Helpful Score: 2
An excellent tale of of an American corporal in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp during WWII. He is hard-edged & ruthless, but also street-wise & insightful. By exploiting the inappropriateness to the situation of the senses of 'honor' & 'class' of the Japanese & British officers above him with his American 'can do know how' & physical courage, he creates a position of power & influence for himself within the camp. But he is also despised & envied for this position, and the struggle to maintain/seize this power leads to corruption & violence that threatens to ruin them all.
Helpful Score: 1
I read this as a book club choice. I was intrigued by the story; helped me to gain insight into the Asian front of WWII.
Helpful Score: 1
Brutal prison camp in WW2 in Japanese occupied territory. Am American corporal seeks dominance over captives as well as captors using courage and understanding of human weaknesses.
Helpful Score: 1
This book takes place during World War 2 in a brutal Japanese prison camp in Singapore. An American corporal is able to take dominance over the oher prisoners through courage, understanding of human weaknesses, and willingness to exploit every opportunity to enlarge his power and corrupt or destroy anyone who stands in his way.
This book is a good study of how people who are living in captivity adjust to such a life and are willing to do anything just to survive. It is a realisting and fascinating study of the human condition. Clavell is an excellent writer. I enjoyed the book.
This book is a good study of how people who are living in captivity adjust to such a life and are willing to do anything just to survive. It is a realisting and fascinating study of the human condition. Clavell is an excellent writer. I enjoyed the book.
