Reviews

The Samurai by Shūsaku Endō

fred312's review against another edition

adventurous reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

nynja's review against another edition

emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

andgineer's review

5.0

Книга понравилась, она захватывает.
Довольно быстро начинаешь сопереживать героям и возникает обычное желание для хороших приключенческих книг, узнать, что там дальше.
Чуть вызывает недоумение достоверность психологии самурая, но уж японец точно должен понимать в этом больше меня.
Соответственно и сам исторический фон любопытен, но я не понял про его достоверность.

На мой взгляд, намного лучше, чем разрекламированная "Silence".

katja_weinert's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

sonofstdavid's review

5.0

Another phenomenal work by Endo. His earlier work, Silence, has had a profound impact on how I viewed faith and the Christian life, the Samurai likewise, felt like more than just a novel.
Unlike Silence, however, the ending of this book does not leave the reader with doubtful turmoil. Although less gloomy, The Samurai still presents Endo's passionate betrayal of the beauty of the suffering Christ. The two main characters; an ambitious Franciscan driven by a desire for conquest, and a resolute samurai characterized by loyalty, both find their fulfillment in that Man of Sorrows.

gloriabyrd's review

2.0

God, this book was boring. The plot, if condensed, would be an amazing story. I read this for class and wanted to like it so badly. I hated one of the main characters and wished the other would stand up for himself. This was a disappointing read.

yourfriendadam's review

4.0

A beautiful, contemplative, and fairly historical story of an ambitious missionary and a reserved samurai, their journeys and faith transformation, in the face of the wide, uncaring world

sharonb's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Based on actual events, this is a fictionalised account of a voyage made in early 17th century by a group of lower status Japanese men and merchants together with a Catholic priest from Japan to Mexico and Europe.  The premise of the trip for the Japanese was to open trade with the west but the priest was wanting to convert the Japanese to Christianity to further his own ambitions. The men were just doing what they were told by their feudal Lords. Loyalty to the Lords was paramount. The Japanese would do whatever they could to make sure their mission was successful which it was never going to be as things change very quickly in governments and politics

Told from 2 POV's, one first person from the priest, the other 3rd person mainly filling in the daily life and difficulties of the Japanese and their interaction with others.

I liked the writing, very descriptive particularly of the nature. The Japanese sections had a big emphasis on nature. The descriptions of the storms they endured at sea and how the coped was really good.

Tragic ending, though there was a tragic feeling throughout the book. You could tell the men were naive and were being manipulated from all sides. The mission was doomed right from the start. I didn't like the priest for most of the book but he had a redeemable character arc later on.  It isn't a very long book but it felt longer and by the end I just wanted to get it finished.

koki_siringo's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

4.25

icecubecat's review

3.0

Endo's ability to critically analyse the colonial trappings of Christianity makes for repeated thoughtful tension in the book best exemplified in his ability to use claustrophobic introspection and a lack of dialogue to force the reader to think neurotically about these ideas. The writing is engaging and natural but the breadth of times and places covered in the book feels like it hampers Endo's ability to write these scenes as he needs to continually take the reader from place to place.

In parts the prose can feel slightly drudgy due to a repetition of identically phrased motifs particularly in the first half but there is somewhat of a pay off at the end. The story of reading it is as much an experience of what the characters went through themselves. You read it with a sense of climactic anticipation before everything very quickly fading to nothing.

I haven't read any of Endo's other works but I have a gut feeling this is not the best one to start on.