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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
The assassin with a soft spot. I found the action, drama and romance blended very well to create a great start to the John Rain series. I began this in ebook format then found an audio version (narrator is Jim Harding) and switched. I highly recommend the audio version because while I read it, I tended to pause at the Japanese references and phrases but hearing it from the narrator made the story flow seamlessly. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
Can't wait to see Keanu play this character
I read this because I heard Keanu would be playing John Rain soon; I can easily see him in this role, and look forward to getting to know this character better. Fast paced, easy read, I'll definitely continue on to the next book in the series.
I read this because I heard Keanu would be playing John Rain soon; I can easily see him in this role, and look forward to getting to know this character better. Fast paced, easy read, I'll definitely continue on to the next book in the series.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Well placed thriller, brilliantly performed by the author himself.
I was surprised by how much I liked this, but I suppose it does reminisce back to good times reading other books about hit men...
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My CAWPILE score: 5.43 (Good)
Full review to come...
Full review to come...
This low rating is because of my lack of interest in the spy/ assassin genre. I have never liked any of the books in this genre- Jack Reacher, Mitch Rapp, Bourne, James Bond ..... (Frederick Forsyth's books are the only exception). I have been trying to find some author in this genre who would interest me, unfortunately this too failed.
I was finding excuses not to get back to the book. I read the abridged version in the RD select edition. As it was just 150 pages, I didn't want to DNF. I returned to read the last 50 pages after a 5 day break, by then i had forgotten who's who and I didn't even care to go back and figure the characters and the plot. I simply read through the last few pages without understanding most of it.
The other reason for the low rating is the narration in first person. When someone tells "I tackled 2 goons alone, I saved a Damsel in distress, I am great, blah, blah" ( not these words, but effectively the same meaning) , I just want the protagonist to shut up. I didn't even fell sorry for him when he was telling his story about PTSD after the horrors in Vietnam.
What a waste of time !
I was finding excuses not to get back to the book. I read the abridged version in the RD select edition. As it was just 150 pages, I didn't want to DNF. I returned to read the last 50 pages after a 5 day break, by then i had forgotten who's who and I didn't even care to go back and figure the characters and the plot. I simply read through the last few pages without understanding most of it.
The other reason for the low rating is the narration in first person. When someone tells "I tackled 2 goons alone, I saved a Damsel in distress, I am great, blah, blah" ( not these words, but effectively the same meaning) , I just want the protagonist to shut up. I didn't even fell sorry for him when he was telling his story about PTSD after the horrors in Vietnam.
What a waste of time !
(Review of original edition, published as "Rainfall")
"Rainfall" has been in my action/thriller to-read list for a while. Why it did not bubble to the top sooner is unclear but it definitely proved worth the wait.
As a thriller, "Rainfall" holds it own. Good lead-in, interesting back story for the main character, John Rain, and plenty of plot territory hinted-at and awaiting exploration in future novels. The flip side of this is that the quantity of literary matériel sometimes distracts from the immediate plot.
Where "Rainfall" really worked for me was the author's solid research and (presumed) direct experience with Japan and its cultures. I've worked and lived in most of the Kanto plain locales found in this story, and Eisler got them right...something which made an entertaining thriller so much more so.
Overall, 4 stars plus a 1 star bonus for the quality research.
"Rainfall" has been in my action/thriller to-read list for a while. Why it did not bubble to the top sooner is unclear but it definitely proved worth the wait.
As a thriller, "Rainfall" holds it own. Good lead-in, interesting back story for the main character, John Rain, and plenty of plot territory hinted-at and awaiting exploration in future novels. The flip side of this is that the quantity of literary matériel sometimes distracts from the immediate plot.
Where "Rainfall" really worked for me was the author's solid research and (presumed) direct experience with Japan and its cultures. I've worked and lived in most of the Kanto plain locales found in this story, and Eisler got them right...something which made an entertaining thriller so much more so.
Overall, 4 stars plus a 1 star bonus for the quality research.
A really good murder mystery set in Japan. John Rain is a fun main character, he feels like a mix of a Yakuza game character and John Wick. This book is a great noir murder-mystery, down to the jazz and forbidden romance. Check it out if it interests you, it can be a little goofy sometimes but the attention to detail, writing, and setting all make it worth reading. The amount of detail the author puts into making his depiction of Tokyo accurate is very commendable and astonishingly in-depth.
Good book
The story is good and went on good pace too. Only con that I have for this is cheesy romantic, which turned me off. Little fix on that would spice up some more into this storyline. I would recommend anybody to read this. I am curious about upcoming series...
The story is good and went on good pace too. Only con that I have for this is cheesy romantic, which turned me off. Little fix on that would spice up some more into this storyline. I would recommend anybody to read this. I am curious about upcoming series...