"The underlying theme is very risky politically, but I have been taking risks all my life."
Kanook Kibbutznick is a fascinating story, highly recommended, the most original novel I've read all year. It's one of the few books ever that I was compelled to read in one sitting, a thoroughly engrossing story that is based on true events in the author's life.
The first-person, picaresque narrative follows the protagonist from a strict childhood in Vancouver that leads to a rebellious adolescence to his enlistment and basic training in the United States Marine Corp at the age of 17 to combat in Vietnam. After being wounded in action, he returns home and attends college in West Virginia until he hears a televised speech by Golda Meier that so inspires him that he flies to Israel, where he winds up working on a kibbutz and is subsequently recruited by the Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service. He soon joins a mission to help track down and assassinate two of the Munich terrorists who are residing in Montreal. Through it all, he overcomes enormous obstacles with a fierce independence, single-minded determination and, at all times, an eclectic sense of humor about his circumstances.
Kanook Kibbutznick reads like an action-paced thriller and pulls no punches in detailing the brutality of war—whether slogging through the jungles of Vietnam or going out on combat patrols with the Israeli Defense Forces. Along the way there are numerous cultural references from Shakespeare to Pink Floyd. The novel is also very cinematic in a way that reminded me of scenes from some of my favorite movies such as basic training in Full Metal Jacket, the patrols in Platoon and all the rigorous preparation that led to the secret retaliation in Munich. In fact, Kanook Kibbutznick has all the elements of a great film and I believe it will make it to the silver screen in the near future. I'm also looking forward to reading the sequel.
Mike Hoover currently owns and operates the Okanagan Writers' Retreat in Oliver, British Columbia. For more information about the book and its author, visit http://www.kanookkibbutznick.com.
sKiTz - 2008-08-13 20:18:51
Mike Hoover is a riviting author. I really enjoyed his book, and have a signed copy proudly on display in my office.
Eileen Fay - 2008-08-14 09:34:23
I enjoyed this book tremendously. The political theme is of course a fascinating one, but I also found myself engrossed in the inner life of the protaganist; his background and motivations piqued one's interest all the way through. As they say in book publishing, this was a real "page-turner." I look forward to the next installment.
staliciano - 2008-08-15 18:29:50
Mike is a great author,a diamond in the rough.I can't wait for his next book. The cover design was created by John Churchman an up and coming unknown artist of incredible genius.
victoria - 2008-09-18 21:59:01
Mike's story is indeed a page turner that kept me completely engaged. It has been the basis of several dynamic discussions with several people who claimed to be non-readers but who finished the book overnight. Mike's writing is thought provoking, very accessible and stimulates a visual feast for the imagination, I'm looking forward to the sequel.
FTCNET - 2008-09-18 22:54:13
.. a terrific read. Well worth the effort to get a copy of this work. A movie version would be a great idea.
lavidamiamor - 2009-07-28 13:23:59
Love the book. It is funny (can't get passed the mouse page without laughing hard), has actions and intrigue a very good combination for a good action movie. Read it a couple of times. I am looking forward to reading the second part. Way to go Mike.
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