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3.5 stars for me. A philosophical spy thriller, or possibly a parody of one. As a spy novel, it has everything: an international man of mystery living in a French chateau, incompetent government agents, an omnipotent secret organization, hot women, terrorism, and assassinations. As a book of philosophy, it contrasts superficial consumerism with the ideals of simplicity and striving for perfection.
The book shows deep a appreciation for the Japanese and Basque cultures - each for different reasons. However, it also essentializes nationalities in an old-fashioned, pre-PC way. As a result, most characters resemble two-dimensional ethnic caricatures more than real human beings. It's not so surprising, given the publication date. The book is clearly rooted in political, social, and economic issues of the 1970. If you are familiar with the era, you will probably appreciate funny cameos by various "unnamed" celebrities.
The book shows deep a appreciation for the Japanese and Basque cultures - each for different reasons. However, it also essentializes nationalities in an old-fashioned, pre-PC way. As a result, most characters resemble two-dimensional ethnic caricatures more than real human beings. It's not so surprising, given the publication date. The book is clearly rooted in political, social, and economic issues of the 1970. If you are familiar with the era, you will probably appreciate funny cameos by various "unnamed" celebrities.
Llevaba bastantes años sin leer una clásica novela de "espías", en parte debido a que me canse de la paranoia conspiradora que suelen caracterizar este tipo de novelas y fue precisamente esto una de las razones que me llevo a leer esta novela ya que en principio se alejaba de los cánones clásicos y centraba la trama en Nicolai Hel, un asesino a sueldo con una historia interesante y su búsqueda incesante del Shibumi que da pie al título. Sin embargo avanzando su lectura nos encontramos precisamente con todos estos clichés (organización malévola, conspiraciones, etc...) que convierten la novela en "una más" y sin que podamos entresacar de ella nada que la haga especial o que explique su alta valoración dentro de este género.
La primera parte de la novela en la que nos cuentan la historia de Nicolai Hel y como llegó a convertirse en asesino a sueldo esta bien resuelto y mantiene el interés por la trama pero posteriormente la novela pierde mucho fuelle y vemos que la conspiración subyacente esta mal resuelta y la acción se vuelve muy previsible hasta el final que no voy a desvelar ;-) pero que cualquier persona puede suponer cual es.
En definitiva todo aquel que gusten de novelas de "espías" clásicas no se sentirán defraudados pero en ningún caso pondría esta novela al nivel de "clásicos" como "El caso Bourne" de Robert Ludlum, "Chacal" de Frederick Forsyth o "El topo" de John Le Carre.
La primera parte de la novela en la que nos cuentan la historia de Nicolai Hel y como llegó a convertirse en asesino a sueldo esta bien resuelto y mantiene el interés por la trama pero posteriormente la novela pierde mucho fuelle y vemos que la conspiración subyacente esta mal resuelta y la acción se vuelve muy previsible hasta el final que no voy a desvelar ;-) pero que cualquier persona puede suponer cual es.
En definitiva todo aquel que gusten de novelas de "espías" clásicas no se sentirán defraudados pero en ningún caso pondría esta novela al nivel de "clásicos" como "El caso Bourne" de Robert Ludlum, "Chacal" de Frederick Forsyth o "El topo" de John Le Carre.
I don't know exactly how seriously to take this book. I'm leaning towards interpreting the whole thing as a piece of performance art taking the piss out of traditional spy novels and especially critics and reviewers. Shibumi has too many laugh out loud bits (particularly the page and a half about "Volvo bashing") and too many details that would make the story one of the dumbest things ever published if it were serious. This book only makes sense to me if I treat it the same way I treat a Wes Anderson film. It's story takes place in a different universe just slightly at an angle to our own; a surreal universe where the absurd is commonplace and shines a light on all of the stupid, nonsensical things that pass for the norm in more conventional stories.
Do you like lots of set up and minimal action? When you read a thriller do you want a super long chapter in the middle about recreational cave exploring? Do you want to read about skillful vaginal contractions? If yeah, then this is the book for you. Simultaneously eloquent and corny, Shibumi is a 450 page book about how perfect this one dude is and around 10 pages at the end where he does stuff to prove it. There are sporadic tits and crotch descriptions throughout so that’s cool.
Haven't read this in 20 years or more. Entertaining to revisit it. Dated enough now to seem chicly retro, and would make a great movie. :)
This was incredibly dated in its attitudes towards race and gender. The story kept me reading, but wow - parts are just offensive.
Shibumi is a wildly entertaining book with complex characters, timeless political problems, and an examination of culture that naturally leads to self-reflection. Historical perspective on difficult issues still prevalent today is very insightful. Gory, but never unnecessarily detailed. Masculine, but without Nicholai’s detested machismo. Gut-wrenching and emotional, drawing you into the story and characters. Highly recommend!
There are moments of occasional brilliance in this book, but it's not always clear to me what the author is trying to create. Let's put aside the laughably dated references to (bizarrely imagined) computer technology. More difficult to forgive are the persistent anti-Arab and occasionally homophobic references; they first come across as satire, but soon the reader has to conclude the author's got several bees in his bonnet. The anti-American (culture) refrains are also many, yet somehow these go down easier. The plot, while entertaining, seems too often overwhelmed by considerable discourses on Asian culture or side stories on caving in the Pyrenees. And the characters themselves, while compelling in their personal histories and unusual views of the world, are essentially comic book figures who betray no sense of an inner life. 3 stars for the sometimes very engaging prose and cultural promiscuousness (bigoted passages aside).
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes