Lonely Hearts Killer

by Tomoyuki Hoshino

Taking on a subject that is still largely avoided in Japan, this powerful thriller explores the threat posed by an emperor, even in a ceremonial role, to a democratic government. Set in a fictional island country, the novel is told from the perspective of a group of young adults who are embroiled in their private problems of friendship, work, and sex. Much of the plot is revealed though their internet postings, which gradually become a tool of resistance when the country's popular young emperor dies and his sister is next in line to the throne. In the confusion that follows, martial law is declared and the populace, obsessed with fears about personal and national security, agrees to accept a new authoritarian government. Horrified by the rapid swing in the nation's politics, the main characters confront the brutality that is eroding support for basic rights and environmental and humanitarian reforms.

Genres: Japan, Fiction, Japanese Literature, Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Literature, Asian Literature

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Rivqa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't read this book if you're not feeling emotionally hardy. With themes of suicide, mass hysteria and dystopia on personal and national scales, it's bleak to say the least. That said, this is an excellent, challenging book that never leans on shock value to move forward.

[fire_on_the_mountain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one definitely threw me for a claustrophobic loop; maybe because I read it in two fever-forced sittings, or because it relates to themes I've been mulling over for a bit. But there's a lot going on here, and more so yet depending on your lens.

In the author's preface, he mentions as his driving force the questions of what if something on the scale of 9/11 or the Columbine massacre happened in Japan, through Japanese eyes and with Japanese means. With this in mind, the parallels are all too apt with contemporary American society-- tremendous alienation leading to societal decay and interpersonal violence, rallying around a conservative, unifying view of society, governance 'newspeak' becoming ever more complex and contradictory to suit a changing reality, and gradually surrendering power over to an increasingly autocratic government, all behind the backdrop of an island nation increasingly punished by a changing climate. Living as I do in my American context, there's some powerful and painful conclusions to draw. There's no answers to be found here, but there's some real important questions.

It's higher than four, but not quite five.

[Nick Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, the introduction to this book written by the translator, Adrienne Carey Hurley, is essential reading. The introduction provides the necessary cultural links to help you fully understand what is happening in the book. Her Q&A with the author at the end is also very enlightening.

The death of the Island Country's emperor at a young age causes a nationwide grief among the young (under 40s). Three chapters, each by a different narrator, tell the story of what happens next. There are big themes of nationalism, imperialism, climate change, individuality vs conformity and police/legal overreach. A lot is packed into less than 200 pages. The personal stories of the two main narrators are set within these themes. Appropriately, these narrators are film students who attempt to observe the world dispassionately. Ultimately, they are unsuccessful in doing so.

This is a book that brings forth and asks many questions, but deliberately doesn't provide the answers. This is brought to a head in the short 3rd chapter that I'm deliberately not describing.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't know how to describe this book. It is dark with a hint of light, maybe? Even if I learned Japanese, moved to Japan, and read it in its original language; I still don't think I would grasp a lot of the nuance. But it is one of those books that seems universal in its specificity. Maybe not universal, bur recognizable to those of us living disconnected lives in cities where little we do seems to make any sense and where everyone keeps looking for someone to make sense of it for them.

[arden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I DONT EVEN KNOW WHERE TO START WITH THIS ONE…….. so dense w/ meaning but so readable, relatable emotional, and funny…. the encapsulated narrative structure is so smart & superimposes reporting/fiction in a parallel to one of the main themes of the book……. read this in one sitting if you can because there are many themes and they are TIGHTLY interwoven

[Taina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ihana kansikuva, sisällä kaikenlaisia veitsellä tehtäviä asioita. Teksti upotti suomaisesti ja jouduin tarpomaan. Yhteiskunnan vähittäinen silpoutuminen kiinnosteli ideana, mutta toteutus oli kovin raskas, korkealentoinen.

[Sarah Cavar · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise, politics, and formal structure to this text was exciting, and I was prepared to love it. But unfortunately, the prose was - pardon the pun - lifeless. I had to skim the second half out of sheer boredom. I wish this had been executed better. (And I stand by the pun this time.)

[J]

I don't fucking know.

[Aimee Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're in a cult. Call your dad.

[J.C.]

Got about 50 pages in. Didn't really grab me. Too much talking, not a lot of plot. Maybe it gets thrilling later but I won't be sticking around to find out.

[Julia Mohler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 ⭐️

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

One day I will read a Japanese book that doesn't bewilder me. Today was not that day. This whole book made no sense to me, even less so than the usual suspects -Murakami, Yoshimoto, etc. I'm not sure if I'm too stupid to understand why everyone started acting weird after the Majesty's death or if the story is just shit. It's a 50/50.

[David Streever · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent novel.
Told from 3 points of view, the author asks you to critically analyze each narrator along with the next narrator.

Among the best literary fiction, the characters each present or demonstrate a point of view with a commentary on their society and culture--raising questions about conformity, cultural values, and showing how the political values of democracy function in a system with the trappings of autocracy.

The characters are believable and interesting: the first two live as observers, documenting the world around them through hand-held cameras and quietly judging what they see. The third character is indistinct and hazy through-out the first two narratives, suggesting that neither of the narrators has really considered her or thought much of her beyond her meaning to them. When she is finally able to speak for herself, it reveals the self-centered narration previously presented as objective viewpoints.

[PM Press · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when a popular and young emperor suddenly dies, and the only person available to succeed him is his sister? How can people in an island country survive as climate change and martial law are eroding more and more opportunities for local sustainability and mutual aid? And what can be done to challenge the rise of a new authoritarian political leadership at a time when the general public is obsessed with fears related to personal and national “security”? These and other provocative questions provide the backdrop for this powerhouse novel about young adults embroiled in what appear to be more private matters – friendships, sex, a love suicide, and struggles to cope with grief and work.

PM Press is proud to bring you this first English translation of a full-length novel by the award-winning author Tomoyuki Hoshino.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those books where I can't say I really "enjoyed" reading it, but am instead appreciative of all it gives to think about. Beyond the text itself, there's a lot to be chew on in terms of what the book is actually saying about the world. I read it in the context of a university colloquium, and it was the discussion that really made things interesting. Recommended it you're not looking for anything light, and for groups of peeps who want to talk about what they're reading!

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, somewhat surreal, very Japanese.

[Xin · Rating 4 out of 5]

my first time reading this six or seven years ago was such a blur that I didn't remember anything
my second time - this is an eerily relevant novel to read, as the world turns inwards, and as the lockdown continues.
explores nationalism, sovereign vs individual identity, isolation, spectating vs actively engaging in society.

[Daniel Burton-Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried to like this, but could only slog through it. Still, there's clearly a lot going on, and it's probably good that it doesn't go down as smooth as the made-for-export Banana Yoshimoto and Murakami pulp.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very strange and eerie story. It helps to have some knowledge of Japanese culture and present day history.

[Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunting, interesting, weird ending. I'm not writing too much for reviews because I haven't been on here in many months and just want to try and remember the books I've read.

[RKanimalkingdom]

DNF

There are books consisting of philosophical conversations and then there are philosophical nonsense. Guess which one this book was.