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Liked It “A great book in many ways, about an assassin who strives for and achieves perfection in many ways.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“A great book in many ways, about an assassin who strives for and achieves perfection in many ways.”
Daman B wrote this review 10 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Travanian's (Rodney Whitaker's) personal views on America, French Basque and various other world cultures, somewhat obscure what is at its core a great spy story. I share a lot of authors political and world views, but I felt that by seeking every opportunity to express them he tempered my enjoyment of his story.
Daniel N wrote this review Monday, November 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Overall a good read with interesting facts and a unique central character.
It made me seek more knowledge about the Basque and begin learning the Japanese game Go.
Entertaining.”
“Great spy/action book but I originally read the "uncensored" version which gave all the weird details of how to kill someone with things like a straw or a rolled up magazine. When I went back to read it a few years later from the library the edition I had said it had been edited to take out those details because people were actually following the author's advice...whatever, sounds like censorship to me. I still haven't been able to find that original version but I still look for it.”
Shelley D wrote this review Wednesday, October 14 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I'm happy to say this is the first Trevanian book I read, and it's the unassailable favorite.
Ken S wrote this review Wednesday, August 5 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I've never read a Trevanian book I wasn't delighted by*, but it's this one that helped shape my values. As with 1984 and Garp, and others I'll add in later as I think of them, Shibumi first showed me how the US is viewed in the big world picture. The concept of other countries citizens generally liking Americans, but hating Americanism - I heard it here first.
The idea that many of us are born with abilities and instincts that we were discouraged into unlearning, or which we can be walled away from entirely once scarred by fear or hatred - something feels vicerally accurate about that.
And even with all it's useful (!) philosophical overtures and underpinnings, it's just a cracking good story (as said by a reviewer of Incident At Twenty Mile). Because a great story experience was always Job A and Job Z, and all the polished little gems along the way are his pleasure, and ours.
(I'll be hacking away at this one on and off for a bit - Hate to gush without plausible substentiation.)
* of course, I haven't read Katya yet...”
“Men will surely like this book because of cheap thrills and chick trysts. But if you're looking for combat action(ala James Bond) and if you're affected by Trevanian's criticism on the Western geopolitical standpoint, then better not read it. ”
narj wrote this review Wednesday, July 8 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A slow and philosophical book, its underlying ideas greatly resembles THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE (Henrik Ibsen).
Zuriel H wrote this review Friday, July 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Here's a favourite extract:
"...it is not your lack of experience that is your greatest flaw. It is your disdain. Your defeats will come from the patient, the plodding, the mediocre… … Your scorn for mediocrity blinds you to its vast primitive power. You stand in the glare of your own brilliance, unable to (...) see the potential dangers of the mass, the wad of humanity.We are in the age of the mediocre man. He is dull, colorless, boring––but inevitably victorious. The masses are the final tyrants. The roar of the plodders is inarticulate, but deafening. They have no brain, but they have a thousand arms to grasp and clutch at you, drag you down.” ”
“Read this as a freshman in college.
David Kenney wrote this review Monday, July 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Loved it. br/]It's got everything (asian mystics, espionage, sex, and a great plot)
Well done.”“This is one of my all-time favorite books. I am about to read it again, after purchasing it as part of a compilation of Trevanian stories at Powell's bookstore in Portland (go Powell's go) while traveling.
L D wrote this review Sunday, January 11 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It is unusual to root for a character who in retrospect is a bad guy. Nicholai is an assassin, after all. His unusual love interest and friends make the story multi-dimensional.”
“Wow! This book had everything. I laughed, I was sad, I was curious... There is adventure and new ideas. This is an older book, written in 1979, but it still holds up well during our time. Enjoy something really different, by reading this book.
kd7ign wrote this review Thursday, September 4 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
kd7ign”
“I love this book, I need to read it again because I enjoyed it so much the first couple of times I read it. ”
Mother Watts wrote this review Saturday, August 16 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
