MetaChat - Has anyone read "Out" by Natsuo Kirino? [poss. spoilers]

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

07 January 2008

Has anyone read "Out" by Natsuo Kirino? [poss. spoilers] I would love to talk about it if you have. →[More:]

I found it dark, dark, dark. Like slit-my wrists-dark. And awfully, terribly, good. And 24 hours after finishing it, I'm still haunted by the characters and not quite free of the bleakly oppressive noir-cocktail hangover.

Yet, it feels fine, and even welcome. I loved reading something this gritty and monstrous and touching and nuanced that also just kicks all kinds of postmodernist butt, new millennium stylee.

...........

And god, how I hate book reviews! Are there any reviewers who can manage to talk about a book without using a plot summary to fill in three-quarters to four-fifths of the review content? ugh. ugh. I didn't read reviews of this book before I picked it up, and I'm so glad I didn't, because I'm sure I wouldn't have bought it.

Since I always want a story to unfold in the way the author chooses to reveal it, I never read ~~reviews~~ crappy-summaries-with-a-few-Yeah-or-Nay-comments-tacked-on before reading a book; I just sort of trawl the internet with one eye closed to try to get an idea if something is worthwhile in terms of quality. (I've even thought of starting up a no-spoiler review site; does such a thing currently exist?)

But, anyway. Did you read it?

post by: taz at: 08:57 | 2 comments

I read it a couple of years ago when it was just out, after I read the nytimes book review or maybe an article about the author.

I found it pretty odd. Certainly some of the scenes are etched forever, for better or worse, in my memory.

I ended up attributing some of its oddness to the author really yanking on some Japanese taboos/fetishes. I liked the main character's determination and independence.

Someday I'd like to go back and read it again. She has another book coming out soon which I imagine I'll be looking at.

posted by DarkForest 07 January | 09:18

I actually like reading book reviews as long as they don't give away too much. I like having an "in" to a book. But then, I'm not a great reader: I'm slow and I do miss things that better readers might pick up on.

I'm wondering, what would you put into a book review if not a few bits of the plot and what it was about?

posted by DarkForest 08 January | 10:15

← sssh! Is this the sooper seekrit chrismear surprise party thread? || It's 10 Years Since the Ice Storm. →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN