Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino
My honest reaction after reading the last sentence on page 467?
*cue barely audible gasp for 10 seconds*
Mind-blown. Pardon my drama queen moment but let me just warn you.. this book is immensely gripping and reeking with suspense at every turn of the page. I swear I could feel chills down my spine at some parts. It is that crazy.
This is the first of many Natsuo Kirino’s works that I’m reading and may I just say.. she is one whacked literary genius. Let me share with you the gist of what Grotesque is about..
Picture this: Two ladies, two different worlds, two promising futures, two parallel lines.. which strangely enough end up converging at some point. Eventually, both ladies willingly exchanged their futures for the oldest profession on earth, in other words, prostitution.
No that’s not the exciting bit. Here’s the twist.
Both ladies are murdered by the same person.
This novel follows an unnamed woman who has connections with both said ladies; Kazue Sato, her old school friend, and Yuriko, her younger, insanely beautiful, limelight stealer of a sister. The unnamed woman is particularly vindictive in her words and actions towards Yuriko. At certain parts of the book, Natsuo Kirino allows us take a sneak peek into the journals of Zhang (the murderer), Yuriko and Kazue, to provide alternative views of the story and the events that led to the murder.
Kazue is an overachiever, studies like crazy, comes from a strict and rule-bound family, has a high post at a reputable company, and should be contented with her status. Yuriko is a natural born beauty, has always been an object of fascination for men, and she started getting involved in the business of prostitution at an early age.
So how do both of these women, who are total opposites, coincidentally end up with a similar sad fate?
To solve this bizarre mystery.. grab this book and READ IT. Won’t spoil the suspense for you. I can tell you however that at the very last page lies a huge unpredictable twist which will definitely make you feel the same way I did.
Natsuo’s mastery lies in her ability to drive you mad with suspense till you question your sanity at one point, and her sense of understanding in the complex behavior which exists in each of us human beings. Expect great depth of personalities and strong, cleverly contrasted characters which will get you hooked to the book immediately.
For me though, before even having read the amazing story that awaits in the novel.. the little blurb at the back and the hauntingly beautiful face on the cover is enough to have me SOLD.
You don’t necessarily have to buy it though (I assure you it is easy to stumble upon this in your neighborhood libraries) but this book will give you an amazing thrill of a story you never thought was possible.
An example of modern Japanese fiction at its best, Grotesque will leave you at the end of a dirty, dim-lighted road, breathless and wanting more.
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