First of all thrillers aren't my thing, but I wanted to read this book because I thought it would have interesting p...moreCaution: very graphically violent.
First of all thrillers aren't my thing, but I wanted to read this book because I thought it would have interesting psychological developments. Beginning was fun, there was intrigue towards the end, and then the end itself was a dud. Nevertheless I would not say that the ending is a dud would be a solid enough reason to claim that the book was not so good. It doesn't take up that many pages. The ending used 'flashback' in a very good way, but I didn't like the content but didn't totally dislike it either. The rest of it is fun and much of it is very intriguing.
The cultural aspects of what one would imagine as a typical factory worker (the work itself, the diversity of cultural backgrounds, the home life, the poverty) in Japan represented in the book is interesting.
All the characters are flawed and have real world problems, and most of the action is scarily realistic. The real world problems are not presented as too lengthy monologues or too lengthy annoying dialogues and confrontations, so that's a BIG plus.
It is a fast read and I felt sympathy for the characters, but they were not entirely likable. In fact, I found them selfish. I do like the 'bad girl' and 'alienation' aspects in characters. I appreciate the lack of whineyness and love-dovey that might occur in a book written which has female bonding as a big part of the story.
It was fun, kept me hanging, and I will read more stories by Natsuo Kirino.(less)
Grabbed my attention and did not let go. This is non-linear to a certain extent, so you have to have a little patience and go for the ride, which is w...moreGrabbed my attention and did not let go. This is non-linear to a certain extent, so you have to have a little patience and go for the ride, which is written with haunting elements, and this is why I absolutely adore Haruki Murakami, of magical realism or surrealism. Nothing in the magical realism/surrealism seems too fantastic. There's no ridiculous Deus ex Machina, but rather a light seamless feel to the introduction and sequences containing those elements. If you're stuck on having a 'perfect' ending or a tight plot and stories that don't have tangents then this is not the book for you. The tangents are fun and do integrate into the main story very well, so it won't be too distracting. Better perhaps for a slightly advanced reader, but not overwhelming. I do not recall any boring passages which is probably unusual for such a long book, and if it were longer, it would probably still feel like a shorter book than it is. I'd started other books of his and did not finish, so this is probably one of his best.
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