Shibumi by Trevanian (1983-06-01)

Combines military history, spy intrigue, a little bit of martial arts, little bit of sex, into a book that will definitely have you rooting for the 'bad guy'. I wish that someone would make this into a movie.

You know that friend in college who studied abroad for a semester and came back thinking he was way deep and cultured and bashed America every chance he got, even when it made no sense in the context of the conversation? Who was convinced that everything about the place he had visited was superior to boring ol' USA? That's the main character of this book re Japan. He even takes time out to knock chess as inferior to Go, for Pete's sake. It was kind of funny at first but got grating and smarmy really fast. It also didn't help that the bad guys were one-dimensional idiots designed to make the protagonist look good.

Also, the 50-odd pages of spelunking in the middle? Yeah, real page turner.

Also also, his Daredevil-like powers are just out of place and turn him into some kind of unstoppable force. Who also can kill you with any object in the room. And sex women so good it's actually torture because they'll never be satisfied with another man. And engage in sex from across he room without ever touching each other while getting in a jab about how an American could never achieve this level erotic control. Seriously, what?

So, anything good here? The author has a great command of the language and some of his phrasing is legitimately very clever and entertaining. The plot-stopping cave-diving aside, the novel is briskly paced. Worth it for a plane ride maybe, but that's about it.

Engaging, relatively quick read, but shares a lot of themes with his other books, the Basque region, anti-merchant and, strangely, common vocabulary, such as 'avuncular'. Excellent on Kindle when you need to look up horripilation.

Just not in the league of a Ludlum or Forsyth... The characters are one-dimensional, apart from the lead, but even he becomes predictable in his pseudo-sophistication. The book is largely self-indulgent of the author's passions, and remarkably thin on central plot or action. What saves it to an extent is the author's command of English.

hi...from mike bookout.....i was working in a warehouse in sacramento and the receptionist said this book was her favorite...all the dudes from the warehouse were on brake and they all agreed to this being their favorite....next to the bible it is my favorite book...i read voraciously and have many favorites i go back to each year(s)....this is a book not about a hit-man/assasin but about life of philosophy with a little action adventure thrown in for entertainment....it has sold 2million...if more persons would share it that number could well go the multi millions..I was at my gym in sacramento just having finished the book and dying to learn more about the author (this was in the days before internet) and I was considering traveling to whatever country he lived just to ask him specific questions about the main character Hel....well, this voice said to me...'go talk to that guy over there...(i had never seen the man and not only do i attend this gym each and every day for multiple years but i always look to engage new comers...) sooooo...on my adventure and in speaking with him i said...reading any good books ? etc and in turn he said...and you? (me)...and I said i had just finished Shibumi and i would die to meet the author, and this man named Gene said "he is my best friend".

While parts of this book could be sad or disturbing, it is well written and keeps your mind actively engaged. The main character surrounds himself with an interesting cast of characters and surroundings.

This has been my father's favorite book for decades. As a child, he would take me into used book stores to search out copies. He always gave them away to friends and family. As an adult, this book has held a special place in my heart. That aside, it is phenomenally written and beautifully done. Yes, violent but a wonderful book. I recommend reading it or listening to it on CD (though you will need a LONG car ride as I think it is approx 10 cds...).

The world has changed since Shibumi first appeared in 1979. American intelligence enjoys a much better reputation; Palestinians and Israelis have found a way to live together without violence; and men have stopped thinking of women in sexual terms.

Well, maybe not.

Some of Trevanian's assessments seem a bit flat or outdated now. But the rest of the book holds up well. It's the story of a gifted and mystic boy living at a nexus of the world's cultures. He turns into a refined assassin after tragedy and mishandling by powerful idiots.

Shibumi is a reminder of some important ideas even as it drives readers through the adventure that is the life of Nicoli Hel.

As of this writing, it's retained almost all its stars after 142 reviews. That's a strong recommendation in and of itself.

Try the book. Then come back and report your own feelings. Odds are you'll help retain the stars.

Although this book has been out for a few decades, I just discovered it and found it timely and just as fresh as if it had been written this year. I even learned new vocabulary as his words are well thought out and placed.