"I survived Viet Nam, had money in the bank, pretty much had my drinking under control, was living in paradise and Pablo had to show up with the CIA in tow. And now this Yamashita and Marcos stuff and if that wasn't enough Mike wanted to complicate matters with buried treasure."
"I personally was beyond any kind of allegiance. What I had seen in the jungles of Columbia working for Noriega and seeing those CIA cowboys come and go and all the dirty little businesses they were involved in kind of soured me. It was kind of like back in Viet Nam, your squad and your platoon and fuck all the rest."
Kanook II opens with one of my favorite quotes from Franz Kafka: "I think we ought to read only the kind of books that wound and stab us. If the book we are reading doesn't wake us up with a blow on the head, what are we reading it for? . . . A book must be the axe for the frozen sea inside us." And indeed Kanook II delivers—it's a Kafkaesque thriller that doesn't pull any punches as the reader is drawn into this amazing world of secrecy, intrigue and paranoia, along with a multitude of humorous episodes.
A totally engrossing page-turner, Kanook II serves as the sequel to Mike Hoover's excellent first novel, Kanook Kibbutznick, which followed the Kanook from his strict childhood in Vancouver, combat in Vietnam and subsequent move to Israel where he is eventually recruited by the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service. In Kanook II, many of the Kanook's past actions come back to haunt him as he is thrown into a series of surreal situations that test his will at every turn. A true global adventure story, Kanook II moves the action to Panama, Columbia, Los Angeles, Hawaii and the Philippines. In the midst of it all, the Kanook gets caught up in an absurd series of events that involve drug smugglers, CIA agents, assassins, modern-day pirates and the Mossad, along with other assorted characters that even include Manuel Noriega and Ferdinand Marcos. Last but not least, Kanook II contains some fascinating, vivid descriptions of "drug induced visions" deep in the jungles of the Philippines.
As with Kanook Kibbutznick, Kanook II is very cinematic and I believe it would make a great film. The ending of Kanook II opens up the possibility of a sequel that promises to turn the Kanook Series once again in an entirely new direction. In conclusion, I recommend Kanook II highly and I'm looking forward to reading Kanook III!
For more information about Kanook II or to purchase a copy of the book, visit www.kanookkibbutznick.com.
Kanook II - 2009-07-27 09:27:55
I am glad to see this reviewer enjoyed the book, as I also did - very much. Mike has a way with a story, and his characters are vivid. This book deserves a wider audience.
Simon B - 2009-07-27 13:34:38
Mike H is a delightful guy, he is on my list of people to get seriously drunk with the next time I am in BC! Both Kanook books are a wild ride, well worth the time and effort to seek out.I know, I reviewed them :)
Shar Bailey - 2009-07-30 13:34:08
I have read both books and met Mike personally. Many, many facets to this personality. He knows how to tell a captivating story and leaves you wanting more. He has made his mark in the community and is hilarious, fascinating and yet down to earth and approachable. Get his books, you will not be sorry.
Resher - 2009-08-21 14:29:33
Watched him play (fight) hockey as a kid and really enjoy watching his success as a writer. His books are well worth the read. If your not going to read them, ya better be prepared to 'turtle'!
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