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Item is in acceptable condition. Expect heavy wear on the cover and the inside of the book. The text is perfectly readable and usable. Text may contain highlighting and or handwriting. Item is in acceptable condition. Expect heavy wear on the cover and the inside of the book. The text is perfectly readable and usable. Text may contain highlighting and or handwriting. See less
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Natsuo Kirino
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Out: A Thriller Paperback – January 4, 2005

by Natsuo Kirino (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 1,453 ratings
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ONE OF TIME MAGAZINE'S 100 BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLER BOOKS OF ALL TIME • Winner of Japan's Grand Prix for Crime Fiction • Edgar Award Finalist • Nothing in Japanese literature prepares us for the stark, tension-filled, plot-driven realism of Natsuo Kirino’s award-winning literary mystery Out.
This mesmerizing novel tells the story of a brutal murder in the staid Tokyo suburbs, as a young mother who works the night shift making boxed lunches strangles her abusive husband and then seeks the help of her coworkers to dispose of the body and cover up her crime. The coolly intelligent Masako emerges as the plot’s ringleader, but quickly discovers that this killing is merely the beginning, as it leads to a terrifying foray into the violent underbelly of Japanese society.

At once a masterpiece of literary suspense and pitch-black comedy of gender warfare, Out is also a moving evocation of the pressures and prejudices that drive women to extreme deeds, and the friendships that bolster them in the aftermath.
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  1. Print length
    416 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Vintage
  4. Publication date
    January 4, 2005
  5. Dimensions
    5.21 x 0.91 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1400078377
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1400078370
  8. Lexile measure
    820L
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
1,453 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story engaging and well-written, with descriptive language that makes it easy to understand. The character development receives mixed reactions - while some find the characters compelling, others note the weird sadistic overtones throughout the book. Moreover, the pacing and dark tone are also mixed aspects, with some describing it as fast-paced and dark, while others find it weak and very dark. Additionally, the violence level is considered quite gruesome, and while some find it engrossing, others describe it as a tedious read.

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Story qualityLanguageEmpathyCharacter developmentEnthralling readPacingDark toneViolence level
73 customers mention "Story quality"52 positive21 negative

Customers find the book's plot engaging and grotesquely compelling, with one customer describing it as a suspenseful joy ride.

"A propulsive thriller" Read more

"Very well written and unpredictable. I had no idea the story would unfold the way it did...." Read more

"...The work is a masterpiece of noir, of existentialism, and the expression of the wild deep atavistic nature that lurks in the hearts of all our..." Read more

"...The story itself is well written and plotted, though it has two seperate arcs that don't quite connect well, so it feels a little forced...." Read more

32 customers mention "Language"26 positive6 negative

Customers appreciate the book's descriptive language and find it easy to understand, with one customer noting it's the best female author writing in Japan today.

"Very well written and unpredictable. I had no idea the story would unfold the way it did...." Read more

"...But geez, this is a novel. There is a lot of descriptive language--Kirino's Japanese is much more challenging than, say, Murakami Haruki..." Read more

"...can only conclude that this fabulous noir masterpiece, with its profound explication of the utterly suppressed ids of two intense people whose..." Read more

"A horrible, horrible book, but very well-written. The main characters are four women working night-shift in a Japanese factory...." Read more

10 customers mention "Empathy"7 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the book's empathetic portrayal of characters, with one customer noting its realistic depiction of non-idealized emotions and reactions.

"...They're flawed but still sympathetic if not always likable...." Read more

"...Her characters quickly become real people, and she portrays them with compassion, but also with a pragmatist's careful eye...." Read more

"...could get some empathy up for Indridason's characters but I felt no sympathy whatsoever for any of the four women in "Out", or for the men they..." Read more

"...hilariously funny fairly often for such a gruesome book, intensely deep at others, this story is great even if you know how it ends." Read more

35 customers mention "Character development"23 positive12 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book, with some finding them compelling while others describe them as unsympathetic and having weird sadistic overtones throughout.

"...I like that it shows the perspective of many of its characters. How I felt about certain characters changed as the story progressed...." Read more

"...The characters are sharply drawn, each with their own problems..." Read more

"...Really? Utter sympathy from an unsympathetic character towards her own rapist. It disgusted me...." Read more

"...She plumbs the depths of all her characters, both their strengths and weaknesses, and what emerges is a compelling portrait of friendship tested and..." Read more

13 customers mention "Enthralling read"7 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the book, with some finding it engrossing while others describe it as a tedious read.

"Out is intense. Like really intense. Parts of it made me nauseous with its unflinching look at its more gruesome aspects...." Read more

"...Tangential to that, some of the prose is overly descriptive where it just doesn't need to be...." Read more

"...It is absolutely enthralling. It will keep you hooked as you delve through the mediocrity of having a menial backbreaking night job and the utter..." Read more

"...One was anticipation, boredom, brittleness, judgment, annoyance, excitement... and that's about it...." Read more

10 customers mention "Pacing"6 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some finding it fast-paced and gritty, while others describe it as weak.

