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I'd have to say Noble House is the most impressive of the three. Legolas Send a noteboard - 06/07/2010 01:30:11 PM

I just found it utterly engrossing and thought he handled a rather large story very adeptly and the cultural juxtapostion was fantastic. I just felt extremely gratified when I finished and really impressed. I've never read Noble House but I think Elaine really liked that as well.


But rather different from Shogun. Noble House is perhaps the most European book in the series, as it's set in Hong Kong in the '60s, so the Asian aspects are a bit less strong than in the five others. But in terms of plot, pace and excitement, it's the best of the lot, imho. It's almost 24-like in its pace - over a thousand pages spread over merely seven days storytime, iirc, means the action (not only action in the sense of violence or action movies, obviously) starts early and never really stops.

I'm not sure I'd prefer Tai-Pan over Shogun as Jonte does, though...
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One simple question: Rebekah - 01/07/2010 11:00:44 PM 1590 Views
Lolita *NM* Vodalus - 01/07/2010 11:13:10 PM 595 Views
Have you read Pale Fire? *NM* Rebekah - 03/07/2010 12:14:56 AM 543 Views
No, I haven't. I have, however, been meaning to read The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov... Vodalus - 03/07/2010 12:36:39 AM 975 Views
Re: No, I haven't. I have, however, been meaning to read The Stories of Vladimir Nabokov... Rebekah - 03/07/2010 12:38:22 AM 1006 Views
Is it unfinished? I seem to recall that, but I could be mistaken... *NM* Missa Sedai - 03/07/2010 02:15:07 AM 555 Views
No. You are thinking of his "novel", The Original of Laura. Tom - 03/07/2010 06:40:09 PM 983 Views
Pale Fire is an excellent novel, particularly if you like making fun of Robert Frost. Tom - 03/07/2010 06:39:29 PM 1007 Views
I've always planned on reading it. Vodalus - 04/07/2010 06:30:31 PM 961 Views
I've read all of Pelevin's books other than t, which recently was released. Tom - 04/07/2010 06:40:04 PM 995 Views
Sorry. I'm going to have to get back to you on this later. Vodalus - 04/07/2010 07:22:31 PM 1070 Views
No problem. I'm stinking drunk and blew up shit to celebrate America's independence. Tom - 05/07/2010 05:03:42 AM 1106 Views
Paradise Lost *NM* Larry - 01/07/2010 11:23:22 PM 620 Views
I have the most beautiful copy of Paradise Lost. Rebekah - 03/07/2010 12:11:40 AM 1061 Views
I only have the cheap paperback from my grad school years Larry - 03/07/2010 12:19:07 AM 1023 Views
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. lord-of-shadow - 01/07/2010 11:31:52 PM 1072 Views
What is it about? Rebekah - 03/07/2010 12:14:27 AM 1108 Views
Zen and maintaining motorcycles. *NM* Ghavrel - 03/07/2010 03:44:44 AM 529 Views
*NM* Rebekah - 03/07/2010 09:39:43 AM 503 Views
The Aeneid, the Iliad, the Odyssey, and Macbeth come to mind. *NM* Ghavrel - 02/07/2010 02:29:13 AM 590 Views
I really didn't like Macbeth. Rebekah - 03/07/2010 12:12:15 AM 1086 Views
It's so wonderfully quotable. Ghavrel - 03/07/2010 12:32:39 AM 983 Views
I'm amazed by these responses. rebelaessedai - 02/07/2010 07:10:31 PM 1208 Views
I spent most of my time trying to decide... Wibble - 02/07/2010 07:22:26 PM 1152 Views
Well. I mean a book/story that you thought was pretty close to perfection. Rebekah - 02/07/2010 08:02:55 PM 1294 Views
Same *NM* ironclad - 05/07/2010 10:36:59 AM 540 Views
I was a bit too. Rebekah - 02/07/2010 08:03:29 PM 1121 Views
Well, I know you are, dear. rebelaessedai - 05/07/2010 07:45:29 AM 1181 Views
I'm usually in your camp. lord-of-shadow - 02/07/2010 11:13:35 PM 1065 Views
Fair enough. *NM* rebelaessedai - 05/07/2010 07:45:51 AM 524 Views
Then you need to read more. *shrug* Ghavrel - 02/07/2010 11:23:24 PM 1133 Views
RE: insecure rebelaessedai - 05/07/2010 07:49:42 AM 1219 Views
You are not excused. Larry - 02/07/2010 11:40:16 PM 1248 Views
Wow. That read enough like Tom that I had to check to make sure it was you. *NM* Ghavrel - 02/07/2010 11:57:26 PM 547 Views
Yeah, it did kinda read like that Larry - 03/07/2010 12:00:17 AM 1172 Views
I take that as a compliment and concur completely with Larry's statement. Tom - 03/07/2010 06:48:05 PM 1078 Views
Heh. I suspected you would. Nice quote. *NM* Ghavrel - 03/07/2010 09:50:55 PM 558 Views
