise of Lord Genji , a Japanese Prince Hal character ( who apparently served as his own Falstaff ) who must overcome his playboy reputation and lead his clan to victory . The victory he seeks is the conclusion of the Battle of Sekigahara , which was fought over 250 years ago . Lord Genji , cursed and blessed with the gift of prophecy , knows that the balance of Japanese history will be determined by these Westerners , with their lethal machinery and perpetual focus on the future . Japan , as Genji sees it , has cursed itself with its dedication to tradition , honor , and ritualism . And so Genji seeks out the company of the new arrivals , three American missionaries who will each affect the history of Japan in their own way .
Two of the three Americans are characters for the ages . Emily Gibson is a beautiful missionary who has fled to Japan hoping that the Japanese will see her as ugly , since her beauty has only caused her misery back in America . The other American of note is Matthew Stark , who wears a missionary's habit but whose mission is murder . Their fates grow entwined with Genji's as the wheels of fate and consequence turn inexorably .
Also riding shotgun with Genji is his deranged uncle , the mightiest swordsman in Japan since Musashi ( and who is also cursed with prophecies of Japan's ultimate fate ) , and a beautiful geisha / ninja whose darkest secret is unknown even to her .
This is a Japan where men still slit their own throats after learning they have insulted the wrong man , where plots of vengeance grow over decades , and where men and women can still learn astounding new truths about each other and the world around them . Through it all , Matsuoka writes with a brilliant clarity , which brings to life both his visions of beauty and his horrifying battle scenes - - scenes which rival the wonderful Cormac McCarthy in their stark realism .
This novel reads like the first novel in a series , as many loose ends are unresolved at the end . Autumn Bridge is apparently the next book in the series , and I can't wait to check it out . Dive in , and enjoy !
001 4 If you've read some of my other reviews ( Silent Honor , The Salaryman's Wife ) you'll know that I have a short tolerance for people who write about Japan without actually knowing much about the culture . Thankfully , Matsuoka does not fall into this category . Of course , no one alive today has first-hand experience with shogun-era Japan , but Matsuoka doesn't make the mistake of giving western characters Japanese names and then hoping no one will notice . His Japanese are Japanese , his westerners are western , and the whole story flows easily back and forth between the two cultural viewpoints . Other people have summarized the plot , so I'll just say that the story had pretty much everything in it , from large-scale warfare to individual humor . I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get an idea of how the Japanese mind works , as well as anyone who just wants to read a good story .
002 4 This is a very good first novel , and I am highly impressed by that fact . That many people compare this to Shogun is utter nonesense and foolishness . One does not compare all fantasy with Lord of the Rings , for the simple reason that it is and always will be the unrivaled master . So too is the case with Shogun , which is the greatest epic novel of Japan ever written . Cloud of Sparrows stands proudly and strongly on its own . The characters are well fleshed out , and I found myself caring about them far more than in most books I read . The plot is not complex , but is told in a way so as to be intricate and filled with surprises . It's the telling of the tale that is most captivating . Some have said that its weak selling is a sign of a bad novel , well , let us not forget that Edgar Allen Poe died penniless and alone , but it is hard to argue that his stories were weak by any stretch of the imagination . Do not let petty popularity contests steer you from what is an excellent tale of love , tragedy , betrayal , vengeance , redemption and most of all . . . HONOR .
003 4 Cloud of Sparrows is Takashi Matsuoka's first novel , an ambitious tale set in Japan in the 1860 ' s , as the country is being forcibly opened by outsiders and the era of the Shogun and samurai moves toward an end .
The plot involves a trio of American missionaries who go to Japan to set up their church , and the fate of the Tokumichi samurai clan from Akaoka .
The central character is Lord Genji , a minor lord and somewhat of a dilletante of a samurai , more concerned with poetry and lovemaking than swordsmanship . He also happens to have the family curse of seeing visions of the future .
The story of full of plots within plots , characters who are more than they appear to be , and plenty of action . There is subterfuge , counter-plotting , revenge and romance .
In addition to Genji , the other primary characters are Heiko , the most lovely geisha in all Japan , Emily , a beautiful young American perceived as ugly in Japan , and Matthew Stark , a gunfighter seeking revenge on a man who has fled to Japan and become a Buddhist monk . Important sub-characters include Genji's uncle Shigeru , who has horrific visions of a WWII era and overpopulated future Japan . There are also a trio of Genji's captains , Saiki , Kudo and Sohaku , who may or may not be plotting against their lord . Throw in the treacherous Kawakami , the Shogun's chief of secret police , as well as Kuma the Bear , the deadliest ninja in Japan , and Genji has plenty of antagonists .
The story was intriguing , and the plot moved along quickly , with rarely a dull moment . It's a page-turning read . I enjoyed the comparison / contrast of Japan and outside cultures , and Matsuoka went to considerable detail on clothing . Genji is a likable protaganist , who faces a number of challenges , and exhibits some character arc by the end of the story . He makes some unexpected decisions . Emily also grows in the story , and has to make some difficult choices as well .
Matsuoka attempted an third person omniscient point-of-view strategy , getting us into the heads of just about every character in the book . This was sometimes successful in presenting an almost Rashomon type review of scenes from different perspectives , but was sometimes confusing as we backtracked to scenes that have already ended . There are also a lot of character histories told in flashback . This is the essential problem with the book . There was more telling than showing with character emotions and stories , and not enough vivid detail to fully bring me into the character's world .
Also , I felt that the buildup for the relationships was better than the payoff . I was disappointed in the Stark vs . Jimbo showdown .
Finally , the novel is very graphically violent . Especially involving children . So if you are sensitive to that type of thing , beware .
005 4 I would like to congratulate Mr . Matsuoka on his first novel which to me , became a book that I couldn't put down . I found the story very engaging and I think that it is unfortunate that some people would compare it to Shogun . I loved that , too , but Cloud of Sparrows appealed to me as a more intimate story , like using a microscope to examine the lives of the characters . I find the idea of an irreverent samurai interesting . From the beginning , when Genji was described as unusual because of his tendency to smile , I already liked him , because it is a welcome departure from the image of the samurai as we know it . The author also did an excellent job giving life to the characters because they all had their own voice . The subtle nuances of being Japanese was woven in so seamlessly . I noticed there were some words that are not true to the time period but they can be overlooked . The only thing I'm a bit disappointed about is that in the end , Genji's choice was heartbreaking for me . I guess I symphatized too much with Heiko . As far as I'm concerned , I was drawn into the story and have been pondering it since . That is my measure of a good book .
006 4 A few weeks ago , a friend recommeded a book to me . Cloud of Sparrows . I was curious , and read a few of the reviews here . . . many of them mentioned another book that I had not read , Shogun , by James Clavell .
Now I have read both , and I can say that while each book is very well written and engaging , Cloud of Sparrows was by far the best of the two .
One important thing to note about CoS , is that while it is a samurai book ( the same as Shogun ) the time periods are vastly different . Shogun dealt with the sixteenth century sengokou jidai ( Time of Warring States ; civil war ) in Japan . The names were changed , for example , Ishida became Ishido , Tokugawa became Toranaga , Hiroyoshi became The Taiko , and Oda Nobunaga became Garuda the dictator . That was confusing , for me at least . Cloud of sparrows takes place nearly 200 years later , in the chaotic times of Japanese history just before the Ishin revolution and the Meiji restoration . The confusion with the names from Clavell's work is thankfully absent , and the author is freed to present the excellent story with an unparalled clarity . It's great .
The best thing I can really say about Matsuoka's Cloud of Sparrows is that I couldn't put it down . Literally . I physically could not stop reading the book , I tried countless times to set it aside and work on other things , but I could not . I read it while in school , while driving , while waiting in a doctor's office , I could not stop .
Never in my life has my will been held hostage like that , it was unbelievable . Now that I'm finally freed from the adhesive , enthralling embrace of Matsuoka's masterpreice , I still find my self on the edge with unbridled anticipation . At the end of Cloud of Sparrows there was an excerpt from Matsuoka's next book , Autumn Bridge , which is to be published in August of 2004 , and it was great . Better , dare I say , than Cloud of Sparrows .
Matsuoka is a brilliant writer , one of the best storytellers that I've ever been priveleged enough to notice . His ability to hijack your mind and force your eyes to wander across the pages of his books , trapped in the world he created . . . it is something to be feared , anything so powerfull too must be fearfull , but it's also something to look forward to and to love .
I loved it ; I can offer no greater praise .
007 4 This book really got you in there with the rest of the characters , like you were watching everything happen in front of you . You empathize with all the characters , main and supporting . Like another reviewer said , the Americans , outsiders , become outsiders to you . While reading , I was like what are they doing ? ! because I was so absorbed , and it made me feel like I was a part of Genji's entourage too : ) . Some reviewers mentioned that the plot was ridiculous , but it's fiction , which means it's not real : ) . The plot always seemed straightforward , but once or twice , there were a few twists and turns that were shocking . The author's writing style was great . It flowed like a movie , the way he cuts from scene to scene , but all it does is further the impact of the book . It's real strength is the characters . If only because of them , you have to read it .
008 4 After reading Musashi , Shogun and Gai-Jin , I was looking for more books on Samurai . I'm glad I picked up Cloud of Sparrows , it is a really good read , it draws you in from the beginning and never lets up ! I didn't intend to write a review , but I was so surprised at the bitterness of some reviewers toward this novel and its author that I had to try and bump up the overall rating .
Other reviewers got into detailing the plot and the characters , so I won't do that . Besides , giving up too much will only ruin the pleasure of reading it . Do not let the few who gave it a bad review discourage you , they are too sensitized by these PC times ! Life was harsh in the past ! As for those who moan about a gunslinger in late 1800s Japan - hey , it's fiction , not fact !
Enjoy this captivating read for what it is : pure escapism .
009 4 Written with a light touch and a great deal of grace , the story takes place in a feudal Japan of 1860 . In addition to all the battles of honor and reputation within Japan , however , there is a new threat posed by The Outsiders . Amidst these intrigues , American missionaries Emily , Matthew and Zephaniah are hosted by Genji , the last lord of the Okanashi clan , reknowned for their great gifts of prophecy and foresight .
Takashi Matsuoka s Cloud of Sparrows is unique and unforgettable : in fact , I don t think I ve ever read anything quite like it . Matsuoka provides genuine insight into feudal Japanese culture and more importantly , allows us to see our own culture through the eyes of others . The Americans are very much The Outsiders in this novel , and their actions become almost as foreign to the reader as they are to the Japanese . A wonderful read .
010 4 I read Autumn Bridge back in January , and I just had to read this book . I wanted to know how everything started , and I also wanted to read more of Matsuoka .
In this book Matsuoka was testing his own abilities . It lacks the superb refinement of Autumn Bridge , but is still , by far , an exceptional book to read : well imagined , well crafted and well developed .
Matsuoka style is unique , elegant , elaborated and refined . I cannot ask anymore from any writer .
The characters are interesting and complex . Lord Genji , the dilettante leader of the Okoshumi Clan , has the gift of prophecy . Emilly , the troubled American missionary , tries to escape her own beauty , Heiko the Geisha / Ninja who falls in love in the midst of her mission , and Shigeru , the mercurial lord who is a murderer and feared throughout the land . Their interactions go beyond regular , casual encounters , which describes the subtle , refined culture of the times .
( Everybody cries , I noticed , like a kabuki play )
The battles are well described and here is when Eiji Yoskikawa comes to mind . His books Musashi and Taiko are so rich in details that I have no doubt Matsuoka must have read them before starting his own book , which by the way is very original . ( Or maybe Yoshikawa amd Matsuoka shared same sources )
I can tell by reading these two books that Matsuoka is not a violent man . Witnessing violence is not the same as describing it , and it's evident that Matsuoka has never been around violence . Violence is described with such gruesome detail , as if Matsuoka wanted to illulstrate the volatile environment of the era . Shigueru massacres his own family as he goes mad with prophetic visions , and in Autumn Bridge is Lord Yorimasa who is the sexual sadistic psychopath . These violent scenes stand out in this story like blood smearing a sheet of chiyogami paper .
Mr . Matsuoka is not only a talented writer . He has a gift and I am glad he's sharing his gift with all of us , enlightening the way for us , aspiring writers , to follow the path of our creativity and allow it to take us where Matsuoka is now in his literary nirvana .
I cannot give this book less than 5 stars .
011 4 This story of Japans opening of its doors to other countries is a very detailed and in depth tale . It starts off with three travelers three missionaries coming to this newly opened country to salvage the peoples from their sins little do they know that their mission for god is going to end up becoming something much different . This novel is the first of two out of the series and it did very well when it came to the historical correctness . The characters where shown well through the book and it doesn't take away from the story at all it just keeps on going without a stop . The travelers find out that they are the subjects to judgment and they don't even know it , but it is the same for the Japanese when the missionaries are judging the ways of geishas and the way they even look . This is one of the most interesting things that happen in the book but can be very subtle to see while reading . The Japanese characters are definitely the most interesting , Genji a minor lord who is the host to the missionaries can see the future which is the overpopulated Japan during WWII and it happens to be the same for all the men of his family . This story was very easy to read but it could also be very hard to read . It would use story shifts to separate chapters . This story follows the history of Japan very well and the characters of the story can be considered some of the most strange .
012 4 This is a very good read . I was very impressed with the quality of this book . I grew quickly attached to the charcters and found the story to be captivating . Some compared it to Shogun , and I have found the comparission to be a good one . While not as grand as Shogun the story and the charcters are so exceptional that I found myself thinking it may be a better book in many ways . I am highly anticipating the sequel Autumn Bridge which was recently released .
013 4 This is a fast-moving , well-written tale with enough intrigue , history , romance , mysticism , and Samurai lore and gore to please just about any reader . Shortly after the opening of Japan to the west , young Lord Genji is sent to the docks of Edo to greet three Christian missionaries . Most of his countrymen see the outsiders as repugnant and their ideas as ridiculous , but Genji intuitively understands the influence they will have on his country's future .
The missionaries are a strange trio who bring their own load of intrigue . Matthew Starke is an ex-gunslinger-at least he says it's a former profession . Emily's beauty has only brought her grief in the United States , and she feels liberated by how ugly the Japanese find her . Zephaniah , their leader , is on fire for Christ but not Emily , even though she is his fiancée . Genji and the beautiful geisha Heiko are thrown in with the missionaries at first because they allegedly speak English ( although no one is more amused than they to hear the difference between their book-learned language and the way people actually talk ) ; and then because of the threat they all face from factions attempting to overthrow Genji's ancient clan .
Author Takashi Matsuoka writes with confidence and verve , creating lively , intricate characters whom he places in exciting situations . A great deal of history is imparted , neatly meshed into the narrative , and both Japanese and American characters are fully realized . Nice touches of cross-culture influence are provided in the form of an American who has become a Buddhist monk , and a samurai whose life is transformed by the concept of the pursuit of happiness . Cloud of Sparrows is an excellent addition to the historical adventure genre .
014 4 A very well written novel . I could barely put the book down . This also has to do with the clever way the chapters are laid out , so it doesn't give you the traditional breaking point . I loved how he told the same story from different angles throughout the book . He gave a lot of background information , but he gave it as was necessary . Wonderful incorporation of recognizable historical happenings . Great story line . I can't wait to read Autumn Bridge .
015 4 I am not disapointed in this book and I am only 30 pages away from finishing it . To those who liked the last Samurai starring Tom Cruise , read this as I find the two to be companion pieces to one another .
What amazes me are the ones who didn't enjoy it . Some of them just expected the wrong thing , while others just do not get it . One reviewer claimed a samurai was honorable and would punish an entire village in blood for failure , or if you will dishonor . Well , think again . In the earliest years of the Tokugowa Shogunate over 50 Japanese-christians were exicuted in one day for following an outsider religion . And it wasn't just men that were exicuted or the adults . If a samurai's orders are to kill , the samurai will kill . Loyality is but a light word to describe the samurai and his relation to the lord being served . Devotion is a better word than loyalty I believe . Samurai epics have a tragic feel for a reason .
And as far as Westerners visiting Japan that was nothing really new . Europeans were visiting long long before the time this novel takes place , hence the exicutions mentioned and the 200 years of closed borders . As it is written anyway in history books I have read .
In short Western version of honor and Ancient Japan's version of honor are at least in part two different things . I do not presume to understand it all myself , that would be ignorant on my part .
Back to the novel itself . It is better than what I expected . I did expect something that would be action packed from page to page . There are action scenes and well handled ones . I feel the author did the right thing not focusing on action through out the entire book . Leaving more room for character discussion . It isn't unlike watching Seven Samurai , Zato-Ichi or Yojimbo . There is alot of Dialogue but good dialogue . I was pleasently suprised that this was a drama rather than some mainstream hack slash .
The contrast in cultures is well described . the intention it seems to me is that it isn't just meant to be a fictional novel set in history but a philosphical book . Many of the characters compare different thoughts from different views . One character even compares Jesus Christ's views meeting at the same end as Tao I believe . Humble life with peace . Very facinating . It is more than a story , it is an experience . If you let yourself learn from it .
Follow your own heart do not listen to nay-sayers if this book intrigues you . And for further reading , read Musashi .
016 4 This review is from :
Cloud of Sparrows ( Hardcover )
Overall , the book was very entertaining . I just want to comment on some of the other reviews that consider the book to be too bloody or that some of the Samurai in the book were murderous pyschopaths . The problem , I believe , is not uderstanding Japanese culture , or more specifically , the way of the Samurai .
Now I don't claim to be an expert on Bushido or anything , but Samurai warriors were expert fighters that lived by a very demanding code of honor . It takes a fairly intense person to cut open their own belly . So if one were to insult such a person or to call into question a Samurai's honor , then the sword would soon be swinging . Whether or not one admires these traits is , of course , subjective . The point is that the book , in my opinion , didn't contain any gratuitous violence . That's just the way it was .
As far as the historical inaccuracies , I'm sure there are some . I know the type of handgun the gunfighter used didn't use self-contained metalic cartridges . And even if it did , the dude would have needed primers to reload ammunition which would not have been available in 19th century Japan . But I didn't see many serious errors with the Japanese history . There was a lot of turmoil just prior to the Meiji restoration , and it was very bloody .
Take the book for what it is . A story of fiction and fantasy that is action packed , funny , romantic and to a fair degree educational .
017 4 Overall , the book was very entertaining . I just want to comment on some of the other reviews that consider the book to be too bloody or that some of the Samurai in the book were murderous pyschopaths . The problem , I believe , is not uderstanding Japanese culture , or more specifically , the way of the Samurai .
Now I don't claim to be an expert on Bushido or anything , but Samurai warriors were expert fighters that lived by a very demanding code of honor . It takes a fairly intense person to cut open their own belly . So if one were to insult such a person or to call into question a Samurai's honor , then the sword would soon be swinging . Whether or not one admires these traits is , of course , subjective . The point is that the book , in my opinion , didn't contain any gratuitous violence . That's just the way it was .