"...has written a crime-mystery novel, OUT, that's about as brutal and hard-edged as anything I've ever read...." Read more

"...The very apparent break between the two acts and flaws in the writing style (perhaps owing to the translation) bring it down a little, but other..." Read more

"...This is tight, taunt, and fast-paced, and she controls it so well. She gives us the setting completely, gives us her characters carefully...." Read more

"...One was anticipation, boredom, brittleness, judgment, annoyance, excitement... and that's about it...." Read more

9 customers mention "Dark tone"4 positive5 negative

Customers have mixed reactions to the dark tone of the book, with some appreciating its noir style while others find it too intense.

"...but which I am heartily glad that I do not share; this is a very dark book with few glimpses of light...." Read more

"...The work is a masterpiece of noir, of existentialism, and the expression of the wild deep atavistic nature that lurks in the hearts of all our..." Read more

"...This terrible, unbelievable darkness, the "shadow" - as Carl Jung once called it. A page-turner. Please kindly rate if the review was helpful." Read more

"...This tale is noir at its blackest." Read more

16 customers mention "Violence level"4 positive12 negative

Customers find the violence level of the book quite gruesome.

"...One was anticipation, boredom, brittleness, judgment, annoyance, excitement... and that's about it...." Read more

"...The gory parts were difficult, But necessary. Describes the darkness in the human psyche so well...." Read more

"...does a good job blending clinical, i.e. descriptive and eerily unemotional murder scenes, with very thought provoking characters...." Read more

"...Be aware: There is some very graphic violence, including sexual. Bechdel test: Pass. Grade: A- Audio narration is good, not spectacular." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

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  • Angel E. Ramirez Brito
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente
    Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Este articulo lleno todas mis expectativas, es un excelente articulo.
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  • Briana
    4.0 out of 5 stars Propulsive
    Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A propulsive thriller
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  • andrew santander
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must read crime thriller
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Very well written and unpredictable. I had no idea the story would unfold the way it did. I like that it shows the perspective of many of its characters. How I felt about certain characters changed as the story progressed. Some going from sympathy to dislike and dislike to sympathy for various reasons. There are intense moments where I had to stop reading and just let it sink in. You'll be thinking about the story when you're reading and after you've finished the book. I bought this book in 2009 but I didn't start reading it until recently in 2024, this actually worked out perfectly for me as I work nights at a factory not similar to the characters in the story but close enough that I could empathize with their work and financial situations. I enjoy books about gritty Japan containing crime and poverty, I'm a big fan of Ryu Murakami. I've also read The Hunter by Asa Nomani, which I really enjoyed. Like Nomani, Kirino uses some feminist elements in her storytelling, although it doesn't detract from the story. Other than the character Masako and maybe Yoshie, there are no redeeming characters, male or female. I look forward to reading Kirino's Grotesque and Nomani's Now You're One Of Us.
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  • Maverick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Escape.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2019
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Out is intense. Like really intense. Parts of it made me nauseous with its unflinching look at its more gruesome aspects. Don't be afraid to take breaks if you need it.

    But let's talk about what this novel is about. It's about four women and what they do to escape from their tragic lives, whether its debt, abusive husbands, a past that lurks on the edges of our visions or perhaps loneliness. It explores sexism and how women are assessed based on their looks, but this because this novel is written from a Japanese author this novel takes a distinctly Japanese method of exploring its themes. The characters are sharply drawn, each with their own problems (and if there was any confusion its because the names are unfamiliar to my English pallete). They're flawed but still sympathetic if not always likable. The theme of escape follows to the male characters as well, and it tackles everything until the bloody climax and its (happy?) ending.

    Its similar to Widows, the Steve Mcqueen movie in that addresses four women and how they are taking power for their lives in opposition to the men in their lives. But this differs in structure and its political commentary.

    This novel is a unique beast. Handle with caution.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Japrisot
    3.0 out of 5 stars The translation is way too interpretive
    Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2005
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Having read this book in the original Japanese, i was curious about the translation. Some called it bland while others said it was "excellent" and even Amazon's own reviewer calls it "unobtrusive". Well, it does not appear that any of these opinions were rendered by people who could compare it to the original so perhaps my two cents here will not be a total waste.
    In my opinion, the English translation of "Out" is a work unto itself. I wouldn't even call it a translation; more like an "interpretation". many things which are stated in Japanese are not stated in English. I mean things like, you know, nouns, verbs, adjectives, perhaps entire sentences... it's not like these are subtle nuances.
    I think this was deliberate on the part of the translator, whose obvious aim was to create a very smooth, readable product in English. i think he has succeeded in that respect. I think the publisher's marketing arm should be quite happy with its unobtrusiveness.

