Out review
Out by Natsuo Kirino.
Genre: Crime
Pages: 400
Rating: 10/10
Out was by far one of the best books I've read in a long time. Kirino's writing really made the story come alive for me from chapter one all the way to the very end. The story revolves around four women who work the night shift together at a boxed lunch factory in modern Japan. One of the women, being mistreated by her husband, kills him in a fit of rage one night and turns to the others for help. The central character, Masako, takes charge of the situation, though murder is merely the beginning of this grisly and suspenseful novel.
The thing I loved most about this book were the characters. I could relate to them, and I could empathize with their situations - I think most of us know what it feels like to be so broke that we would resort to almost anything. The women in the story were so realistically crafted that by the end, I had to take a few moments to remind myself that I wasn't a murderer. Each woman is dealing with her own problems, though the need for money is the biggest driving factor in this novel - as it often is in the real world.
The story itself was dark and more than a bit depressing. Some parts went beyond gruesome, but I think that Kirino's well crafted suspenseful writing will have even the most timid stirring forward to get to the end.
For any fans of horror, mystery, or crime fiction. I highly recommend this novel. I know that I'll be checking out Kirino's other two translated works, Gruesome and Real World.
Genre: Crime
Pages: 400
Rating: 10/10
Out was by far one of the best books I've read in a long time. Kirino's writing really made the story come alive for me from chapter one all the way to the very end. The story revolves around four women who work the night shift together at a boxed lunch factory in modern Japan. One of the women, being mistreated by her husband, kills him in a fit of rage one night and turns to the others for help. The central character, Masako, takes charge of the situation, though murder is merely the beginning of this grisly and suspenseful novel.
The thing I loved most about this book were the characters. I could relate to them, and I could empathize with their situations - I think most of us know what it feels like to be so broke that we would resort to almost anything. The women in the story were so realistically crafted that by the end, I had to take a few moments to remind myself that I wasn't a murderer. Each woman is dealing with her own problems, though the need for money is the biggest driving factor in this novel - as it often is in the real world.
The story itself was dark and more than a bit depressing. Some parts went beyond gruesome, but I think that Kirino's well crafted suspenseful writing will have even the most timid stirring forward to get to the end.
For any fans of horror, mystery, or crime fiction. I highly recommend this novel. I know that I'll be checking out Kirino's other two translated works, Gruesome and Real World.