Natsuo Kirino

AMAZING. Not only does the author present the Japanese culture in a very different matter, but also manages to make the story thrilling, entertaining, and at times scary. I love this book from beginning to end and everything in between.

Not only did it read well, but it presented different characters from different social realms and have them even interact with each other in such a way that made the story all the more captivating. In addition , the author does a great job of making each character's personality come out through the pages. I found myself cursing at one particular character who drove me crazy and whose end actually made me happy. lol.

Overall, I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a thriller, crime filled book. I appreciate the author presenting the Japanese culture and societal hierarchies within the novel because it gives us somewhat of a taste of how things are in a different part of the world. I'm not going to pretend like I know a lot about Japanese culture, but I feel that in this book it added to the allure of the novel.

I admire the author's talent in writing such a gruesome story, but also tying it all together with each character presented in the plot as well as presenting psychological points of view within the book.… (mais)

This is a difficult book to read. None of the characters come off particularly well, as each of them (most of them women) tell their version of events leading up to, and the subsequent fall out of the murders of two schoolmates, who for various reasons have descended into prostitution.[return][return]Each of the women have their own problems, in being too beautiful, not beautiful enough, wanting something unachievable, having pressure put on them externally and internally to be *more*.[return][return]Found it difficult to get any sympathy for any of the characters (if I remember the previous book "Out" correctly, I think they were a little more sympathetic even if they weren't much nicer).… (mais)

It is extremely difficult to convey the range of emotions evoked in words, once you've finished this masterpiece - Kirino is simply astounding, beyond words.
It looks like a simple enough plot at first glance - in a fit of rage, a staid Japanese housewife working the night-shift at a lunchbox factory murders her husband in a fit of rage at his emotional and physical abuse. She approaches her dependable co-worker for help, who ropes in two of their mutual acquaintances for disposing the body. They are determined, but inexperienced - and the detectives and yakuza (the Japanese mob) is baying for blood.
But what blew my mind away is the sheer twists this story takes, with the narrative taking you along for a roller-coaster ride that you never want to end. As far as characters go, they are so developed, that they almost seem to protrude through the pages. Masako, the aforementioned dependable co-worker who is approached for help, is so brilliantly written that you sometimes feel that she is based on a real woman, somewhere out there in the Japanese suburbs.
The pacing, characters, narrative - all of it is perfectly blended. And the plot elements, uncommon in Japanese fiction (assault, murder, prostitution) enhance the narrative rather than detracting from it. It is exhilarating from start to finish, and should not be missed - every word written in praise for it will be a disservice. Natsuo Kirino's tour de force will haunt me for a long, long time to come.… (mais)