Out

A Novel

De: Natsuo Kirino

Narrado por: Emily Woo Zeller

Nothing in Japanese literature prepares us for the stark, tension-filled, plot-driven realism of Natsuo Kirino's award-winning literary mystery Out.

This mesmerizing novel tells the story of a brutal murder in the staid Tokyo suburbs, as a young mother who works the night shift making boxed lunches strangles her abusive husband and then seeks the help of her coworkers to dispose of the body and cover up her crime. The coolly intelligent Masako emerges as the plot's ringleader but quickly discovers that this killing is merely the beginning, as it leads to a terrifying foray into the violent underbelly of Japanese society.

At once a masterpiece of literary suspense and pitch-black comedy of gender warfare, Out is also a moving evocation of the pressures and prejudices that drive women to extreme deeds and the friendships that bolster them in the aftermath.

©1997 Natsuo Kirino; English translation 2003 by Kodansha International Ltd. (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

very dark

I am a huge fan of literary Thrillers and this is definitely one of them. I would warn the faint of heart though, it is very dark. the only thing negative I have to say about it, is that I wish I would have read this instead of listening to it. The narrator can be quite annoying at times. When she's narrating, she's great. But, when she tries to create different voices for the characters, especially any male voices, it was almost laughable. And in a story as dark and intense as this one, wanting to laugh at the narrator's voice can really take you out of the story. I know it is hard for women to do male voices audio books, but I have definitely heard it done much better than it was done here.

Chilling...

This book creeps up on you and gets into your head. Not for the faint of heart.

Could have been much shorter

Although I listened all the way to the end, I couldn't help feeling like the story was taking WAY too long. I think a little was lost in translation as well. And don't get me started on the narrator - by the end her voice was grating on every nerve I had! The story itself was good, just drug on too long.

Japanese suspense novel

should appeal to anyone who likes Noire the Japanese atmosphere is a great touch. Very absorbing.

Complex, unpredictable.

I did enjoy the book in its entirety, but at times it was painful to listen to. The ending was a bit torturous because it lasted so long, like the author enjoyed it. If you like Japanese contemporary literature (and who doesn’t) I recommend it.