Book Review #40
The Gun
by Fuminori Nakamura
Although the novel held my interest, much of the language was too casually written to create believable, compelling, in-depth characters. I do, however, agree with one critic who drew parallels between this book and "Crime and Punishment" and "The Stranger." Nakamura's young male protagonist is definitely an existential anti-hero, gradually driven mad by his obsession for a stolen gun to the point where he feels possessed by the weapon. In fact, towards the end of his journey he thinks: "I'm not the one using the gun... The gun is using me." An interesting premise and at times a suspenseful one. Unfortunately it is not helped by an awkward translation from Japanese to English.
by Fuminori Nakamura
Although the novel held my interest, much of the language was too casually written to create believable, compelling, in-depth characters. I do, however, agree with one critic who drew parallels between this book and "Crime and Punishment" and "The Stranger." Nakamura's young male protagonist is definitely an existential anti-hero, gradually driven mad by his obsession for a stolen gun to the point where he feels possessed by the weapon. In fact, towards the end of his journey he thinks: "I'm not the one using the gun... The gun is using me." An interesting premise and at times a suspenseful one. Unfortunately it is not helped by an awkward translation from Japanese to English.
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