Graveyard of Memories

A John Rain Novel

By: Barry Eisler

Narrated by: Barry Eisler

Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

What makes a legendary assassin? For John Rain, it was the lessons of love, war, and betrayal he learned in Tokyo in 1972.

Fresh from the killing fields of Southeast Asia, Rain works as a bagman under the watchful eye of his CIA handler, delivering cash to corrupt elements of the Japanese government. But when a delivery goes violently wrong, Rain finds himself in the crosshairs of Japan’s most powerful yakuza clan. To survive, Rain strikes a desperate deal with his handler: take out a high-profile target in the Japanese government in exchange for the intel he needs to eliminate his would-be executioners.

As Rain plays cat and mouse with the yakuza and struggles to learn his new role as contract killer, he also becomes entangled with Sayaka, a tough, beautiful ethnic Korean woman confined to a wheelchair. But the demands of his dark work are at odds with the longings of his heart - and with Sayaka’s life in the balance, Rain will have to make a terrible choice.

©2014 Barry Eisler (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Too Much Detail In The Apartment Scenes

There was too much detail in the scenes in Sayaka's apartment. I'm not sure why Eisler is now adding so much sex into this series, but I think it is an unnecessary distraction. The author could have conveyed the strong feelings that Rain had for Sayaka without the long sexual description. Otherwise, this was written in Eisler's typical style where he spends a lot of time setting the stage for action and uses a lot of Japanese words. By now I have gotten used to both.

What I did like about the book is that it gave the reader a look at Rain in his early days when he was less patient and seasoned. The story starts as a reflection looking back on what he learned, sometimes the hard way, in his early days of becoming a contract assassin. The story also gave additional background on how his relationship with both Tatsu and Miyamoto developed and why Rain has rules and sets limits before he takes a job.

Overall, it was an enjoyable, quick read that added depth to the series.

Exquisite

I thought I had listened to every book in this series but to my delight I had missed this one. Christmas in May!

A backstory novel worth reading

When I first started this book and it started with a backstory, I hoped this wasn't an entire backstory novel because those tend to be lame fillers. Well, it was and I was wrong. Not only is this a great way to get new readers interested in the exploits of John Rain, it is a great action story with good pacing. I enjoyed reading about Rain's predicaments and how these early episodes shaped who he turned into. While I was interested in finding out what has happened since the last book (The Detachment), this story proved to be a great read and not lame filler. The story doesn't rely on previous knowledge of the characters and if can be an introduction into Eisler's other books about Rain. Recommended for people interested in action books in the vein of Vince Flynn or Daniel Silva. For those who may be turned off by a back story novel, give it a shot and be surprised.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

“Sometimes we’re defined by our paradoxes and sometimes we’re defined by our BS
-and sometimes they’re one and the same.”
Well. That was a fantastic listen. Current day John Rain tells us how he popped his hitman cherry, going from mere veteran soldier to a player in spy-craft and death dealing. I put this series above Reacher, Grayman, or Ohpan X. I highly recommend listening to the rest of the series first as my favorite parts were seeing him making, and surviving, the mistakes that form the foundation of what makes him such an effective, seasoned killer at book 1 (it’s a highly effective reverse Easter egg style). Or, start here, then listen to this again after hearing books 1-7. This is clearly repeat worthy.

For those new to this author, two other features deserve mention. First, the author is a phenomenal narrator, easily in my top ten male narrators. His Japanese is outstanding and adds so much to this series. Second, I am hard pressed to think of an author whose main characters are so diverse, and also so realistic and fierce. How often are the MCs young, smart, white and beautiful while anyone outside of that mold is a caricature, mere plot device, or nothing more than a throw away minor character? Here, John Rain’s love interest is a smart, competent, complex woman in a wheelchair. Nothing about the portrayal is pitying nor is it merely an opportunistic author’s ploy. Mad respect to this author for mindfully, effortlessly, and effectively populating his books with so many multidimensional characters.

Excellent prequel!

A raw and insightful history of where and especially the “how” does John Rain develops from and his origins. It ties a lot of the stories together and how he became John Rain the assassin. This is an outstanding book and loved it. Would love to listen to more of these!

Not that it matters........

I have listened to or read all of these books and I honestly think that this one was the best as it had, it seems to me, more character development than many of the previous books. I have enjoyed them all but damn if this one didn't hit me hard. I listen to music because of how it makes me feel, hell because it makes me feel. This book felt good and was definitely a good listen. Thank you Mr. Eisler.

This was a good book

Would you listen to Graveyard of Memories again? Why?

Yes, John Rain is a great charactor and exciting to listen to

What was one of the most memorable moments of Graveyard of Memories?

The time when he was in the general bath area and how skilled he was in getting his job done

Which character – as performed by Barry Eisler – was your favorite?

John Rain

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No

Love, war, and betrayal

Eisler writes “Memories” from John Rain’s view point, explaining his fall into assassination as a profession. After the Vietnam war, Rain stays in Asia, living in Tokyo without belonging or meaning; but, for a 20 year-old lacking education, he lives comfortably. Not having yet developed his calculated constraint seen in previous books, Rain reacts rashly to three punks and accidentally kills a relative of a powerful clan. Rain’s lack of experience and relative naiveté are challenges he needs to overcome to stay alive and turn the tables on a growing list of enemies, including the Japanese government and his own employer. While in hiding, Rain becomes romantically involved with a Korean woman, whom he unwittingly places in danger. As the publisher’s summary says, Rain learns, “lessons of love, war, and betrayal.”

As always, Eisler’s descriptions of Tokyo are vivid without unnecessary details or wordy descriptions. It brings together so many elements of good storytelling and good writing that I am grateful to another listener for highly recommending Barry Eisler’s books.

This series reminds me of Child’s Jack Reacher series. I like Child’s writing, but I do not understand the reason for the Reacher series’ success over that of the Rain series. Perhaps the Rain series’ isn’t appreciated as much because its premise is assassination; or, perhaps its fuzzy distinction between good and evil is unappealing; or, perhaps unlike Reacher, Rain’s remoteness is not a choice, rather a result of childhood experiences as a Japanese-American. All of which are pluses for me. Also, Eisler’s character development is deeper; the scenery is much richer and more exotic; its research is extensive; and, the plots are drawn from espionage and current events.

Eisler narrates this himself – and does so excellently.

Overall, I highly recommend this series.

Rain and Eisler Fan

I read all of Barry Eisler Books, this is definitely up there in terms of interest, violence and story. I enjoyed it very much and finished in two days. Keep them coming.

A very nice prequel.

If you could sum up Graveyard of Memories in three words, what would they be?

Young John Rain

What did you like best about this story?

Seeing his young self through the eyes of the much older Rain.

Which scene was your favorite?

Killing the CIA guy

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

nah