Mea culpa! Mea culpa! Mea culpa!

When I compiled my 2003 list of favorite indulgences (see previous posts) I left off two books by Barry Eisler. His thrillers are set in Japan and push way too many buttons for me. If you like tense, tight writing featuring single malt whiskies, Nipponese night life, and clever methods of "removing obstacles", you'll enjoy his books. *HIGHLY* recommended:

Barry Eisler - Rain Fall is his first book. I didn't expect much and I didn't expect to enjoy on such a high level.

Barry Eisler - Hard Rain is his latest book, which I'm enjoying during that quiet moment of peace when the kids are asleep in bed and the neighbors dog is cleaning its behind and not yowling.

Also recommended is the DVD set of "Trick 2". It's a Japanese how-dunnit featuring a professor and a magician figuring out shams and scams. The acting and preformances are wonderfully strange and somewhat over the top but the logic and common sense is a great change of pace from TV where the paranormal is consider normal. In our area "Trick 2" has the unfortunate position of airing opposite Alias. When Alias enter reruns, I watch "Trick 2". On Ebay you can find the 4-DVD season set for a price better than what you pay for American 4-DVD compilations. How about $17, and even with shipping it's a great deal for a great series. The DVDs have English and Chinese subtitles.