Ideologues

October 28, 2008 cohenaaroncrack books, election, John Rain, PoliticsLeave a comment

Barry Eisler writes these crazy spy books (John Rain Series) that are super addictive and easy to read in about a day and a half. I’ve read them all. And probably will again in a couple years. These might be the best vacation books of all times. In any case, Eisler also has a blog where he recently has been writing extremely thoughtful posts on the election. I enjoy it immensely because his vote for Obama is coming from a different place than my partisan zealotry. Eisler sounds like a Republican who is embarrassed by today’s Republican party. His latest post is a must read essay on ideologues losing credibility by refusing to acknowledge, well, facts. Just go read the whole thing.

People who are unable or unwilling to recognize the danger of an ossified ideology tend to be ineffective, and, in certain positions, dangerous. Facts, after all, are stubborn things. A deeply held belief that you can fly does nothing to suspend the operation of gravity.

Requiem for an Assassin by Barry Eisler

July 19, 2008 cohenaaroncrack books, John RainLeave a comment

Has Barry Eisler started a new titular pattern with Requiem for an Assassin, replacing “Assassin” with “Rain”? We won’t know until his next book comes out. The most psychological of the series as Rain struggles with the one person who could be his greatest foe – himself.

The Last Assassin by Barry Eisler

July 13, 2008 cohenaaronBarcelona, Books, crack books, John RainLeave a comment

The Last Assassin starts in Barcelona, which was cool for me so soon after visiting there. Eisler steps away from the “Rain” pun title pattern, but only maybe because “Torrential Rain” and “Rain Clouds” and “Light Rain” and “Raining Cats and Dogs” don’t sound very tough. Also, I can’t remember from books 3 and 4, but The Last Assassin might be the first of the series to not be told exclusively from John Rain’s point of view, which gives you a better feel for the ladies.

Hard Rain by Barry Eisler

June 22, 2008 cohenaaronBooks, crack books, John RainLeave a comment

Hard Rain is number two of six, and is sort of indistinguishable from the others in the way I would probably feel about any series of books if I read them in quick succession. The specific naming of different scotches and jazz performers began to grate in this book, but again, likely because of the quick succession I read the series in. Unlike the first book, this one had scenes seemingly written with a movie in mind.

Rain Fall by Barry Eisler

June 22, 2008 cohenaaronBooks, crack, crack books, John RainLeave a comment

Rain Fall is the first in a series of six (so far?) smart books about a Japanese-American assassin who loves whiskey and jazz. I read books 3 and 4 on vacation a couple years ago and then read 1, 2, 5 and 6 in the last month. I should stay away from books like this because they’re really like crack to me, but perfect for vacation or commuting.