Rising Sun
by Michael Crichton
This one is supposed to be a crime story, and in a sense it is, but not quite. It seems to be a kind of rostrum, rather…
The book is by no means the best written by the author. Michael Crichton could do much better. What makes the book worth reading is it is a phenomenon, after a sort. I mean, many would find it racist and some would find it anti-American. Books have been banned or demanded to be banned for less. Which is stupid, of course: books should not be banned. If one does not like a book, no one can force one to read it. Except when a book is syllabus, to be sure. But this one is not likely to be. A pity, I`d say; reading it does make one reflect and consider, and exercise for the brain is always useful.
Like, the author`s (?) opinion of Japan and the Japanese might be well-grounded, and then again it might be not. That`s not the point. The point is, were the author to write anything like that about black Americans, or about gays, or such, well, I suspect the general public would start screaming blue murder. Makes one wonder about Freedom of Speech, or Equal and More Equal, eh?
On the other hand, some might (and do, alas) think the author hates America. I would not agree. Quite on the contrary! The criticism expressed in the book seems to indicate the writer loves his country, and seeing the beloved country going to the dogs really hurts him. Loved and hurt, I mean.
The literary value of the book is not much above zero, I`m sorry to note. Still, “Rising Sun” is worth reading. As mental pabulum, certainly. You don`t have to like it, but you might find it useful… As they say, read at your own risk. And then think. At your own risk, too…
© Dodo