As far as the historical inaccuracies , I'm sure there are some . I know the type of handgun the gunfighter used didn't use self-contained metalic cartridges . And even if it did , the dude would have needed primers to reload ammunition which would not have been available in 19th century Japan . But I didn't see many serious errors with the Japanese history . There was a lot of turmoil just prior to the Meiji restoration , and it was very bloody .
Take the book for what it is . A story of fiction and fantasy that is action packed , funny , romantic and to a fair degree educational .
018 4 There seems to be a slight trend in the reviews here : they paint this as Japan-centric and overtly violent . At least one can't see how such a novel could do well in the United States . Well , apart from the fact that that person obviously has no idea of the interest many have in daftly violent Asian flicks like John Woo's ` Hard Boiled ' ( and , indeed , in the whole Yakuza , Samurai film genre that has its comic U.S . counterpart in ` Kill Bill ' ) , it is also fair to say that anyone thinking ` Cloud of Sparrows ' is violent has probably not read widely enough in either historical fiction ( try Jack Whyte or even the current crop of writers like Pressfield ) , or historical non-fiction ( just try John Julius Norwich's books on Byzantium - there's more death in two or three pages there than there is in most of this novel ) . Come to think of it , anyone with any kind of exposure to any of the ` Heroic Fantasy ' writers , such as David Gemmell or the battle scenes of recent Hollywood blockbusters like ` Braveheart ' or ' Saving Private Ryan ' would probably not find this too gut-wrenching . To suggest that the violence presented here is an anathema to U.S . readers and something peculiarly Japanese is just . . . well , a little xenophobic .
The trick is to not to provide violence for violence's sake . ' Cloud of Sparrows ' does not : this was after all a violent time . There is no need to draw a discreet curtain over the uglier aspects of frontier life or feudal Japan : violence here is contrasted with the inner speculation and contemplation of the characters , and the conflicts and similarities between the East and West's perception of death . As such it works as a necessary device that illuminates one of the central themes of the book : of how love , honour , betrayal , revenge , death etc are marked by their contexts , whether those contexts are rooted in character or in a historic period .
This in turn complements the contrasting of exactly what makes ` progress ' and ` civilisation ' , what made the East and what made the West then with some allusions to the cross-pollination of those cultures today .
Sure these aren't original ideas , nor are the blurring of the lines between the two cultures ( not the least in the visions of Shigeru ) .
What works is the way the book works through several grand fictional stereotypes of East and West , such as the anti-hero cowboy Stark , and throws them together . It's a nice redemptive tale , one that owes much to derring-do and romantic tales of Western yore as it does to Japanese fiction , and one which also a wistful yet critical reflection on the closing of an era .
019 4 This review is from :
Cloud of Sparrows ( Mass Market Paperback )
It used to be the mysterious East . . . but we're all a bit more sophisticated these post - _ Shogun _ , sushi-eating days ; and know all about Kurosawa and Five Rings and Bushido . Yet that point where sword-toting Samurai are forced to confront the West through doors which are forced open - - and make the transition from the feudal to a modern era can still fascinate .
I found the book well-written . True there are some odd quirks . Lots of flashbacks , and flash-forwards , in a way , but they make sense given that the story centers around seeing the future as well as the past . Genji is the lord of one of the old samurai clans - - one that has been relegated to the edges of power due to having backed the losing side at a decisive battle hundreds of years before - - but which is distinquished by having the legendary power of prophecy given to one person per generation . But is it just legend , insanity , or keen perception ? Some believe , some don't .
Secondly , there do seem to be cliches . The missionary , keen to convert the heathen , lusting in his heart for his young fiancee . And yet . . . he has tried to to understand those he hopes to convert , and he has refrained from putting his lust into practice . There is the fiancee , running from a world that finds her beauty just an invitation to abuse her . She is alone in the world , and young . It's not so hard to believe it would be a problem . And yet , she , too , has depths to her personality which slowly develope .
There is a gun-slinger , out for revenge . And yet , the revenge doesn't stem from his gun-slinging rep , which he is also out-running .
Genji is a young Japanese lord , but feels too bound by tradition - - which he sees as self-destructive for Japan . And yet he's a product of that society and cannot entirely leave it behind .
His love is a geisha - - and a ninja spy , answering to one of Genji's foremost enemies . And yet , the reason for that enmity between the spy-master and Genji is rooted in that distant battle , and bound up with the legendary gift for prophecy . . .
There is even a character likened to Mushashi . So there are cliches . And yet they are thrown into this mix - - on the cusp of a time of great change , between history and the present , between East and West , between tradition and new ideas .
I found the book well worth the read . I thought it held together - - all these greatly disparate elements and disparate themes . And it is told with lots of drama and action - - blood and battles , some romance , some intrigue , and some wonderful historical and cultural details . I will definitely pick up any sequels when they appear .
020 4 It used to be the mysterious East . . . but we're all a bit more sophisticated these post - _ Shogun _ , sushi-eating days ; and know all about Kurosawa and Five Rings and Bushido . Yet that point where sword-toting Samurai are forced to confront the West through doors which are forced open - - and make the transition from the feudal to a modern era can still fascinate .
I found the book well-written . True there are some odd quirks . Lots of flashbacks , and flash-forwards , in a way , but they make sense given that the story centers around seeing the future as well as the past . Genji is the lord of one of the old samurai clans - - one that has been relegated to the edges of power due to having backed the losing side at a decisive battle hundreds of years before - - but which is distinquished by having the legendary power of prophecy given to one person per generation . But is it just legend , insanity , or keen perception ? Some believe , some don't .
Secondly , there do seem to be cliches . The missionary , keen to convert the heathen , lusting in his heart for his young fiancee . And yet . . . he has tried to to understand those he hopes to convert , and he has refrained from putting his lust into practice . There is the fiancee , running from a world that finds her beauty just an invitation to abuse her . She is alone in the world , and young . It's not so hard to believe it would be a problem . And yet , she , too , has depths to her personality which slowly develope .
There is a gun-slinger , out for revenge . And yet , the revenge doesn't stem from his gun-slinging rep , which he is also out-running .
Genji is a young Japanese lord , but feels too bound by tradition - - which he sees as self-destructive for Japan . And yet he's a product of that society and cannot entirely leave it behind .
His love is a geisha - - and a ninja spy , answering to one of Genji's foremost enemies . And yet , the reason for that enmity between the spy-master and Genji is rooted in that distant battle , and bound up with the legendary gift for prophecy . . .
There is even a character likened to Mushashi . So there are cliches . And yet they are thrown into this mix - - on the cusp of a time of great change , between history and the present , between East and West , between tradition and new ideas .
I found the book well worth the read . I thought it held together - - all these greatly disparate elements and disparate themes . And it is told with lots of drama and action - - blood and battles , some romance , some intrigue , and some wonderful historical and cultural details . I will definitely pick up any sequels when they appear .
021 4 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 . * * * *
022 4 I read Cloud of Sparrows and the plot , in many ways , parallels the book , The Golden Crane , which is also for sale on Amazon.com . The Golden Crane was copyrighted in 1997 , well ahead of Matsuoka ; but I find his take-off not as good . His addition of a hardened American gunfighter seems outrageous at best , and completely improbable in tightly controlled Japan . He makes the Japanese protagonist , Lord Genji , a psychotic visionary . This is also highly improbable in a society that reviles anyone different . In mid-nineteenth century Japan , Genji would have probably been killed before he reached adulthood , once his pyschosis became manifest . Matsuoka's work does offer more gratuitious gore , if you are in to gratuitous gore .
However , if you want to read a better story , with many of the same elements , set in the same time period , and with a much more interesting plot , try the Golden Crane , which is for sale as a less expensive paperback book .
023 4 This is a surprisingly good read , especially considering that it is the author's first novel . I can NOT , however , be comared to Shogun .
The time period ( right at the end of the Tokugawa shogunate ) that the book is set in is an interesting one and it contrasts favorably to the time period in Shogun . Matsuoka also does not use fictionalized names for real historical figures . Matsuoka also does an excellent job of describing the future through a mid nineteenth century samurai's visions .
On the bad side , the characterization seems forced and is typical of beginning novelists . Plot points also seem contrived at times ; such as one character traveling all the way to Japan from the United States to avenge a murder . How did he know his target went to Japan ? Additionally , the characters use modern phrases that no one from that time period used .
All in all , a pretty good book .
024 4 I found this novel to be suprisingly enjoyable . When I purchased this book I was afraid that it would be a knockoff of Shogun . I think that Cloud of Sparrows rates well in it's own right . I really got into the storyline and rapidly came to care for the characters . It was an effort for me to put the book down . I am really looking forward to reading more by this author .
025 4 After an isolation of 200 years , the doors of Japan have been forced open by foreigners . It is the year 1861 . Genji no kami Okumichi , Lord of Akaoka Domain , has agreed to harbor American missionaries ( of the True Word of the Prophets of Christ Our Lord church ) within his Edo home , Quiet Crane , despite the anti-foreigner sentiment of his fellow countrymen , thus making himself a target for assassins .
One of the American missionaries , the young and beautiful Emily Gibson , has come to Japan to escape her past . Because she has felt the curse of her own beauty in her homeland , she seeks a land where her beauty is considered anything but .
As cursed as Emily is with beauty so too is Lord Genji cursed with the prophetic vision long famed to run within the Okumichi bloodline . He has foreseen much of Japan's future in glimpses while his uncle , Lord Shigeru , has been cursed with seeing far into the future , cursed to the point of intermittent insanity .
