BOOK of the MONTH . november 2005
A few weeks ago, I dropped by BBCL‘s Heartlands Bookclub and was introduced to this English translation of Japanese Crime Novelist Natsuo Kirino‘s “Out”. I didn’t read the book prior to the meeting but turned up anyway.
It was clear from the discussions that those who read it enjoyed it. Paul, the volunteer facilitator, distributed reviews of the book printed off the web so I got an idea what the book was about. However, I couldn’t appreciate fully what made the novel so enjoyable.
Later, a club member passed me the book and urged me to read it. OK, I admit I borrowed the book partly out of politeness. And a slight sense of curiosity. (Was it really that interesting?)
Tokyo ; New York: Kodansha International, c2003, c1997.
Call No.: KIR
Click here for item availability.
I surprised myself by finishing the 520-page book in one day. It was that good! The story started rather slow for me, but once the plot thickened, it was simply ‘unputdownable’.
Set in contemporary Tokyo, the novel introduces four women, acquaintances at best, who work the midnight shift in a Bento (Japanese boxed-lunch) factory. The plot quickens when one of the women, Yayoi, kills her abusive and cheating husband. She seeks help from the unspoken leader of the group, Masako, who ends up involving the other two co-workers, Kuniko and Yoshie, in disposing of the dismembered body parts. The body parts are discovered. The police get involved. That’s where the plot heats up.
By the end of the novel, reality catches up on them (a colleague asked if I meant “the law” — OK, you’d have to read the novel to find out. You’d hate me if I give any more of the plot away).
One thing that stood out for me was how seemingly random and senseless acts could become so ordinary and business-like. The plot takes a surreal feel when Masako and Yoshie end up dismembering more bodies on a contract basis.
These two women aren’t psychotic and are essentially very ordinary and believable characters. To them, they’ve accepted the fact that there’s money to be made from their “skills”.
Which brings me to one poignant aspect of the novel: there’s a subtle recurrent theme about money and survival – something as horrific as dismemberment of a corpse becomes merely a transactional act for making money.
I won’t say this novel typifies Japanese society but there’s a lot to be discussed about it. Maybe it’s not so much about Japanese culture but modern contemporary life as a whole. One could also discuss the position of women in a male-oriented society.
Here’s a question to be considered after you’ve read the novel: Why was this novel titled, “Out”?”
Out of control? Out of this world? “Out” as in “escape”?
It’s likely that you’d feel something from reading this book, but not in a gushing sort of way. This is not usually something I would pick out from the shelf but I’m glad I was introduced to it.
Contributed by Ivan Chew, Manager, Public Library Services (ivanchew@nlb.gov.sg)
Have you read this book? What do you think?
Post your comments, or send a longer book review to HBeditor@nlb.gov.sg
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6 responses so far ↓
1 Dennis Kweh // Nov 11, 2005 at 9:52 am
“OUT” is one hell of a novel. It deals, among other things, the necrophilic fantasy of one of its male characters. The theme of ‘edginess’ or at the edge is perhaps what “OUT” sets to confront. If one is pushed to the edge or a cul-de-sac, what happens next?
There is no clear boundary between in-out or black-white in the novel. The four female protagonists were typical housewives eking out a living at a food factory. Each is concerned with bread and butter issues. Their lives took a turn and were intertwined when one of them killed her husband.
It is actually quite amusing when after the first killing, these women later participated in disposing dead bodies for the yakuza for ‘pocket money’. Here, another level of interpretation can be seen.
While the actions (murder, illegal activities) seemed abhorring, what run through the readers’ mind when they read the novel? Is there a darker side in each of us waiting to be surfaced when circumstances are right?
I likened the situation to that of someone doing “bungee jumping” for the first time. What goes into a person’s mind before he bungee jumps? Is there a leap of faith (pun intended) to suspense the fears and just let go?
“OUT” is a grey book. I mean it is not about clear cut images. It could mean flow or flowing out: to a destination where consequences can be unintended.
2 Farene Ng // Nov 11, 2005 at 10:37 am
Hello.
I found the book very readable too. It focuses on the rim of society far removed from that tourist view of Japanese as polite, wealthy and industrious.
However, I think this story goes beyond the plight of a particular level of society. One will find that the same essential tragedy could be played out in all levels of Japanese society and in all regions, not just the big cities.
What is universal is that sense of being trapped by obligations and the expectations of those around you – a parent, a child, a friend, an employer, even a neighbour. I found it particularly poignant that each of the women experience a great sense of disappointment in themselves, echoed in their thoughts of “this-is-not-what-I-thought-I’d-be at-age-30/40/50″. Who among us has not had that negative thought creep up on us once in a while?
But just *perhaps* in Singapore, more visible opportunities exist for an “upgrade”, a turnaround, a second chance at the game of life.
This adds another interpretation of the title. As baseball umpires like to say, it’s three strikes and “Yer Out!” — with no way back in.
3 anon // Nov 11, 2005 at 7:21 pm
how do I join the book club?
HBeditor replies: Sign up at Bukit Batok Community Library. Details of the Heartlands reading group can be found at the NLB website, under Public Libraries > Public Library Services > Reading Groups. Or email us and we’ll include you in the BBCL Heartlands reading group mailing list.
4 Adele // Nov 14, 2005 at 1:16 pm
Probably would never have read this but was introduced through the book club and LOVED it! Shows a different side to Japanese women. Did not finish the book in a day (like Ivan) but found it compelling reading. Would definitely recommend to others, especially those who would not necessarily consider this genre.
5 eugene anthony // Dec 1, 2005 at 2:44 pm
I came across this book after browsing the web and i believe this writer is a well-known crime writer in Japan. It’s sitting on my spare bed and am waiting to get into it!
6 Sarah // Aug 20, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I like its creative story a lot, the writer knows how to excite the readers. What’s exciting to it is that it’s brutal. Once you’ve start reading it, you’ll not stop reading it until you’ve reached the last page. Natsuo Kirino is the greatest crime novel for me.
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