    However, i'm not so sure that i agree with that approach to translation. maybe if you're translating poetry or something whacked out like Finnegan's Wake, you have no choice but to take some serious poetic license. But geez, this is a novel. There is a lot of descriptive language--Kirino's Japanese is much more challenging than, say, Murakami Haruki (himself a translator) or Suzuki Koji (he of The Ring fame). So, i agree that it would not be easy to do a straight-up translation and make it seem like it was originally written in English. But to me, that's half the fun. why do we need to pretend it needs to sound like it was written in English to begin with?

    If there are subtleties (grammatical, cultural, etc.) which are too convoluted to convey in a normal English sentence, would it really hurt the book's sales figures that much to throw in a footnote or two? Perhaps endnotes if that is asking too much? I have read Korean translations of several of Kirino Natsuo's books and they all contain translator's notes. These notes provide valuable information to the reader of the translation. The fact that they are present in the Korean translations but absent from the English translations indicates to me that certain American publishers tend to look down on their readership. They seem to believe their readers do not have a sufficiently long attention span to read even the slightest footnote, as if such notes would be awkward and out of place, overly "scholarly".

    In recent years works by the likes of Dostoevsky, Kafka and Natsume Soseki have been retranslated because the old standbys were overly interpretive and people reading the translations actually wanted to know what these guys were saying. Obviously something is always lost in the translation; i just don't think it has to be this much.
    293 people found this helpful
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  • C. Leach
    5.0 out of 5 stars So It's not the same in translation
    Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I found the comments of Japriot interesting since they are so consistant with comments I have from a sophisticated and completely bilingual Japanese woman. When I praised this novel to her, she went into a thousand yard stare and asked me who the translator was. Subsequently, although she had not read the English translation herself, she said she did not think such a masterpiece of Japanese literary style could be translated fully into any other language. This was in keeping with my observation that for a novel of the most thououghly aesthetic culture in the world, the style of the story as translated was utterly prosaic and seemed to call for language as extreme as the eventual revelations of the protagonists themselves. I have met at least one other English speaker who has heard this judgment and holds Out in the same high esteem I do. I can only conclude that this fabulous noir masterpiece, with its profound explication of the utterly suppressed ids of two intense people whose energies are held in check by extremely powerful superegos that lead to a confrontation of nuclear intensity, must touch on something that is deeply universal in us in the west as well as the Japanese. The work is a masterpiece of noir, of existentialism, and the expression of the wild deep atavistic nature that lurks in the hearts of all our species. A stunning masterpiece in any language.
    9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Alejandro
    4.0 out of 5 stars Además de ser un buen triller, también es una crítica social
    Reviewed in Mexico on December 16, 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Conocí a la autora por un artículo en internet sobre la temática de sus libros. Parece que OUT es una de sus obras más famosas por lo que decidí empezar por aquí.

    La historia empieza bien, planteándonos a un grupo de mujeres cuyas circunstancias las obliga a trabajar en una empacadora de alimentos (obentos) y posteriormente unirse debido a un evento clave que ocurre en la trama.

    Los personajes principales están bien escritos, en particular la protagonista y la trama, la cual se va poniendo más densa, avanza bien.

    Además de meter al lector en una trama sórdida, la autora nos invita a reflexionar sobre las dificultades que pueden atravesar las mujeres en una sociedad tan rígida como lo es la japonesa (la cual tiene algo de parecido con la nuestra).

    Lo único que no me gustó es que hay ciertos personajes que no están bien aprovechados y que la trama, sin perder coherencia, se dirige a otro punto en algún momento.

    Creo que pueden agregar a Natsuo Kirino a su catálogo de autores japoneses contemporáneos, y aunque este libro no es perfecto, creo que vale la pena revisar otras de sus obras.
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  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gran compra
    Reviewed in Spain on January 26, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Todavía no lo he leído, pero es una edición preciosa y el libro ha llegado en perfecto estado.
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  • A lawyer of sorts
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 11, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Well paced gripping novel. Poses some interesting moral questions. You might find yourself rooting for characters, despite them having done some pretty bad things. I thoroughly enjoyed every page, apart from probably the last couple of pages. After building the tension up, the actual end is a whimper, rather than a bang. I think I'd have preferred if it had stopped just a little before those final couple of pages. Not enough though to knock off any stars. Still a stellar, five-star, read.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars amazing
    Reviewed in India on February 27, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    One of the best thrillers I have read. Superb storyline and character construction. Will be reading more from this author for sure
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  • tiziano
    5.0 out of 5 stars Una normale giornata di orrore
    Reviewed in Italy on December 5, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Lo consiglio vivamente, c'è anche in edizione in lingua italiana (le quattro casalinghe di Tokyo), la storia é ben congegnata e ben scritta (per quanto mediata dalla traduzione). Kirino é unautrice che apprezzo molto e che riesce ad inserire dosi esorbitanti di kitch e di gratuita malvagità all'interno delle sue narrazioni , senza far storcere il naso al lettore. L'umanità descritta ne esce a pezzi, spesso senza possibilità o volontà di redenzione alcuna
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