Not long after the missionaries arrive , foreigners attack the forts and civilians of Edo with shipboard weapons . One of the castles hit in this rampage is Quiet Crane . The walls of his castle in wreckage , Lord Genji feels the threat of foreign and domestic enemies alike . Thus he and his samurai flee to the Okumichi ancestral castle in Akaoka Domain , Cloud of Sparrows ( Suzume-no-kumo ) . Flight without the Shogun's permission is deemed illegal . Thus Lord Genji and his sworn samurai , and anyone else who follows him , have become outlaws .
Sticky Eye , head of the Shogun's secret police , sees Lord Genji's flight as the perfect opportunity to end a battle that began two-hundred-sixty years beforehand in Sekigahara , a battle in which Sticky Eye's ancestors chose to fight on the losing side due to the prophetic visions of the Okumichi . Resentment drives Sticky Eye - - to the point of obsession - - in getting back at the Okumichi clan , but the Shogun makes Lord Genji's flight legal , denying Sticky Eye his quarry .
Heiko ( Genji's geisha lover ) , Matthew Stark ( a cowbody on a quest for vengeance ) , and Emily Gibson have been taken along on the journey to Cloud of Sparrows . On this journey , one of the Okumichi prophecies comes to life , furthering the legend of the Okumichi prophets . Yet , after arrival at Cloud of Sparrows , Lord Genji has another prophetic vision , both bitter and sweet : he will have an heir , but the child's mother , the woman he loves , shall die in the birthing . But who is this mysterious woman ?
Don't think Sticky Eye is out of the picture yet . He and Genji's traitorous enemies still plot against the young lord . Another showdown will determine the outcome of the Battle of Sekigahara , once and for all .
By now you are probably thinking I have given away most of the storyline to Cloud of Sparrows , but I have not . There are many stories within the story , each character having flashbacks into his or her own past . Each sub-story is just as captivating as the next ; some even walked me right out of historical Japan and into the Wild West , in the blink of an eye . The story is also told from many viewpoints , with much back and forth for each scene , yet one would never notice it due to the riveting acts and actions spurring on the characters and their plights .
One of my favorite things about Cloud of Sparrows is that Takashi Matsuoka scattered it with a fastidious detailing of old Japanese customs , making me feel like I received a cultural history lesson without the tedium ( or drool ) produced by a classroom setting . This story aroused a spectrum of hard-hitting emotions within me as well ; an attack of the weepy-eyes was to be found around the corners of many a-page , as Cloud of Sparrows yielded a compassionate journey through the hearts and minds of its characters .
The words exceptional first novel have been inscribed on this book's front cover . This is an exceptional novel , period .
Grade : A +
reviewed by Sherryl King-Wilds for [ . . . ]
026 4 I was expecting zero from this book and got an exciting , action-packed novel that I thoroughly enjoyed . Many of the reader reviews here seem to be damning the author for not having written Shogun . Well , for a first novel , this one is damn good . James Clavell wasn't the James Clavell who wrote Shogun at the start of his career either , so cut this guy some slack . Mr . Matsuoka is good enough now for this very strong novel and I expect he'll only get better . Very enjoyable read .
027 4 This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and an excellent inaugural effort by author Takashi Matsuoka .
Though the frequent flashbacks and scene cuts were a bit distracting , the overall story captivated me and I was eager to keep reading further and further .
Lord Genji , Great Lord of Akaoka , as his ancestors before him , has the gift of prophecy . Among other things , he has seen that an outsider will save his life . Coincidentally ( or perhaps not ? ) , three Americans have arrived in Japan to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Japan . But are their true intentions to spread the word of God or do they have ulterior motives ? At the same time , the Shogun's secret police chief has been plotting Genji's death because of an ancestral feud started centuries ago . Moreover , civil war seems all but inevitable as clans begin to question the Shogun's power and judgment with the impending outsider invasion .
Samurai , geisha , ninja , revenge , love , honor , deceit abound . What's not to like ?
I look forward to future works from Takashi Matsuoka and I highly recommend this book .
028 4 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 .
029 4 I give it so many stars because I like to read novels on the beach , and this one makes me want to buy some sunscreen . This is not an artistic novel . This is not a deep novel . This is the once every two or three years exotic Japan novel : samurai swords , shoguns , geishas . It is a clearly in the historic romance genre . Spiced up in this case with two complicated revenge plots ( one rooted in America , one dating back to the beginning of the Tokagowa Shogunate ) and an unexplained demonstration of force by unidentified western powers ; this novel is set in that vague period just following Perry's black ships and the Harris embassy . A reader might even be tempted to see a bit of a reversed The Barbarian and Geisha in the novel's events .
While there is the requisite explaination of exotica , the multiple layers of the kimono and various elegant knots which sound rather like origami figures , there is also much unexplained going on in this novel . The major gimmick ( one member of every generation of the central noble family has visions of the future ) just seems to be there and the reader is assured it is so by means of the seers'inability to precisely place such visions ; ergo , classic perils of prophecy , Japanese versions of the fall of the Persian Empire or the undoing of the Gordian knot . The visions of modern urban Japan are enough to drive one character to bloody slaughter . There's more , but why fuss .
The fun is that there's plenty of action , and while the violence might generate an x rating , the sex is almost old fashioned : The rain beat against the castle walls , sort of thing . The concluding chapters clearly point to a sequal . Where will the exiled lady and gunfighter settle and what ties will they retain to the Daimyo in Edo ? Tune in in time for next year's beach novel .
030 4 Cloud of Sparrows is set in pre-industrial Japan between the era of feudal lords and the rise of the last emperors . Three American Missionaries arrive in the coastal city of Edo as guests of the minor lord , Genji , and all have hidden motives as to why they are there . Lord Genji is himself immersed in several intrigues with the Feudal power leaders in Japan . Most involve plots to kill or discredit him in the eyes of the other Lords . He is considered by many to be a young and witless fool incapable of leading a noble house . His one saving grace is that he is gifted with prophetic sight . This superstition forces his enemies to deal with him carefully . He is counseled by several loyal samurai officers as well the mysterious Geisha , Heiko The many character stories are woven together quite well by fist time author Takashi Matsuoka . Several minor characters are as interesting , chief among these is Lord Genji ? s Uncle and Samurai Master Lord Shigeru . He is also gifted with prophetic sight , but with devastating consequences .
Cloud of Sparrows has samurai , ninja , geishas , sword fights , gunslingers , Buddhist monks , spies , beautiful women , all interacting in historically accurate Japan of the 1860 ? s . The author takes on the ultimate demise of the samurai culture and shows the differences between the two cultures ; rather clumsily at times , and quite cleverly at others . He often stops , and retells the same event from the viewpoint of two different characters . This seems unnecessary and is the only criticism of the entire novel . What he lacks in true character development ( Emily ) he compensates for in good intricate plot , heavy with Japanese point of view .
There are many violent scenes in this book . The final battle between the Lord Genji ? s forces and those of the Shogun are a good example as are the descriptions of killing women and children told in flashbacks . There is no happy ending , no character really gets what they ultimately want . This does not pave the way for any cohesive sequel , but in the epilog the ground work is set for an amazing prequel .
031 4 Some books were meant to be published as paperbacks . Cloud of Sparrows is one of those books . It is not a literary gem but is packed with the kind of action that keeps a reader's attention even amid outside distractions .
Cloud is set in feudal Japan where noble young lord Genji rules over a minor clan that is under the constant threat of extinction from the powerful Shogun and , especially , his vindictive minister of defense . It is into this setting that three unlikely American missionaries arrive by ship . One missionary is a fiery preacher , one his betrothed , and one is a Western gunslinger looking for revenge .
The non-traditional Genji falls in love with a geisha , the fiery preacher is murdered , and the plot opens into a galloping story of martial arts , revenge , love , and Eastern vs . Western mores .
Japanese-born author Takashi Matsuoka presents Japan-centric fiction with a twist . Cover blurbs compare the book to Shogun , but aside from the setting , the two books are very different . Rather than a novel steeped in Japanese tradition like Shogun , Cloud features characters who think outside the feudal box . Lord Genji regularly breaks with revered tradition . His geisha , Heiko , stretches the rules of propriety required by tradition .
The American characters are larger than life . The preacher's fiancee is so extraordinarily beauttful that men cannot control themselves in her presence . Yet in Japan she is considered ugly . The gunslingers are nearly faster than the eye .
Put a variety of characters in a book with equally varied storylines and you have an epic-length ( 500 + pages ) novel with plenty of blood , gore , heroes , heroines , and Japanese culture .
The biggest diappointment about the book is an unsatisfying ending . After 500 + pages , one would expect a more subtle resolution to a major storyline . Cloud is also , as mentioned earlier in the review , no literary masterpiece . Plot events , like the book's characters , are heroic and often defy belief . Thus , readers bothered by the unrealistic will not enjoy this book .
On the other hand , readers looking for adventure , an exotic setting and bigger-than-life characters will love this /
032 4 As stated in previous posts about this book , this is the author's first novel . This is clear in some of his writing where the flow is broken , or his continued use of certain phrases or ideas almost word-for-word . However , the book certainly does create an interesting view - I specifically enjoyed his descriptions of the interactions between Western and Eastern cultures . He also creates interesting , though violent , fight scenes . However , towards the end of the book he makes a HUGE break in character for the main character . While it fits with the culture , it does not fit with the gentle , level-headed character he had crafted . It will be interesting to see him grow as an author , as this book was at the very least a promising beginning .
033 4 A great read . I couldn't put it down . If you're at all interested in Japanese culture , you will enjoy this book . The description was wonderful and set many very atmospheric scenes . The characters are well developed and the plot develops in an easy to follow and intrigueing way . While it may not be 100% historically accurate , it is after all fiction . If you want total accuracy go read a Japanese history textbook .
