Out by Natsuo Kirino

[Kirie_Maiden]

"What happens when you cross the line...

...when you discover a taste for the unthinkable?

Could you be drawn into a murder? For friendship? For a way out of your dreary existence?"

Has anybody else read this book? If so, what did you think of it?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41H2KDZYM9L._SL500_AA240_.jpg

[Mycernius]

Great book, and quite gory, you'll love it:-). Read it a few years back now. Her next one, Grotesque, is a harder read, but is a worthwhile read. I have recently bought her latest Real World, but haven't started it yet. I find her a compelling author who drags you into the world of the novel. Don't expect the nice friendly Japan that you get from tourist or generalisations about Japan, these books show the less than glamourous side.

[Kirie_Maiden]

Yeah, they do seem to. I haven't read Grotesque yet, and my mothers boyfriend bought me "Out" simply because it was by a Japanese woman, but I am glad he did and I fully intend to read more of her work. I do agree, this book is very gory, but I suppose it adds to the realism and the horror of the situation. Are all her books as in depth as this one?
Also, which character did you relate to and which did you not like?

[Dogen Z]

I read the book a while ago. I thought it had more character development (and gore) than Elmore Leonard's crime novels but I was unsatisfied at the end. I wanted to know more about the protaganist's psychology and how her life would go on from the time the book ends.

However, I was looking for something more literary like Murakami or even Yoshimoto so my expectations were too high.

[Kirie_Maiden]

Yeah, I was a little unsatisfied by the ending too for the same reasons. I also found it hard to really connect with most of the characters.

[Halewijn]

I liked this book quite alot, more so then Grotesque, which wasn't too bad either.

[chickie]

I read Out some months ago. It was gripping, but some parts were too gory for me that I had to skip some sentences! It feels like I'm being naive, but this book scared me maybe because I read it around the time when a woman savagely murderd by a man who lived a few doors down from her :frown:

[Kirie_Maiden]

Yeah, I suppose that would affect the way you read it. Must have been terrible.

Maybe you should re-read the book at a time when that murder isn't in your mind, to get a better appreciation of it.

[Mothling]

I read this book a year or so ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I find Kirino to be one of the most interesting contemporary writers around, and find that no other writer can draw me in in quite the same as Kirino manages.

Though I do agree, the ending left a lot to be desired. Maybe I just missed a bit of a psychological aspect, but the turn-around the main protaganist makes completely threw me for a loop. I was left finishing the book with a "...wtf?"

[Alma]

one of those books that makes impact. I've read it, and loved every part of it! story seems rather simple when you hear it, but it is truly unexpected way of storytelling. I made most of my friends read it afterwards :blush:

and we all agreed, after reading this book, you'll never buy bento without remembering "out" :blush: (maybe not "never", but it takes some time)

[Ma Cherie]

I haven't read any of Natsuo Kirino's books. :( But I want to so badly.

Walking through Barnes and Noble I saw her novel Real World. Has anyone read that one?

[RolandtheHeadless]

Interesting read and compelling story. I was surprised, however, that a female author would write a scene where a woman enjoys her rape.

[Kirie_Maiden]

Good point, RolandtheHeadless. I think she was just exploring the different emotions. Ultimately, rape is a terrible experience, bt she could have been exploring the idea that a woman that is so lonely might just find at least a little scrap of pleasure in it. It is sex, after all.

In response to Ma_Cherie, I haven't read that one, but I fully intend to buy it as soon as my University money comes through. Come back to this thread in October and I might have read it by then! Haha.

[Alma]

Interesting read and compelling story. I was surprised, however, that a female author would write a scene where a woman enjoys her rape.

was that in out or this other one? because I do not remember it.


has anybody read Grotesque? worth buying?

[Alma]

this is actually quite interesting...

Interesting read and compelling story. I was surprised, however, that a female author would write a scene where a woman enjoys her rape.

do you think it would be appropriate if male writer write something like this? is it your belief that women should be more compassionate or that nobody should even think about that in that way, especially not women?

[pipokun]

...
has anybody read Grotesque? worth buying?

Go to a library nearby.

Suginami ward (https://www.library.city.suginami.tokyo.jp/TOSHOW/asp/WwShousai.aspx?FCode=1694092) has it.

But unfortunately, the English translation is a bit self-censored.