Name: Nico J's review of Satori by Don Winslow
Item: Satori
Rating: 5
Author: Nico J

Don Winslow

Prepare to meet the world's most dangerous man . . . Nicholai Hel-genius, mystic, and the perfect, formidable assassin-was first introduced to readers in Shibumi, the classic #1 bestseller by master storyteller Trevanian. Now critically acclaimed author Don Winslow continues Hel's story for the first time in this all-new, blockbuster thriller. SATORI It is the fall of 1951, and the Korean War is raging. Twenty-six-year-old Nicholai Hel has spent the last three years in solitary confinement at the hands of the Americans. Hel is a master of hoda korosu, or "naked kill," is fluent in seven languages, and has honed extraordinary "proximity sense"-an extra-awareness of the presence of danger. He has the skills to be the world's most fearsome assassin and now the CIA needs him. The Americans offer Hel freedom, money, and a neutral passport in exchange for one small service: to go to Beijing and kill the Soviet Union's commissioner to China. It's almost certainly a suicide mission, but Hel accepts. Now he must survive chaos, violence, suspicion, and betrayal while trying to achieve his ultimate goal of satori-the possibility of true understanding and harmony with the world.

Satori

Santosh Singh

Nico J

To start, I did not read Shibumi but due to the information on the inside flap, researched the origins and gained more of an understanding of what Winslow was trying to emulate. Therefore, it is difficult for me to comment one way or another on if he nailed that aspect and wrote it in a Trevanian-esque voice. 

I could not put this down. It had layers of intrigue, impelling me to read on to the point at which I wasn't able to set this down. I carried it in one hand while I cleaned, cooked, watched television shows; it pulled me away from many things, which is not something books do too often, despite my love of reading. However, the layers were revealed and then another one was laid down, all in quick succession. I didn't feel rushed, though. The characters, admittedly, did not seem to be the main focus, which isn't in typical Japanese fashion - I guess I'm used to the winding prose focusing on subtle and nuanced behavior (I'm a Murakami fan, if that puts it in perspective.) This was quicker, and I'm immensely glad for it. Nicholai Hel, however, is fleshed enough, but I think the gaps are purposeful because, like any good Go player, he doesn't lay out everything in his mind like an open book - even to the readers, which I think improves the pacing. 

And, as spies are, it makes sense. Just because we are readers does not make us privy to every detail, and it leaves it open for more expansion and thought. The sparse and precise details of the buildings, the locations, the food, the behavioral nuances of different ethnicities and cultures, the locations, the women, the fight scenes - oh did I mention the locations? Superbly written, though I can't attest to its precise accuracy. It built a wonderful 3D model for my mind, from the ground up, that I could picture as I ran around exploring the worlds for myself.

All in all, I hope Winslow did Trevanian justice, or at least did what he could despite the obvious limitations - after all, no writer can fully carve out another person's creative mind.

Santosh Singh &
Satori by Don Winslow

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Santosh Singh &Satori by Don Winslow

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Santosh Singh &
Satori by Don Winslow