Shibumi

My first book by Trevanian.

Long ago when I was an apprentice electrician I was given a copy of Shibumi. I didn't know then that this novel would affect my life as it did. I met a Basque while working in Chantilly, and had to try to explain how I even knew the name! He said the book was correct in many ways, so many I had to find my copy and let him read it! I have since read many more novels by Trevanian and enjoyed them all. But my favorite has been Shibumi, and I now keep a copy for myself and one for new freinds that I feel would enjoy it as much as I have.
Mr. Trevanian explains why he doesn't go into as much detail as in some of his other books and it makes sense that he does this. It also allows the reader to do any research into these skills as they see fit.
I hope you enjoy Shibumi as much as I did!

Jay Nash

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Unexpected

This book is unlike any other I have read. In the first 80 pages or so I thought the book was going to be completely different than it was regarding who the protangonist and antagonist were going to be. There was a lot of back ground and character set up in the first half of the book which proved necessary in the end. Great twists and characters, I definitely recoommend this book.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Great thriller for a great escape

Trevanian is a fabulous author, going to bn.com now to pickup the "crazy ladies" book. The storyline was never dull or boring, always had me wanting to turn the page to know what happened.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Keanu Reeves is supposed to star in this!!!!

I don't know how they are going to justify the timeline with someone so young as Keanu, but I have loved this book ever since a friend of mine let me borrow it for inspiration of overcoming writer's block. An excellent thriller that is reminscent, but nowhere near a copy of Eric Lustabder's Nicholas Linnear novels.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It's good but where's the story?

I'm a fan of this author and I did mostly enjoy this book. Except for the fact that there's no story. Over half the book is devoted to the main character's background, a fascinating yarn and in fact my favorite part, but it's all just back-story. When we finally get caught up to the present, the thin tale of revenge that's left leaves much to be desired. It seems to me there's something missing or incomplete about the whole thing. While parts of the book in themselves are really great and often very gripping, I think as a whole, this is not one of Trevanian's best efforts.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Goo???

I've read this book several times during my life, and I was delighted to find it for the nook. Until I found that in translation to e-book, the game of 'Go' had been changed to 'Goo.' Go is very prominent in the book and essential to its concepts, and referring to the game as 'Goo' strips it of all dignity ... and, if I may, Shibumi. I never realized that the two-letter word "go" could be mispelled, and so badly (and so often, as it is referred to many, many times in the story, every time as 'goo.'

The book is wonderful, and if you haven't read it, don't let the flaw bother you. It really is a fantastic story.

Highly Recommended

One of the best Spy novels ever written. This novel is like fine wine, it gets better with with age. The story is ageless. I highly recommend this book.

Not paying for it

Boycott E-book! It's more than print

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Incredibly bad

I wonder if the spoof novels Rodney William Whitaker wrote include this one? I never in my life have rolled my eyes more times than reading this book. I seriously don't have the words for how ridiculous some of the situations in this book were. The historical parts were fairly well done (which is why this got a 2 stars) but the main plot was boring and filled with holes a mile wide. For instance, he's in a prison and is basically strip searched for protection of the prisoner. But they let him bring a board game in?? And does anyone actually believe a person is going to knowingly and personally threaten, face-to-face mind you, the world's top assassin? The constant bashing of the Intelligence services (main target: the CIA-of course,) the U.S. in general, and various other cultures grows incredibly wearisome after hearing it for the 200th time. Being an American, I can only assume that Whitaker was either playing the world's anti-American attitude against them, or actually did hate the country in which he lived. And please don't get me started on Whitaker's foray into sexual proclivities which had absolutely no place in this novel whatsoever. One line read something to effect of "If a woman annoyed him, he treated her to a sexual encounter that would leave her vacant and searching through lovers and husbands for the rest of her life trying to achieve it again." Whitaker has quite a deep void of sexual knowledge if he believes this nonsense. Note: Whitaker devotes at least 10 times as much writing to sex (that has no bearing on the plot at all) as he does the assasination experience of the main character. The ending was a nearly complete letdown, from being far too short and non-descript (it feels like he just gave up because he was sick of writing,) to its structure, preposterousness and predictability. I simply can't help thinking this was simply another one of Whitaker's jokes.

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Brad Pit would flourish in this role...

Packed with intrique and layers of muses...One should focus on all the description of events and characters, nothing more or less. Great read, would make a great script!

Breaks the mold of Ludlum and the rest

Although the book is a bit dated I first read it almost twenty years ago.. It is still one of my favorite reads . It has great action concepts such as ' Naked Kill' and wonderfully inventive sex. Here the uninitiated may pick up a few interesting ideas, overall a really fine book that remains interesting over time.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Ludicrous but Entertaining

I found this book on a vacation, and its a perfect vacation read-insane on its own principles, but entertaining. Minor bonuses include one of the most unsympathetic and unlikeable protagonists of all time (a vegitarian assassain?), a popularization of the great game of Go, and casual, ubitquitous and purposefully offensive stereotyping ('virginity is important for Arabs, who fear comparison, and with good reason'). The character of the Corporation Head was a nice touch.

The best book I've ever read!!!

I've read this book nine or ten times over the years and still find it as interesting and exciting as the first time. The concept of 'Shibumi' and the quiet strength of Hel make the book a blueprint to inner peace.

Gripping!

I read this book years ago and still remember it as one of the best books I have ever read. I plan to re-read it as soon as I get a chance.

Favorite Books by Trevanian

The best Trevanian by far !!! This book has it all . Action, adventure, sex, and intrigue .

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