Caroline's Reviews > Graveyard of Memories

"I was too young to know that some memories don't fade, or age, or die. That the weight of some of what we do accumulates, expands, coheres, solidifies. That life means coming to grips with that ever-present weight, learning how to carry it with you wherever you go, understanding and accepting that it'll be with you and on you and in you for all your days, until you reach a point where all the energy you ever had is devoted to just shouldering its mass."

To call John Rain complex is indeed an understatement. An assassin with a (not unbelievable) soft side? There has always been an uneasy - albeit delicious - tension of the combination of finding Rain a sympathetic character with the cold hard facts of what he is and does. This back-to-the-beginning book about Rain explains how Rain came to be Rain: the choices with which he was presented, how he was manipulated, and the path he ultimately decides to take. The lessons learned. The stark contrast of two men valuing and appreciating the tea ritual was a stark contrast to what they were planning while enjoying their tea. This was a book I couldn't put down, rushed home to, and ignored family until I was finished. In typical fashion, Eisler provides wonderful and authentic descriptions of Tokyo landmarks, restaurants and coffee houses. I found the descriptions of the coffee houses particularly lovely. Do take advantage of the links and resources Eisler provides at the back of the book - YouTube videos of martial arts moves/explanations, Jazz, etc. I would suggest reading the other John Rain books first and then reading this one, as I found the look into Rain's past more meaningful "knowing" the future Rain. Very satisfying read.