034 4 This story is one of the best I have ever read.The story takes place around 1800 ' s a Daimyo named Genji meets a small band of missonaries have come to spread the word of God . Apart from death and betrayal , there is a mix of emotions like : love , friendship , sadness , and hatred . I recommend this book for those who have a liking for Japanese history .
035 4 I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka . The story of a great samurai lord , a lovely Japanese Geisha , a beautiful female missionary , and a gun-slinging Texan and the fate that drew them all together in 19th century Japan was very enjoyable . I found the characters to be likeable and their individual histories to be interesting , lending to the character development . The book is packed from start to finish with action and I had a hard time putting it down , the book sucks you in and doesn't let go until you're done .
My major complaints with Cloud of Sparrows are ; first , Takashi Matsuoka tends to foreshadow what will happen in the book a bit too much . It really doesn't take a genius to figure out what will happen at certain points due to the author's tendency to reveal too much too quickly , but this is a forgivable error . The second , far less tolerable , complaint is with Cloud of Sparrows ' ending . The ending felt very . . . incomplete , it is almost as if the author ran out of time and simply tacked on the book's unfulfilling and all-too-obvious ending .
Overall the book is a solid first novel for Takashi Matsuoka and I am eagerly awaiting the release of his next book Autumn Bridge .
036 4 I remembered found this book in a supermarket nearby my house almost a year ago . After reading the first pages , I just can't put it down . I finished the book in less than four days , and was enthrilled by the story .
It was truly a Zen story . The way Matsuoka-san describes life and death , was truly a Zen way ( no wonder , he used to live among the monks , right ? ) . I was so impressed how this Japanese ex-monk can be so accurate in describing American culture ( through Emily and Stark ) and yet weaving the grace of the Way in between the pages .
Through Matsuoka-san actually I learned more about meditation and acceptance . How to let go what should be gone . How to overcome fear over death ; for death is but another door to another life ( through Shigeru's and Jimbo's death ) . And I learned that it is true that we'd rather not knowing what's in the future . Rather , just enjoy life as it is at present moment . For , past and future are not real . Present moment is .
I should be saying something about the novel , but I cannot say anything but that this novel is one of the best novel I've read about Japan ( in addition to Eiji Yoshikawa's Musashi ) . The fact that both novels ( Musashi and Cloud of Sparrow ) teach me about life is what made them my precious collections .
037 4 Well written and engaging , this book keeps you reading through the enormous inventiveness of its plot . The book revolves around the conflict between tradition and modernization , and the possibilty of continunity within change . Set primarily in the 1860s and 1870s , it is a revenge novel , a samurai tale , a western , an elegy for a lost time , and ( lightly ) a meditation on the future . Although its primary action is set in Japan at the time of the opening to the outside world , a significant subplot is set in Texas . Main characters include an American monk at a Buddhist shrine , missionaries , diamyos , gunmen , swordsmen , and visionaries .
Bringing it all back home ? Well , consider how effortlessly Matsuoka merges the Texas subplot with the main action in Japan . I couldn't help thinking of how Kurosawa's Seven Samurai was turned into the Magnificent Seven , as I watched this book return the favor .
038 4 Matsuoka , Takashi . Cloud of Sparrows . Delecorte Press : New York , 2002
Historicle Fantasy
This is a tale set in the first days that japan opens itself to the rest of the world . The story changes between the veiws of the maijor charectors , including Genji ( a great lord of japan ) , Heiko ( a famed geisha and genji's lover ) , Emily and Matthew ( each missionaries from a christian church ) . The intertwining of the romance and espionage brought to life throuhg this book made for a promising read . Recomended for ages 16 and up for some sexual content and heavy violence .
This book is a slower read , but is sure to keep you deep within it . as the story of these missionaries being welcolmed into an biased land unfolds around you , you can feel the passion and emotions felt by the other charectors . Most of japan is heavaly against opening itself to these highly advanced outsiders , but one fief , and one lord , lead by prophecy , will open its arms to missionaries of christ . This causes much turmoil for the young lord . But on his side is the power of foresight , the greatest swordsman in all japan , and the fastest gunner in all america . As he battles for a revelution of thought in japan , true batles rage around him , as other try to resist change with force . The feeling and emotion put into the story will truely take you back to the day where the bushido dies , and a new era in japan may be coming .
039 4 To the eta out there who do not understand the mind of samurai , prepare yourself for a misunderstood and violent read . For those who have followed the way for many years such as myself , bow your heads to Takashi Matsouka and simply give thanks for a a job well done . This book is not intended for those who are uninitiated in the way of samurai life or mentality , therefore do not waste your time and money . This book is written for those who can appreciate a good fiction of that time period . For those who are practiced in the arts and understand the mind of samurai , you will not be able let this one go . Do not let the opinions of lesser minds affect your judgement . This is a must have novel ! !
040 4 This one plays well to American audiences for its romanticized images of the Samurai of the late 1800 ' s . Plus , it throws in the East meets West convention , which is always interesting . I enjoyed his parallels . His character development was pretty good , i thought . Good exposition , though the pacing suffered a bit for it . Also , the fact that he borrowed liberally from Herbert , I found interesting . I wouldn't take this one too seriously as an historical novel , but good first time attempt by the author .
041 4 I Enjoy reading Samurai era books and watching movies about this period . Being part Japanese myself , and having studied Kendo and Zen in Hawaii as this author did , I bought this book without thinking twice . I was expecting a beautiful Shogunlike book after looking at the reviews on the first few pages . I must say I was very surprised at the overly descriptive details in the violent scenes in this book . This book is not for the timid , nor a casual read for most bookreaders . While life in this culture was in fact very cruel and harsh , and the author does a commendable job in showing us this , I think he went a little to far in the descriptions of the characters dying , and having their heads cut off , and the emotions and thoughts of those who were dying . It really does get disturbing at some points . Even the chapters that take place in the United States , are about rape and murder . It cannot be denied that things such as those that happened in this book actually took place , ( example , villages being burned to the ground and women and babies murdered for reasons that a westerner would not deem valid ) , I feel this author attempted to go out of his way to show in great detail all the horrible customs of the Shogun era society and the disgust a Westerner would feel at seeing it , and downplayed alot of the more beautifull artistic customs . We never get to read about Heiko the great geisha performing , or a cha cermony , or deeper descriptions of the Japanese religious ceremonies . The only ceremonies we read about are the ones that have to do with death or dying . The book seemed a bit heavy on the sensationalism and it's very unfortunate , as Matsuoka is definitely a good writer .
I bought this book while on vacation and after my mom finished all her books I lent her this book thinking it was similair to Shogun and she would really like it . A few days later she gave me it back unread , and I'm glad she didnt have to suffer through reading all the gruesome accounts within . I'm now embarrased for having lent her the book in the first place .
I do comment the author for his historical research , and the story itself is very well written and developed , though the flashbacks to his American characters former lives , really took away from the actual Samurai story itself . Instead of a Samurai epic , the reader is stuck reading page after page of violent accounts of these characters lives in America before coming to Japan . Cloud of Sparrows takes well over 300 just to develop for a great finish . Disappointing to say the least .
Overall I did like this book , mostly because of the subject matter , and the authors well researched descriptions of , though I would definitely hesitate to reccomend it to someone without telling them of the gruesome nature of it .
042 4 A Cloud of Sparrows is an elegant historical novel , no wait it's a adventure thriller cloaked as an historical novel . Presuming the latter is true it is only suitable that its ambigious genre matches a plot where alliances / loyalties shift faster than the sands of time .
The year is 1861 Japan , and the great lord Genji has opened Japan's doors to American missionaries . This causes a rift in Japanese culture and results in plots and counterplots throughout the story . Virtually every chapter is laced with attempts made on the life of Genji or Stark and Emily the American missionaries .
This novel quite adequately sets explosively exciting scenes of intrique and suspense , as loyalties are forever in doubt , and reader's wonder the meaning of Genji's prophetic visions .
It is a very solid debut novel lush in description , deep in its characterization and remarkably paced .
My only critique is that the shocking resolution of the plot is not as unexpected as some would have the gullible reader believe , the portants were scattered from the start , so the conclusion while possibly surprising to some was a little anticlimatical and disappointing to this jaded reader .
Otherwise this story works on both novels very admirably as a historical tome in Japan , or an intriquing thriller and should draw readers of both genres as a satisfying first effort by the author .
043 4 great story line and great action . Good humour too . Seems so real . Some of the scences are pretty violent though . I like how it goes from scene to scene and the flashbacks and all . I liked it so much I had to read it all over agin after putting it down .
044 4 I read to escape . This book will take you to Japan at the end of its shogun period and making the transition to modernity . A good clarification of Asian culture interwoven with some incredible characters . worth the time . as is its sequel Autumn Bridge
045 4 This is highly recommended for those who enjoy books like Across the Nightingale Floor and other Japanese samaurai type books . It's light reading with lots of action , drama , romance and the author doesn't take himself too seriously so there is some humor that is quite funny . The author's other book , Autumn Bridge , is also recommended and is even better than this one , but I suggest starting with this one first to get the full story .
046 4 This review is from :
Cloud of Sparrows ( Kindle Edition )
I thoroughly enjoyed this Shogun-like novel , set in mid 1800 ' s Japan . Once I got the characters squared away , the story of the three missionaries , meeting with Lord Genji and Lady Heiko , was entertaining and fun .
I will caution any reader on a Shogun comparison . There isn't nearly as much plot as in the Clavell novels . The story is kind of slim , as feudal Japan is beginning to move again into civil war , just when the Western powers are attacking . But although not as intricate as Shogun , it is a story very well told and engaging . I liked it a lot .