Asking me who I am? Are you kidding? *NM* rebelaessedai - 05/07/2010 07:50:53 AM 531 Views
Were you above? Larry - 05/07/2010 08:21:15 AM 1092 Views
You make me want to sing @my - 05/07/2010 02:32:37 PM 1357 Views
And you make me want to cover my ears Larry - 05/07/2010 07:57:12 PM 1068 Views
Not sure why you're saying that.. @my - 05/07/2010 08:16:05 PM 1272 Views
I just don't ever want to hear you sing Larry - 05/07/2010 08:36:51 PM 1017 Views
I'm a literary snob? Really? Cool! Vodalus - 03/07/2010 12:23:55 AM 1046 Views
Fair enough. *NM* rebelaessedai - 05/07/2010 07:51:21 AM 480 Views
What is yours? @my - 05/07/2010 05:19:23 AM 1328 Views
Wraeththu by Storm Constantine is mine. rebelaessedai - 05/07/2010 07:51:59 AM 1168 Views
I will read that one day. When I can find it. *NM* Rebekah - 05/07/2010 11:09:32 PM 515 Views
You should. It's excellent. *NM* Jessie - 07/07/2010 06:14:40 AM 463 Views
Re: I'm not excusing you. You're incredibly mean right now. Danae al'Thor - 09/07/2010 08:33:02 AM 1076 Views
There are many but SilverWarder - 02/07/2010 08:33:44 PM 1137 Views
Re: There are many but Rebekah - 03/07/2010 12:12:33 AM 940 Views
Easy. The Mahabharatha... fionwe1987 - 02/07/2010 11:55:27 PM 1059 Views
Don't tell Roh. Rebekah - 03/07/2010 12:13:57 AM 986 Views
Which one? fionwe1987 - 03/07/2010 12:59:43 AM 1059 Views
Re: Which one? Rebekah - 05/07/2010 05:28:08 PM 1143 Views
There's a "proper one"? fionwe1987 - 06/07/2010 06:03:55 PM 990 Views
It is big. Rebekah - 08/07/2010 12:14:24 AM 1072 Views
Re: I sent her Kamala Subramaniam's translation. Danae al'Thor - 09/07/2010 08:20:43 AM 1097 Views
Ahhh... One of my favorites... fionwe1987 - 09/07/2010 05:24:55 PM 1416 Views
Re: Parva is not a translation of the MB, though, is it. It's a reinterpretation. Which is fine. Danae al'Thor - 09/07/2010 11:01:43 PM 1139 Views
It's spelled "Mahabharata". Tom - 03/07/2010 06:51:09 PM 1006 Views
That's not how it is pronounced though... fionwe1987 - 03/07/2010 08:54:27 PM 1059 Views
Traditional pronunciation vs. modern pronunciation Tom - 03/07/2010 09:47:52 PM 1040 Views
I learned Sanskrit for years... fionwe1987 - 04/07/2010 01:28:34 AM 969 Views
However... fionwe1987 - 04/07/2010 02:31:00 AM 1000 Views
See, I was taught that ध produced the sound in "that" and थ the sound in "thought". Tom - 04/07/2010 02:44:56 AM 1061 Views
Re: Ew. *NM* Danae al'Thor - 09/07/2010 08:57:03 AM 506 Views
Re: I should have read the thread before bothering to give my skimpy response! Danae al'Thor - 09/07/2010 08:26:35 AM 1289 Views
Re: Actually, I think those two letter would get an "hh". *NM* Danae al'Thor - 09/07/2010 08:25:57 AM 514 Views
Re: Yes, but at no point is that war a good thing. Danae al'Thor - 09/07/2010 08:24:57 AM 1266 Views
American Gods. *NM* Dreaded Anomaly - 03/07/2010 04:49:18 AM 529 Views
I really wanted to enjoy that a lot. It was good, but not amazing, imo. Rebekah - 05/07/2010 05:28:53 PM 1044 Views
Totally agree. Great concept that fell short. *NM* Panorphaeon - 06/07/2010 02:46:55 AM 487 Views
Shogun Inigo Montoya - 03/07/2010 03:08:04 PM 1062 Views
I've been tempted a few times. Rebekah - 05/07/2010 05:29:18 PM 1168 Views
huh. I always felt that... jh - 05/07/2010 10:00:29 PM 983 Views
I really liked Tai Pan as well. Inigo Montoya - 06/07/2010 12:37:58 PM 1078 Views
I'd have to say Noble House is the most impressive of the three. Legolas - 06/07/2010 01:30:11 PM 1065 Views
A few that come to mind: Doctor Zhivago, Master & Margarita and Brothers Karamazov Tom - 03/07/2010 06:53:25 PM 1068 Views
I've only read Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky. Rebekah - 05/07/2010 05:30:45 PM 984 Views
It's one of the weaker ones of his "famous" novels. Tom - 06/07/2010 08:08:27 PM 1031 Views
I was somewhat disappointed by the Picture of Dorian Gray SilverWarder - 07/07/2010 05:33:31 AM 981 Views
To Kill a Mockingbird @my - 05/07/2010 02:30:44 PM 1217 Views
It is excellent. Rebekah - 05/07/2010 05:31:21 PM 992 Views
Catch-22 *NM* damookster - 06/07/2010 02:27:57 AM 710 Views
+1 *NM* nossy - 06/07/2010 06:07:59 PM 474 Views
A few years ago I would have thought you crazy for this. Rebekah - 08/07/2010 12:15:02 AM 952 Views
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius nossy - 06/07/2010 06:09:12 PM 1029 Views
Hm. Rebekah - 08/07/2010 12:15:27 AM 1105 Views
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