why I never finished Whirlwind | Whirlwind: A Novel of the Iranian Revolution

Very interesting, a little different, but very educational | Whirlwind: A Novel of the Iranian Revolution | James Clavell

books:


	• Whirlwind: A Novel of the Iranian Revolution James Clavell Hodder Paperback, 1999 - 1248 pages average customer review:based on 39 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

Fair Purchase

The book was a gift, so I'm not exactly sure of the condition, but I'm sure they would have said something if the book was unreadable/or in poor condition. The delivery was longer than normal had it been shipped from the US...that being said, being that it was from the UK it got here in the estimated delivery time-so no complaints. Good Transaction.

why I never finished Whirlwind

I am a fan of James Clavell. His book Kind Rat was a great first novel, and Shogun is a classic. That said, I made a subjective decision not to finish his last novel, Whirlwind. I quit about half way through the 1200 page book.

Parts of the book show Clavel's workmanlike skills as a storyteller and make for a compelling read. However, as a whole, IMO the novel suffers from too many characters or -- put differently -- from the lack of a unifying hero.

But there are other deeper issues. In the end Clavell's writing was limited not by his own lack of literary skill, but by his own limitations as a man. I was troubled by this same issue in Noble House, but it is even more pronounced in Whirlwind.

True, Whirlwind is fiction and never claims to be historically accurate. Nonetheless, I suspect that it falls far short of presenting an accurate picture of the period. Why? Well, in part, because Clavell chooses to see the events of that tumultuous time primarily through the eyes of non Iranian ex-patriots from the west But even when the author tells the Iranian point of view, the people he portrays are almost always shallow, crass, sadistically cruel, venal, corrupt, etc.

I suspect that most Iranians would disagree with this view, and would prefer to see their own country rather differently. I look forward to reading a novel about the same events as told by a native son -- not a westerner.

for more information click here

Very interesting, a little different, but very educational

I read this book first in the Asian Saga, something I really wouldn't recommend, but doable if you just want to read a fine novel that will give you both insight into current Middle East politics and the history of Iran in particular. I have since read all the Asian Saga series, and although this is far from my favorite, it is still a very interesting book and I might even raise my rating once I read it again knowing the back round of the series. Although most of Clavell's novels jump around from character to character, this one seemed to do so more than the rest, and with a lot of different characters in various locations it can be a little choppy at times. I found myself having to reread portions occasionally just to remember where the character last left off. That being said, it was still a very compelling read with lots of action and with the way the world situation has progressed since Mr. Clavell penned this book, it was still very interesting and at sometimes very Prophetic. I am old enough to remember the U.S. Embassy take-over, and was in the US Air Force during the "rescue attempt" and I found the storyline very realistic and informative.

for more information click here

Whirlwind

All of James Clavell's Asian-theme novels are terrific. This last novel of his certainly continued that trend. His passing is a true loss, not only to the literary world, but also to his millions of readers worldwide. To be unable to continue to follow the ever-increasing saga of the Struan's is a great disappointment to me.

"Whirlwind" is the story of three weeks in Tehran in February 1979: three weeks of fanaticism, passion, self-sacrifice and heartbreak. Caught between the revolutionaries and the forces of international intrigue is a team of professional pilots. They are ordered to flee to safety with their helicopters. Two of them, both Europeans, have Iranian wives whom they love beyond safety and politics.

for more information click here

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8