The Kindle formatting and writing were excellent . I don't think this is a translated book . I am going to start the sequel Autumn Bridge right away .
047 4 I thoroughly enjoyed this Shogun-like novel , set in mid 1800 ' s Japan . Once I got the characters squared away , the story of the three missionaries , meeting with Lord Genji and Lady Heiko , was entertaining and fun .
I will caution any reader on a Shogun comparison . There isn't nearly as much plot as in the Clavell novels . The story is kind of slim , as feudal Japan is beginning to move again into civil war , just when the Western powers are attacking . But although not as intricate as Shogun , it is a story very well told and engaging . I liked it a lot .
The Kindle formatting and writing were excellent . I don't think this is a translated book . I am going to start the sequel Autumn Bridge right away .
048 4 No spoilers
This was no only my first Takashi Matsuoka book , but it was also my first full-length experience with a novel involving Japan . I picked it up wanting something a little different from anything I have previously read ( historical fiction and pysychological thrillers ) and because I have interest in feadal societies , I thought I'd give Cloud of Sparrows a try , and I'm so glad I did .
This book does an amazing job at transporting the reader from the present complexities of our world today to the differet , yet just as complex world of the samurai era in feudal Japan in the 1860s . This book probably can't be considererd an epic , but its numerous complex stories that intertwine to make up the larger picture work so well together that it is so easy to find yourelf no longer in the realm of the present . One of the author's greatest achievements in writing this book is how he perfectly divulges or withholds just enough of the stories to keep you thoroughly invested in their outcomes .
When you read this book , you care about the charactes and are invested in what they think , do , say , and feel . Pick this book up to become a benevolent spectator to the ways of the samurai in nineteenth century Japan .
049 4 Matsuoka is capable of subtlety , rare in a beginning novelist , and I hope he develops that talent in the future and no longer feels he needs to rely on exaggerated characters motivated by exaggeratedly violent and abusive pasts . The plot is decent enough and although I don't know enough about the history or about Japanese culture to comment on the accuracy of the either characterization , both seemed handled well . I appreciated the Zen touches .
050 4 Interesting mixture of sword-wielding , honor-bound samurais and gun-toting , code of the American West cowboys . The first of the book is low on action as everyone's story ( and believe me everyone in this book has a story ) is established . Then the action kicks into gear and the rest of the book is nothing but blood , blood , blood ! Beheadings , dismemberments , evisceration , patricide , infanticide , and ( lest we forget the cowboys ) gunshot wounds . Buckets and buckets of blood in all its gory details . Once the story gets going it keeps a good pace and it did hold my interest all the way through .
051 4 This book had me captivated from the start . I couldn't put it down ! You only get little bits at first , but i feel the story all came together so nicley as you read on . I can't wait to read Mr . Matsuoka's second book . The ending really makes your mind work . An excellent book for anyone , even if you are not interested in the culture .
052 4 I have not read any fictional books in over 10 years , to think of it , last time was in High School , but after reading this novel , I will definitely read the next Novel and other Japanese fictional novels .
The story is a well though out story of characters from eastern and western cultures . The author did a great job in exposing each character as the story progresses , not giving too much away when not necessary .
The author shows a lot of knowledge and insight in eastern and western culture with small subtleties showing up al over the book to expose this . I am fortunate to have studies martial arts for a greater part of my live , so I found a lot of the references and nuances very accurate .
It is a love story , a war novel and perhaps even a period piece all in one .
If you loved Shogun , The Ninja or other Japanese epic sagas , you will love this book .
I also recently watched the movie , ` The last Samurai and will love to see this book done as a movie like The last Samurai .
Why not a 5 STAR . . . Well , one little part of the story was not concluded , but this might be because it will be picked up in the next novel . I do not want to give away the story , but it is about the bombing taking place in the first part of the story and who is responsible for it .
For a first novel , this was GREAT . Can not wait for more !
053 4 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
054 4 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 .
055 4 This is a first novel that reads like a treatment for a TV mini-series . That's not to say it that it is not be a fun and entertaining read . 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 as I read it on the beach in Maui I found it 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 .
056 4 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 !
057 4 Not Clavell's Shogun ? Oh well , so it isn't overly wordy and your hand won't get a cramp holding the book up .
That being said , I loved Shogun . But I think some of the reviewers here are being a bit harsh on the book just because it isn't quite Shogun . And they are right , it isn't . But in some ways it is better .
I loved the spare , prose and dialogue . From the very first paragraph , it held me . Was it at times unbelievable ? Yes . But remember that he is depicting a time period and a culture lost to us . And even in its time , it was wholly unique and alien to us . I have a feeling the author has portrayed it quite accurately . Lets not forget that it is his culture , not ours . He might know quite a bit more about it than we do . And I think that the author's years among the Zen buddhist monks shows in his simple dialogue and way of seeing the multiple viewpoints , making them all seem plausible .
Bloody , violent ? Of course it is . It is depicting a class of people that were raised from birth to be prepared to kill others or themselves at the whim or order of another . Most of us can't even fully contemplate that . The author didn't make the Samurai culture up . Death was everything and nothing to them at the same time .
Mixing the gunfighter from the west into the story . Why not ? Its an adventure story and the author's to tell . I don't believe that it takes anything away from the story . Lighten up . Write boring literature of your own so that you can read it yourself if this stretches your mind too much .
All in all a very entertaining book . If this is his first book , I can't wait to read the second one . With all the hack writer's turning out endless fantasy and mystery series . And the stuff that gets published by well-known authors simply because they are known . And the literature written by authors that seemed to skip over basic grammar and sentence structure in school ( Annie Proulx comes to mind ) that write about this type of fisherman or this bridge in that county , this was a welcome book .
058 4 The first novel from this author focuses on the great East-West clash of 1861 , as Japan is finally forced to open itself to commerce and contact with other nations , especially the British and the Americans . When a number of foreign vessels drop anchor in a major Japanese port , the Japanese are stunned by the size and maneuverability of these amazing new instruments of war . One ship in particular , an American one , although smaller than the others , carries a more potent future threat . This ship has transported a group of American missionaries , fired with zeal and packing bibles . Most are anxious to carry the message of Christianity to the Unbelievers . Two Americans have come for other purposes , a woman , for escape , and a man , for revenge .
The Japanese have long maintained the Art of the Samurai , as they are insulated from technological advances in the rest of the world and unaware of innovative weaponry . War , as practiced by the Samurai , is an art form , each precise movement an integral part of the performance . Each chapter is preceded with a quote from a respected master , a lesson in discipline : Every battle is not won by advance . Every retreat is not loss . Advance is strategy . Retreat is also strategy ( Chapter 7 ) .
Lord Genji is a handsome and clever young nobleman who literally sees the future . Descended from a clan who have been guided by their visions of the future , one member of each generation has the gift . The Japan Genji envisions has a drastically changing face , with munitions , cannons and a fleet of ships . Genji's journey through the countryside , gathering his troops and fending off attackers , is the most impressive part of the novel , combining visual images with non-stop action .
The two Americans , Emily and Matthew , accompany the warriors : Emily because she wants to stay in Japan and Matthew because he is seeking a man from his past . A famous geisha of notable beauty , Genji's consort is also accompanying the group . In unexpected ways , all three contribute to the success of ensuring battles as they are attacked along the perilous journey . Matsuoka vividly describes the warriors of each opposing faction , as well as their personal eccentricities and contrasts their violent struggles against a gorgeous winter landscape , where the pristine snow is stained by bright red blood .
Genji is the last of a dying breed , the Samurai , as a once unbeatable warrior-driven culture gives way to the march of progress and the incursion of Western weapons that render hand-to-hand combat unnecessary . Matsuoka uses Genji and his other characters to paint a picture of classical Japan , a country clinging to tradition as the future waits impatiently in the wings .
This novel deserves more credit than it has been given . When a work of fiction is compared to Clavell's Shogun , it is at a disadvantage . After all , Shogun is probably Clavell's greatest contribution to this genre . Ignoring the comparisons ( that are used , after all , as a PR ploy to sell more copies ) , I find Cloud of Sparrows to be well plotted and carefully crafted , especially for a first effort . In fact , if the author expanded on his main protagonists , the story would be even richer and a fascinating view into the interior of feudal Japan . Luan Gaines / 2003 .
059 4 My interest in Japanese culture brought me to read this book and it was quite a surprise to read such a good book that had enough of everything to keep me flipping the pages , but it didn't have too much of anything . A well balanced book of love and war .
060 4 This is a great Samurai novel . Almost as good as Shogun by James Clavell . If you like Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo series you'll love this book .
061 4 1 ) Ron Rifkin reads the audiobook version of this book and did a fine job . Even without doing distinct voices for the characters I never had to guess or rewind to know which character was talking .
2 ) There was a point during the audio presentation that I actually started to get teary-eyed becasue I was so sucked into the scene . The building of the scene and the sense of honor was simply overwhelming and inspiring .
3 ) This story had a little bit of everything . . . history , action , romance , political intrigue , etc . A little something for everyone .
4 ) The plot had fine twists and turns and I never really knew what to expect . In the end I personally was satisfied with the resolution of the story .
5 ) Some very memorable characters who are driven by believable motivations .
6 ) I've never read Shogun nor any other story like this , I just happened to stumble upon it and am very pleased I did . I'm encouraged to check out other similar type stories . . . Shogun being one of them .
