Real World by: Natsuo Kirino is a book about the lives of four young girls when they meet a boy their age who killed his mother. It all starts one morning when Toshi (the boy's next door neighbor) is getting ready for cram school and hears a sound coming from the next house. Worrying there was a break-in, she asks the boy, Worm, if everything is all right. He assures her everything is fine, and they go their seperate ways. After cram school, Toshi finds her bike has been stolen, along with her belongings that were with it. And then she learns that woman next door to her was murdered. The suspect? Their son; Worm.
She calls her cell phone, only to find it was Worm who'd stolen her bike. Before Toshi knows it, her three friends are involved. Yuzan ends up helping Worm by buying him a new cell phone and letting him borrow her bike so Toshi can have hers back. Her friend Kirarin ends up meeting up with Worm and leaving with him once he vows to help her plot revenge on a boy who broke her heart. The only one least affected by Worm is Terauchi. The book ends with devastating results.
I really enjoyed reading Real World. While some people may find the book slow or to have no point, I think it was rich in emotion and voice. Each point of view was strong and gave the reader a clear view on who the character was. (The point of views include: Toshi, Worm, Kirarin, Yuzan, and Terauchi.) As I've begun reading more Japanese fiction, I've seen that the authors tend to focus more on the characters than on the plot. They really breathe life into them, and make them into people the readers might meet on the street. And I love that. It's a very interesting take on a novel, because usually people are focused on the plot and the character tends to fall wayside.
Natsuo Kirino is a strong author with a clear voice. I can't wait to read more by her.
Overall, I'd give this book 8/10.
You've written such an interesting review, Emily. This sentence of yours: "I've seen that the authors tend to focus more on the characters than on the plot" was something I had to discover, too, when I first picked up Japanese fiction. I was all mad there wasn't anything happening, but that was so narrow of me. I enjoy the close up and in depth views we have of the characters in Japanese literature, as you said. This book sounds a bit upsetting, but very interesting all the same.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bellezza, very interesting review. I read her book Out last year for the challenge and really enjoyed it. It took a lot of time focusing on characters and I loved that about it. This one sounds very good. And I love that cover!
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with all three with you. In my case, my induction to reading literature pretty much began with a short novel by Murakami. As such, it didn't take me some getting used to that Japanese writers "seem" to not focus on the plot; that's actually the style I came to love from early on. I do love the way their writings to be "rich in emotion and voice", and yes Real World is certainly rich in "voice". Sometimes I even get bored with the more standard forms of novels where much of the focus is on plot--how the hero encounters a problem and how it ends up getting solved (or not). That's why I'm somewhat partial to Japanese works :)
ReplyDeleteI love what you said that they "really breathe life into them". That captures just what I feel about my favorite Japanese writers. Great review Faith :)
Great review! I haven't read any Natsuo Kirino yet but have Out waiting to be read for the challenge. I am looking forward to experiencing her voice for myself.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, thanks so much, guys! I'm glad you liked the review (:
ReplyDeletethanks for the very good review-my Amazon wish list is filling up with titles thanks to insighful posts like this one
ReplyDeleteAre Kirino's books always about murder? :P I've read Out and totally loved it. I'm wondering if I should pick up her other books because most people say they're not as good as Out (which I highly recommend to you if you haven't read it :)
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