Amazon.com: Grotesque (9781843432708): Natsuo (Signed) Kirino: Books

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Customer Reviews

49 Reviews

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(8)

Average Customer Review

3.3 out of 5 stars (49 customer reviews)

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60 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Four stars because of the publisher's censorship, April 9, 2007

By

Grammatical Rappers (Seattle, wa United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grotesque (Hardcover)

I attended a Natsuo Kirino reading and was disappointed to learn that in the American translation of this book, the ending had been altered. There is no indication of this in the book; there is no way to know this without comparing it to the Japanese edition (unfortunately, I can't read Japanese). Having the piece of information they omitted makes you better understand the actions of the protagonist at the end of the book. (There's also a puzzling double standard -- in the book, a female character engages in underage prostitution, but they cut the part where a male character does the same thing.) Knopf really dropped the ball on this and I hope that future works by this author are released uncut by a more courageous publisher.

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Invisible Monsters, May 2, 2007

By

Jack M. Walter "Jack M. Walter" (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grotesque (Hardcover)

What a shame that this is only the second of Kirino's novels to be translated into English. I anxiously await more, as Grotesque proved to be the most psychologically intense piece of fiction I have ever read. This story of a hate-consumed woman, her younger sister, and a classmate is riddled with the concept of human beings as monsters, and with the role of females in a society that devalues them at every turn. No short review could do this brilliant book justice. Kirino's talent is so huge it is scary. One of the best of 2007, without a doubt.

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stunning psychological exposition, March 30, 2007

By

Reid Scher "jetsfan" (Windham, ME USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Grotesque (Hardcover)

Readers seeking a murder mystery will be disappointed by this novel. The whodunit is almost irrelevant to the story. What Grotesque is, is a powerful and stunning exploration of the effects of a society that condemns and restricts women based upon looks and expectations. Told from four first-person perspectives, Kirino effectively portrays people crushed by the cultural and societal limits, destroyed by the resulting emptiness of their lives. While the narratives vary in quality, likely a function of translation, this is a compelling and ultimately stunning psychological novel.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Grotesquely disappointing.
I was compelled to read Grotesque after enjoying Out so much. Since this is Kirino's second book to be translated into English, I eagerly anticipated reading another of her works... Read more

Published 5 months ago by S Moore, MD

3.0 out of 5 stars A bit flawed, but an okay read.
I'm relatively new to this author, and this is the first book I picked up from her. True, the book is a bit dry through most parts. I was also very disappointed by the ending. Read more

Published 20 months ago by Raina

1.0 out of 5 stars Grotesquely bad
This follows the life of three people: a freakishly beautiful Japanese-Swiss girl; her plain and resentful sister; and a high-school classmate of their who moonlights as a hooker... Read more

Published on August 27, 2009 by Min Jeong Lee

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
Interesting insight into beauty and status in contemporary Japanese culture. Also, a great crime story, if you don't mind some prostitutes and incest.

Published on May 3, 2009 by Ryan Roxx

4.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile read, especially to better understand Asian mindset
I give this 4 stars because it is not a perfect book. Nonetheless, it is very worthwhile reading, especially if you are or want to understand the Asian mindset. Read more

Published on March 14, 2009 by T. Tran

4.0 out of 5 stars A feminist critique of traditional culture?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Having a really beautiful sister, I empathized with the narrator, and was fascinated to read about the sister. Read more

Published on February 5, 2009 by K. B. Brown

3.0 out of 5 stars pretty good
I liked the beginning and middle. There was a very touching scene involving Chinese migration. I learned a lot about the living conditions in China surpringly from this book... Read more

Published on January 4, 2009 by T. Christensen

5.0 out of 5 stars Concentrated darkness
Now, this book probably deserves only 4 stars, but gave five to counteract all the unfair negative reviews. Read more

Published on December 29, 2008 by Dmitri Priimak

3.0 out of 5 stars Spoiled by last section
A long book, written in several autobiographical sections narrating the action from contradictory points of view. It's an innovative and engaging structure. Read more

Published on October 4, 2008 by John E. Vidale

3.0 out of 5 stars Convoluted
The story of the rivalry of two siblings is long-winded. Of them, one is an ugly duckling and the other a pretty princess who, while in her early teens seduces her father's... Read more

Published on September 21, 2008 by B. T. Sampath

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Inside This Book (learn more)
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
juicy strawberry, ice skating team

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Professor Kijima, Miss Hirata, Shinsen Station, Takashi Kijima, Yuriko Hirata, Dong Zhen, Detective Takahashi, Matoya Building, Tiananmen Square, Inokashira Line, Fujian Province, Jian Ping, Kijima Junior, Green Villa Apartments, Tokyo University, Blue River, Ralph Lauren, Elizabeth Eyelids, Hong Kong, Reiko Ohara, Republic of China, Akira Yamamoto, Pearl River, Zhang Zhe

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