062 4 This book has it all ! Action , Love , Disappointments , Triumphs , and so on , You make your own judgement ! Once you start reading this novel you will ponder at what the next page has in store for you . This could be the next Crouching Tiger , Hidden Dragon movie and is bound to be a box office smash ! We see ancient China , let us see Japan in the days of Shogun rule before the fall of the warlords . Read this book and you will see what I mean !
063 4 This book took a hold of me from beginning to end . I was hoping it wouldn't be a slow read after I read the first chapter ( which wasn't slow at all actually ) . But it actually turned out to have a nice flowing pace . The action scenes were described well and all the characters were quite well developed as the reader was given insight into their history . I found myself interested in every character in the book . Splendid story . I hope this author produces future works at the same level .
You know a book is good when a person who goes to Las Vegas on his 21st birthday and keeps thinking about going back to the hotel and resume reading to find out what happens next . . . . as I did . Very quick read by the way .
064 4 Okay , I took up the challenge the reviewer from Oregon put forth , and read both Cloud of Sparrows and The Golden Crane ; and I have to agree with the other reviewer that Cloud of Sparrows appears to be derived from The Golden Crane . Although there are a lot of dissimilarities , there are just too many similarities between plot , characters and even pacing to not see the connection . As for which was the better book , well , I vote for The Golden Crane . It's shorter than Cloud of Sparrows , but a more enjoyable read . The author has a very pleasurable reading style , while I found Cloud of Sparrows ' prose to be tortured and bloody . In fact it actually hurt to read it . I can see why this book isn't exactly flying off the shelves . On the other hand , I couldn't put The Golden Crane down . Plus , there weren't any wild , contrived plot devices like Cloud of Sparrows implausible gunslinger in 19th Century Japan on a blood quest and a psychic samurai warlord . Give me a break . Finally , I was more interested in The Golden Crane because it told the story primarily from the American perspective , while Cloud of Sparrows concentrated on the psychic samurai warlord , whom I just couldn't relate to . Anyway , I'd have to give Cloud of Sparrows a thumbs down and The Golden Crane a thumbs-up . I also enjoyed doing this kind of reading detective work . I wish other readers would do this kind of comparison between other authors ' works that appear similar .
065 4 I expected a story as in depth and detailed as Shogun by James Clavell ( altho his story had some flaws , too ) . Cloud of Sparrows is less in almost every respect . Less details , less story , less character development . Most importantly , Cloud of Sparrows does not have that core value which makes a novel great . At most , it stresses the inevitablitiy of things to come . Perhaps its a personal preference , but I rather enjoyed the vision of man's potential for limitless ambition , suberfuge , adventure , and love that was contained within Shogun .
066 4 This is easily one of my avorite books . Matsuoka-sama has created a true masterpices with this book . If you loved Shogun or Tales of the Otori , or just plain love samurai do yourself a favor and grab this book !
068 4 Unfortunately , I fell for the Delacorte hype and plunked down my hard-earned cash for this hugely disappointing book . I was expecting another shogun , and instead got a weirdo cross between a Louis L'Amour Western and a second-rate Liam Hearn novel . The plot was bad enough , but the writing was atrocious . I literally could not finish the book . It was that bad . And why do so many modern authors , like Matsuoka , have to saturate us with blood and mayhem ?
This is the last time I fall for book marketing hype .
069 4 Cloud of Sparrows was given to me by a family member . I didn't think I'd like it because I'm not into large and long books like that and even though I like Rurouni Kenshin and it's the same time period , I wasn't sure . However , now I've finished it and started Autumn Bridge . I've even passed the books around to my friends , both older and younger . It's a book for anyone who enjoys learning about the past in other countries and in this one . It's a combination of fact and fiction that will catch any reader's eyes and their heart .
070 4 It's hard for me to imagine anyone other than a Delacorte marketing executive comparing Cloud of Sparrows to Shogun . While Cloud of Sparrows has a decent plot , the writing is fairly bland , the characters shallow , and the dialogue forced . I lived in Japan for three years , and as much as I wanted to love this book , I quit at page 250 . On the other hand , I've read Shogun twice .
071 4 Cloud of Sparrows is an epic saga of Japan in the moments of its first exposure to Western culture . It has everything : love , intrigue and violent struggles for power - - in a truly exotic setting . Takashi Matsuoka is a powerful writer , and this is a real page - turner . I couldn't put it down
072 4 This book is so much more than a samurai story . Cloud of Sparrows is a view into a fascinating period of history , a compelling account of clashing cultures , a love story , an adventure , a journey . The author deftly weaves Japanese values and even Zen Buddhist precepts into a story that will keep you reading late into the night . I highly recommend it !
073 4 I enjoyed most of this novel . There's much to like . The action and characters drive the story . A page-turner with the usual first-novel flaws . But I was disgusted when the sympathetic protagonist commits a heinous , cruel act near the book's end . The redemption of another character , an American who committed a similar atrocity , didn't balance this isolated instance of premeditated evil on the part of the main character , who then goes on engage in a new romance without remorse . It would have been easier to swallow with some foreshadowing - - perhaps some sign that this character was being corrupted or had a dark , irrational side . I so wanted to love this book , but I felt annoyed and disappointed at the end .
074 4 In my opinion , the book is not quite as bad nor as good as some readers are saying . I'd say Matsuoka has the potential to become a decent midlist writer . He'll never write a bestseller , because his writing style isn't that good and he is overly obsessed with violence for the sake of violence . Also quite frankly there hasn't been a bestseller in this genre since Clavell . Shogun set the standard . No one else has even come close to meeting it since then . A pity James Clavell passed away some years ago . I think he had a few more great novels left in him .
075 4 I hate to pan a first time novelist , but when I plunk down my hard-earned cash , I expect quality work . I didn't get it with T . Matsuoka's Cloud of Sparrows . The plot was terrible and totally unbelievable . The addition of the American gunfighter was not only ludicruous but historically inaccurate by at least twenty years . As a student of both Japanese and American history and culture , it surprised me that this novel was so full of cultural malapropisms . Where was the editor ? He might have saved this book , if he had any knowledge himself . Then again maybe he didn't and that's why the novel isn't that good . Better luck next time . I sure won't be taken in again .
077 4 As a student of Japanese culture and history , I was eagerly turned to the first page of Cloud of Sparrows and was hooked . However , as the story progressed , I grew increasingly frustrated . The author ( clever use of the name Genji ) had ample opportunity to develop the characters , but concentrated , instead , on detailing the battle scenes . The characters were two-dimensional and left me feeling deprived and disappointed . His descriptions of the countryside , however , were enticing , and I look forward to another visit to Japan .
078 4 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 .
079 4 Cloud of Sparrows , by Takashi Matsuoka , is a very exciting ( fictional ) book covering Japan in the late 1800s . While I did enjoy this novel for the most part , I would not recommend it to all .
The reason for the above statement is due to the basic content of the book . The story revolves around very descriptive gory events . From dead bodies lying on the road after a battle over etiquette to severed heads being displayed around a ransacked castle , this author portrays Japan in such a vulgar and uncultured light . However , Takashi Matsuoka did have a way of hooking the readers in with the espionage and betrayal that arises from such a setting .
A credit to the author would be his advanced skill of characterization . Not only does he periodically switch between two settings in order for the reader to fully understand all the characters , he changes his style during these times . His book travels back and forth from the current happenings in Japan ( at the time of the story ) to uncensored flashbacks from America .
All in all , I found this book to be a tad of a disappointment . Certain aspects were not as well developed , as they should have been . Also , I would caution readers of the highly offended nature to shy away from picking this book up .
080 4 I read this much ballyhooed first-time novel with anticipation . Unfortunately , I was let down on a number of levels . The writing was not that good , the plot was wacky , and the characters were poorly developed . All this might be forgiveable for someone in a college-level creative writing class , but a book by a major publisher ? Well , that's just incredible ! It really made me wonder how publisher's decide who gets published . It also made me question the wisdom of their editors and review boards . However , I will be more discerning next time . I won't be take in by the marketing hype .
081 4 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 .
082 4 I struggled to get through this apparently strange spin-off of Clavell's novel , Gai-Jin . The author cobbled together some bizarre plot elements , but he fails to connect the dots . Plus his prose is awful . He definitely needs a good editor . The story takes place in Japan in 1860 , and spans a little over a year . I could believe the missionary , but the gunfighter was preposterous . The characters were in general cardboard caricatures . The author seemed to concentrate more on bloody action than character development . I cannot recommend this book to anyone .
083 4 This novel does not live up to its marketing hype . The story is not that good , and it is a very hard read . Also , the amount of unnecessary gore in this book is enough to make a Marine puke . I found this novel to be testimony to the continuing inability of the publishing industry to get it right . Why do these addle-brained New York editors think an American would enjoy this story , told mainly and violently from a Japanese perspective ? Maybe it's selling in Japan , but given its low sales rank on Amazon.com , it's obviously not selling in the good ole U.S.A . And for good reason .
084 4 I am a great fan of historical fiction set in Japan and China , and have read many excellent books of that type . This one is a disappointment . It is one violent scene after another , with a body count that must be measured in the thousands . The heroes - - to use the term loosely - - are all coldhearted murderers . One's culture doesn't change that fact . Are we to admire them ? Like them ? Understand them ? I could not , and therefore was left with reading about people who merely went from one bloody scene to another .
The book is sadly lacking in real insights into the Japanese culture of that age - - there is far more depth to it than mere barbaric Samurai blood thirst . If the author's intention was to show us how horrid Japan was at that time , he succeeded . But if the book had been written by a Westerner , the author would have been called a racist for such a one-sided depiction of Japanese culture and life .
All in all , not a book I can recommend .
085 4 I wanted to like this first novel by T . Matsuoka . Unfortunately , I couldn't . The writing was bad , the plot was strange , and the characters were like wooden japanese puppets . The hype surrounding this new novel did not deliver . I wondered to myself if Random House invested in a pig in a poke , and then realizing that it had went all out to get people to read it . But the truth is in the sales . As I write this review , Cloud of Sparrows is somewhere in the high forty thousand range on Amazon . That says a lot about the quality of the book . I'm sorry for Mr . Matsuoka , but he needs to do better . . . much better .
086 4 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 .
087 4 I couldn't believe a major publisher actually published this book . The writing was bad , and I mean very bad . I could not finish the book . In addition to bad writing , Cloud of Sparrows suffers from a completely unbelievable plot . An American gunfighter in 19th Century Japan ? ! A mentally ill Japanese warlord ? Improbable shifting alliances among samurai ? I don't think so . The book was also too blood-thirsty . Why have the principal character wipe out a whole Japanese town , including women and children , to avenge one errant transgressor ? This book was morally troubling trash . I would not recommend it to anyone .
088 4 I was taken in by the marketing hype as well . The novel is not that good ; and I read a lot of fiction with oriental themes . The characters are ill-defined ; there is a surfeit of unnecessary and morally troubling violence ( i.e . , violence for violence's sake ) ; and the plot is very strange . Some reviewers are trying to chat up this novel , but the cold , hard facts are in the sales numbers . It ranks in the forty thousand range on Amazon ; and is not even in the top 100 on the New York Times list . That tells volumes about how good this novel really is .
089 4 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 .
090 4 Very disappointing . Clavell was the master of this genre , and no one else even comes close to the depth of his characterizations , subtleties of plot , and elegant prose . Cloud of Sparrows seems to be a knock-off of Gai-Jin by Clavell . They're both set in the same time period , and the plots have many similarities . However , Gai-Jin was far and away a much better book . In particular Cloud of Sparrows has several fatal flaws : the writing is very poor ( where was the author's editor ? ) , the plot is completely ridiculous ( a Texas gunfighter running around in 19th Century Japan trying to hunt down an enemy who has somehow become a buddhist monk ? ! ) , and the characterizations are extremely weak . When I finally finished the book ( and it was no page-turner ) , I realized that I didn't give a damn about any of the characters . Matsuoka needs to take a course in creative writing ; and Delacorte Press needs to do a much better job of editing .
091 4 The thing I liked about Shogun and Clavell's other works was the detailed research effort that went into each novel . I'm afraid Matsuoka doesn't deliver on the same level . He basically co-opts Clavell's Gai-Jin plot and then tries to overlay a real 17th Century Japanese historical event , the pivotal Battle of Sekigihara , onto the late Tokugawa landscape . I'm afraid it doesn't work for me or anyone else who knows history , since the samurai were almost gone by the time of the late Tokugawa shogunate . The same can be said for Stark , the American gunfighter who comes to Japan to hunt down a ruthless American desperado , hiding out as a buddhist monk no less ! Ha ! Ha ! Excuse me , but I just have to laugh at this improbable nonsense . Add to that , Lord Genji's strange psychic abilities and you've got the makings of a good soap opera , or anime movie , but not an historical action adventure . The other reviewers said it best : James Clavell remains the undisputed master of this genre .
092 4 I really don't know what people see in this novel . Personally , I feel like I was rip-offed by Random House . I've lived in Japan and studied Japanese culture , so I think I know what I'm talking about . Once you get past the bad writing , the weird characters , and the strange plot , what really hits you , if you know anything about Japan , is how false both historically and culturally this novel really is . The author may be Japanese , but he knows little about mid - 19th century Japan , and even less about the late Tokugawa cultural landscape . For the life of me , I can't imagine how this novel ever got published . There had to be a bribe or pay-off somewhere .
093 4 I read this book after Gai-Jin by James Clavell . It appears to be a rip-off of that novel . Plus the writing is worse , the plot is asinine , and it's way too gory for most people's tastes . Clavell was the master of this genre . No one else even comes close .
094 4 After buying this novel , I read to page 124 then tossed it in the trash where it belongs . Cloud of Sparrows has no bearing or relevance on Japanese culture or history . All it is a gross caricature of samurai violence . But what I found most disturbing was that a major publisher was taken in . Well , I think I might try my hand at this game . I know nothing about the history of Russia , but I think I'll change my name to a Russian one , write an historical action adventure set in Russia and submit it to Random House . Heck , they'll publish it , just because I'll use a Russian last name .
095 4 I've never felt so compelled to write a review in my entire life . If I could rate it less than one star , I would . It doesn't deserve a star at all ( unless it's a dying star ) . This was , hands down , the WORST book I have ever had the displeasure of reading . I found this abomination in the bargain bin of a bookstore . Now , I've been to Japan and I would consider myself well-versed in Japanese culture and history , so I figured this book would be a great match for me . Oh , how WRONG I was .
The first time I tried to read this book , I could not get past the first chapter . Months later , I tried again without much luck ( I think I made it to chapter 3 that time ) . Over a year later , I decided I would not let this book win . I was determined to read this book . I picked it up again and literally FORCED myself against every fiber of my being to finish this book . It took me almost a month - it was that bad . Oh , the agony ! ! !
I'm not sure which part was the worst , but I'll discuss a few ( don't worry , I won't ruin the book for you . I can't , really . . . the book does a great job of that all on its own ) :
1 ) The romance . What romance ? ! This materializes out of thin air . Seriously - it made no sense and it was awkward . It did not belong !
2 ) No matter how hard the author tries , Stark is not cool OR mysterious . The author continually tries to make him such a shady character with a mysterious past . . . but it's overkill . I wasn't even interested in this guy - who was the only character with any potential ( in my opinion ) .
3 ) Lord Genji is not and never will be Genji fom Genji Monogatari ( a MUCH better book ! Go buy that one ! ) . Sorry , but the vague references don't cut it for me . He's just so out of character for that time period . Also - as a side note - I think it would have been more plausible to give Genji x-ray vision . It wouldn't take from the inevitable downward spiral of the book , either .
4 ) Don't even get me started on the Tokugawa or the acceptance of Christianity in Japan . . . I might pop a vein .
5 ) Repeating the same event over and over from EVERYONE'S different view point is NOT effective . It just irritated me further - wasting time and patience !
Fear not , dear readers . . . for I finished the book somehow . But I'm not sure WHY . Call me a glutton for punishment . I can't say that I'm particularly GLAD I finished it , but at least I have a basis for comparison when I say Wow ! That book was awful ! ( Although I highly doubt I'll ever find something as painful as Cloud of Sparrows . )
I pity anyone who paid for this book , especially if they paid the full retail price . Currently , I'm deciding whether I should donate it to some poor , unsuspecting soul or if I should take it out back and shoot it . I don't like cruelty , so I'm leaning towards the second option .
096 4 I forced myself to read it , and I don't think the book's that good . Here are some of the problems : prose is difficult to read , not straightforward ; too many Japanese and western stereotypes ; too bloody ( why massacre a whole village of Eta ? Samurai were honorable , not genocidal ) ; historically inaccurate ( era of wild west gunfighters was 1880s , not 1860 ) ; and there were just too many preposterous contrived plot devices ( for example , Genji is psychic and sees the future ) . It seems the author had a good story buried in there somewhere . It's just too bad he had to hide it under all the b.s . and gore . Also , I'd expect much more honesty and a plot with a moral center from a former buddhist monk . Not this hyped garbage .
097 4 I was deeply repelled by this work . On the surface , it appeared to be a Clavell clone . However , once I got past the first thirty pages , I realized that it was written by a sadistic psychopath . . . just one bload-soaked scene after another with no rhyme or reason for most of the bloodshed . At least Clavell's violence had purpose . Additionally , the book is historically inaccurate . However , since our culture is so dumbed-down few will notice that ; but most will notice the unending gore . Was Matsuoka off his meds when he wrote this garbage ? I wonder . Even more disturbing was that a major publisher actually printed it .
098 4 This blood-soaked attempt at historical fiction stopped me cold in my tracks . Only a psychotic sociopath could enjoy this work . But what truly amazes me is that it somehow slipped past the screening process of one of the major publishers . How did that happen ? Whoever was responsible should be taken to task . I wouldn't even recommend this book to Charles Manson . What a loser !
099 4 I enjoyed Shogun and Gai-Jin by Clavell , so I thought I'd give Cloud of Sparrows a try . I have never been so disappointed in a novel in my life . The plot seems to be a mere convenience for hundreds of pages of bloodshed and gore . Sadists will enjoy this book . Normal people will be repelled . Don't be fooled into buying this unmitigated trash .
100 4 I just have to respond to the readers , who are trying to foist this second rate novel on the unsuspecting public . It is not a good read at all . The prose is tortured , conceited and awkward at best . The plot is absolutely hilarious : Matsuoka's got this American gunfighter running around 1860 Japan on a blood quest , while a mentally imbalanced minor Japanese warlord successfully takes on the shogun's vassals and spies , aided by a double-dealing courtesan . Oh , yeah , and the warlord is also clairvoyant , somehow seeing the future of Japan . Absolute unrealistic drivel ! The author had to be on drugs when he wrote this novel , and so must his editor . Does Random House drug test its employees ? If not , they should . How could a major publishing house fall for this pablum , especially with all the unsolicited manuscripts flooding into their mailroom ? I'm sure the slush pile would have produced something much better than this ridiculous work . It is truly unbelievable . But what is really unbelievable is that I paid to try and read it . Fortunately , I couldn't force myself to finish it . Don't be taken in . Look at the sales numbers before you buy . I will in the future .
