A review by mirrorofneptune
Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino

dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

One of the official reviews of this book describes it as less of a crime novel and more of a character study, and I agree with that. The cast of characters are all morally ambiguous and unreliable narrators, and it was interesting to see their multiple takes on the same events. The book leaves a lot up for interpretation but that’s definitely intentional on the author’s part. There’s a recurring motif of what makes someone monstrous/“grotesque” that I found fascinating, especially in the context of Kirino’s other works. 

Overall: a book that navigates intense and dark subject matters without sugar-coating or glamorizing, while asking some deep questions about how people (but particularly women) interact with society. 
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