Confessions in Around the World in 80 Books

May 23, 2015 alana rated it liked it

Shelves: books-on-the-big-screen, nihongo, teachers-and-pupils, horror, crime

This is more of a 2.5 for me.

First off, the good(ish): Confessions called up in my mind a vivid image of a Japanese junior high. I found myself wondering if the author had actually described the old desks with bags clipped on the sides, the wall of windows over a dirt courtyard, the staffroom students apologized for entering...or if I was just remembering all that myself? Her description of the students listening to sensei, cleaning up around the school, and having teachers reprimand them for o This is more of a 2.5 for me.

First off, the good(ish): Confessions called up in my mind a vivid image of a Japanese junior high. I found myself wondering if the author had actually described the old desks with bags clipped on the sides, the wall of windows over a dirt courtyard, the staffroom students apologized for entering...or if I was just remembering all that myself? Her description of the students listening to sensei, cleaning up around the school, and having teachers reprimand them for out of school behavior was all spot-on and so Japanese chugakko. I appreciated the way in which the story unfolded: separate chapters by different protagonists who provide a contrasting perspective to the central story. Most chapters read like a monologue to a specific audience with the narrator responding to the listener's reaction.

While the book is about a murder and "punishing" the murders, much of the content feels like Japanese horror rather than straight up crime. Lots of bullying/ijime which just makes me hate everything. My greatest issue though was the treatment of HIV and AIDS (shocked that's even in there, aren't you? I mean, right?? This book is not even supposed to be about that! What the heck?) (view spoiler) Overall, the story is a very Japanese horror/crime novel set in a school. Full of horrible people doing horrible things. The structure and unraveling is intriguing, and those who like crime or mysteries set in school situations should likely be entertained. ...more

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Aug 16, 2022 Ann rated it it was amazing

This was so gripping, my attention would be pulled away from work and this acted as my coffee substitute. Despite the multiple POVs, this was easy to follow. I will definitely read her backlist.

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May 24, 2011 mstan rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: translation, asian, read-in-chinese

This Japanese novel (which I read in its Chinese translation) was made into a movie that has been quite critically acclaimed. It features a female teacher whose daughter was found dead in the school swimming pool one day. The book comprises six chapters or 'confessions' by the various characters involved in the death of the child.

While the twisted thinking of the protagonists is its main selling point, I am getting a little weary of seeing this in Japanese novels. Yes, I did find Out fascinating ...more

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Apr 04, 2018 Susan rated it liked it

A dark tale told quite matter-of-factly by the different characters involved. I felt the narrative suffered a bit from translation (Japanese). Some of the events were too contrived to fit the plot, but the story is compulsively readable. Pretty much a tale of "revenge is a dish best served cold..." ...more

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Mar 20, 2021 Julie rated it really liked it

Wow! I listened to this all day, even did extra yard work to keep listening. Dark, twisty and with multiple unreliable points of you, it kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Fantastic!

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