bibliobethreads's review against another edition
Although not as good as out this was an interesting disturbing story unlike anything I have ever read before, not for the faint hearted!!
reirei23's review against another edition
5.0
Kirino pushes the reader to witness the cause and effect of what Modern Japanese Society does to any woman who struggles to find a place within its classist and restrictive structure. From the beginning of the book, we can intuitively predict that none of the characters will win and that everyone will descend into self-destructive, grotesque Monsters.
Perhaps as a current member of Japanese society, this book got me brooding with dark thoughts because of its realism and relatability. The book pushed me to unwillingly witness the inevitable demise of women. Every female character in the book is pushed into the game curated by the classist male gaze: for the woman to win she must hail from a well-to-do family, be intelligent, exceptionally beautiful, well-networked, rich, subservient, etc. We learn that even the women like the nameless narrator who actively chooses to not participate in the game--loses.
Throughout the book, I felt Kirino laughing at my distaste and discomfort (just like many male characters) towards these women's downfall. For evoking these raw emotions within me I give this book a five stars.
Final afterthought: There is the one re-occuring theme that I am too scared to analyze.... Incest.
Perhaps as a current member of Japanese society, this book got me brooding with dark thoughts because of its realism and relatability. The book pushed me to unwillingly witness the inevitable demise of women. Every female character in the book is pushed into the game curated by the classist male gaze: for the woman to win she must hail from a well-to-do family, be intelligent, exceptionally beautiful, well-networked, rich, subservient, etc. We learn that even the women like the nameless narrator who actively chooses to not participate in the game--loses.
Throughout the book, I felt Kirino laughing at my distaste and discomfort (just like many male characters) towards these women's downfall. For evoking these raw emotions within me I give this book a five stars.
Final afterthought: There is the one re-occuring theme that I am too scared to analyze.... Incest.
alinadesu's review
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
heyfarahey's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jan_coco_day's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
paeandbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ok, hear me out: READ THIS. Even when crime and thriller is not your niche, not your cup of tea, please, read this masterpiece.
Grotesque is described as crime novel by the great and kindly free Wikipedia, but there’s so much more than that. There are layers. LAYERS of emotion, issues, and the description of characters is so vivid that you’ll feel like throwing everything and picked it back up because it is THAT good.
This book follows our unnamed narrator, who lives under her younger, more beautiful sister Yuriko.
The opening peeked into current time; her sister and her friend died. Narrator and her sister both were born as Gaijin (some might think it’s just a term, but for me, Gaijin is a degrading term). While her sister got the looks from her Swiss dad with some features of their Japanese mother, our MC didn’t; she didn’t even get the accent of Euro-ness. Hence begins their childhood that filled with bullying; the MC bullies, yes, and it was put on pause when they’re separated due to financial situation that leaved the MC in Japan while the other family members, including the sister moved to Switzerland.
Narrator later entered Q High School, which you guessed it; more mean people. I gotta say, these people put Mean Girls to shame because even their parents are pieces of work. Among the acquaintances she met at the school was Kazue Sato, the dead girl; the one with no self confidence, constantly need for approval girl, Mitsuru; a smart girl who eventually picked the wrong path and became Charles Manson herself, and Takashi Kijima, a guy who decided to be Yuriko’s pimp. Later Takashi and Yuriko were expelled due to unruly activities, and the timeline skipped to their adult days.
Kazue and Yuriko became prostitutes, somehow became friend with benefits due to same target; money. Along the work line, they met Zhang, who had tragic life and some disturbing issues in his chest (I read this part while having my lunch and CHOKED. It’s not fun). And then, they died.
The killer revealed almost with no riddles, but I’m not mad, because we have bigger hill to climb. How childhood trauma shaping one man’s character. How your career doesn’t prevent you being nice to people (remember the Malboro Hag?). Severity of bullying & alienation at school, or Ijime. How some insecurity speaks louder in silence. How not saying anything is just as bad as doing the crime. HOW HARD A WOMAN HAVE TO WORK TO BE RECOGNISED IN LITERALLY ANY FIELD AND INDUSTRY (Pardon my silent screaming on your screen)
There are no likeable characters here, but I’m staying for the trainwreck; like you know it’s going to be disastrous, painful, and even sad, but you.can’t.stop.
Oh in case I haven’t said this yet, READ THIS BOOK.
Grotesque is described as crime novel by the great and kindly free Wikipedia, but there’s so much more than that. There are layers. LAYERS of emotion, issues, and the description of characters is so vivid that you’ll feel like throwing everything and picked it back up because it is THAT good.
This book follows our unnamed narrator, who lives under her younger, more beautiful sister Yuriko.
The opening peeked into current time; her sister and her friend died. Narrator and her sister both were born as Gaijin (some might think it’s just a term, but for me, Gaijin is a degrading term). While her sister got the looks from her Swiss dad with some features of their Japanese mother, our MC didn’t; she didn’t even get the accent of Euro-ness. Hence begins their childhood that filled with bullying; the MC bullies, yes, and it was put on pause when they’re separated due to financial situation that leaved the MC in Japan while the other family members, including the sister moved to Switzerland.
Narrator later entered Q High School, which you guessed it; more mean people. I gotta say, these people put Mean Girls to shame because even their parents are pieces of work. Among the acquaintances she met at the school was Kazue Sato, the dead girl; the one with no self confidence, constantly need for approval girl, Mitsuru; a smart girl who eventually picked the wrong path and became Charles Manson herself, and Takashi Kijima, a guy who decided to be Yuriko’s pimp. Later Takashi and Yuriko were expelled due to unruly activities, and the timeline skipped to their adult days.
Kazue and Yuriko became prostitutes, somehow became friend with benefits due to same target; money. Along the work line, they met Zhang, who had tragic life and some disturbing issues in his chest (I read this part while having my lunch and CHOKED. It’s not fun). And then, they died.
The killer revealed almost with no riddles, but I’m not mad, because we have bigger hill to climb. How childhood trauma shaping one man’s character. How your career doesn’t prevent you being nice to people (remember the Malboro Hag?). Severity of bullying & alienation at school, or Ijime. How some insecurity speaks louder in silence. How not saying anything is just as bad as doing the crime. HOW HARD A WOMAN HAVE TO WORK TO BE RECOGNISED IN LITERALLY ANY FIELD AND INDUSTRY (Pardon my silent screaming on your screen)
There are no likeable characters here, but I’m staying for the trainwreck; like you know it’s going to be disastrous, painful, and even sad, but you.can’t.stop.
Oh in case I haven’t said this yet, READ THIS BOOK.
nickthemenace's review against another edition
3.0
This book is so damn long. It's interesting but not nearly interesting enough to be this long.