Rating: 
Summary: Different
Review: Excellent idea. Nice to have an intellegent story in a unique locale. The ending is wonderful. The hero is a kind of everyman reminiscent of Arkady Renko.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazon review's too revealing! Excellent book, but...
Review: First of all, the Amazon review for this book is an excellent example of why I don't read reviews until AFTER I've read the book - he gives away some of the major surprises! That makes me so angry. Half the book and the conclusion are summarized.Anyway, the book is excellent for a first book, but it was confusing, at times, and some of the things which occurred were very implausible, and I was always thinking in terms of, well, would this really happen in real life, would people really react this way? Sometimes, I would say to myself, no, real people would not care, would not be that smart, etc. Other quibbles would be the dialogue - it's like, Pattison constructed so many of his characters' dialogues assuming that 1. our mindsets are Chinese or Buddhist; and 2. we are all following the convoluted plot, and making the same conclusions as the protagonist. It's difficult to explain, but if you read the book, you'll soon see what I mean. Something like, "Sylvia, did you put the dog out?" "Joe, how DARE you! How can you ASK me such a question?" End of conversation. Like, WHAT?? Many of the dialogues go like that, with people making numerous seemingly nonsensical responses to questions or statements, and Pattison assumes we are all following the inuendos. But for the most part, the book moves quickly, is enjoyable and a good mystery, especially for a first book. I want to buy Water Touching Stone, and hope it's just as good!
Rating: 
Summary: A different kind of mystery
Review: I am no longer an avid fan of mystery novels, but this complex yet somehow "Zen" mystery set in a Chinese prison in Tibet definitely rises above the label of mere "potboiler." The intricate mystery is deftly woven with Buddhist philosophy and an insightful portrait of the mysterious, sometimes unfathomable people of Tibet and their remarkable country. We also get to experience some of the brutality of the Chinese takeover of that country and China's crackdown on the people's spiritual practices, as well as the occupying Chinese's somewhat reluctant giving-in to the patient but forceful spirituality of the people they are subjugating. Throw in a couple of passionate American radicals and one befuddled Chinese prisoner (and almost-convert to Buddhism), who serves both as the investigator and the reader's eyes and ears, and you have a mystery that's also a rich, multi-level novel which demands a close reading. Whether it's Buddhism or Tibet or the Asian mindset in general that fascinates you, or whether you just want a mystery that tries something new, this is the one to read.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely Worth Reading
Review: I can understand the criticisms that some readers have expressed here. It is true that minor characters in this book are thinly drawn (especially the Americans) and that the novel may seem a little meandering and slow-paced to fans of traditional detective fiction. But this is a great read, and the meanderings provide a rich (and rather depressing) picture of life in modern Tibet. The general approach reminds me of Tony Hillerman -- use a mystery to entice the reader to learn more about a culture the author thinks is important. I've read interviews with Hillerman in which he regrets how little ethnographic info he can put into his narratives without bogging down the reader. "The Skull Mantra" is the sort of novel Hillerman might write about the Navajo if he decided to throw caution to the winds and risk losing a few impatient readers.
Rating:
Summary: A pure joy to read!
Review: I don't remember enjoying a book this much in a long time. Discovering the fascinating world of the tibetan culture, the buddhist philosophy, and the frustrations (for westerners) of the chinese administrative structure in a great thriller was pure joy. I read it real slow to stretch the pleasure as much as I could. The rhythm is perfect. The prose is very good: sounds, colors, and odours are vivid. The story is one of the best thriller I have read in quite some time. A MUST READ!
Rating:
Summary: An engrossing mystery in a mysterious land
Review: I know nothing about Tibetan Buddhism and so cannot comment on how well or poorly Pattison does at portraying the beliefs and practices of that religion, but at the very least I believe he fully succeeded in creating a convincing portrait of a culture alien both to American readers and, to a great extent, to the book's Chinese protaganist, Shan Tao Yun, a former police investigator who is now a prisoner in the 404th Construction Brigade, condemned to work on a road gang in the mountains of Tibet because he proved too honest in Beijing. There is much in Shan which inevitably reminded me of Arkady Renko of Martin Cruz Smith's "Gorky Park" and sequels. Both Shan and Renko are driven to find the truth no matter how much their masters would prefer a more convenient solution to the crimes at hand. And Shan, like Renko before him, finds his quest for the truth becomes a path to his own moral growth. For me, the mystery, the setting, and the central characters all worked to make an absorbing tale that kept me interested to the last page.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I read a lot of books. Mystery books, Sci-Fi books, all types of books but mostly mysteries and I loved this book. Well, i have an interest in buddhism so that helps i suppose because the book is about buddhism and Tibet and China. But the feelings expressed by the people and the philosophies and ideas were thought provoking without being dense and unreadable. While i knew something of the chinese takeover of tibet i had no idea of the things described in the book and am now interested in learining more not only about the chinese takeover but about the people and religion of tibet. I found myself horrified and angry and my thoughts then flowed to the annihilation of the american indian that happened not so long ago in the united states. Anyway i loved this book and recommend it not only for the interesting cultural background but for the mystery. I will look for other books by this author.
Rating:
Summary: It's history,it's mystery and much more!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. I pretty much read it in one sitting.....just couldn't put it down. The book amazingly contained both an intriging mystery and the familar tranquility of spritual writing. I felt like it really understood the nature of Tibetans and helped me understand the culture better. I would reccommend it to anyone interested in Buddhism, history or just interested in a mystery. I hope this author writes other books set in Tibet.. hopefully with Shan.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing exposure to Tibet and its Culture
Review: I really found this book a chore to read. I read it at bedtime and it served its purpose as it put me to sleep every time. The description of the prison atrocities, the Tibetan culture and religion were all very interesting but I felt the story line disappeared in the complicated discussions of history and folkways. Was interesting enough to hang in to the end but wouldn't chose another by the same author.
Rating:
Summary: The Skull Mantra by Elliot pattison
Review: I thought this was a great read, full of twists and surprises. His rendering of the Tibetan landscape was vivid and made for a fun read. I also appreciate his description of all the grey areas between the occupying army, the Tibetans and the outside world.
Although I am always appreciative of artistic license I was a little shocked at his complete misrepresentation of Buddhism. The Karma Kagyu school is the branch of Vajrayana Buddhism one would find among the Khampas of the East. I can tell you that it contains no dualistic views as are portrayed in the book. No gods, inner or outer, no soul, no demons, no seperation, no concept of sin. There is no need for faith if the ultimate nature of reality can be directly experienced and understood as non dualistic in its totality. The religion portrayed is sort of a mystical Christianity with a Tibetan face. I just hope readers
don't think this is what Buddhism is.
The current head of the Kagyus is the 17th Karmapa.
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