Natsuo Kirino - Grotesque (2007)
Reviewed by Fiona Walker
Grotesque, Kirino's second novel to be translated into English after the Edgar-nominated Out, is purported (by the publishers at least) to be a crime novel. But beware, it's not. Unless you like your crime novels with a distinctly literary edge. Luckily enough, I do.
Grotesque concerns the murders of two Tokyo prostitutes, roughly a year apart. One of them is Yuirko, sister to the narrator, who used to be a beautiful young student, adored by all, who got into college not on her intellectual merits but because of she snatches the attentions of a teacher (her hard-working, plain sister, obviously resents this immensely). The other is murdered prostitute is Kazue, who by day has a successful and prestigious job as a researcher. Her case in particular - the career-woman-by-day-prostitute-by-night story - snags the public attention. The two women had nothing much in common apart from having attended the same school. Whereas Yurkio got by on her looks, Kazue worked hard, was convinced that by doing so would eventually get the things she wants, and ends up resentful that her hard-work and diligence goes underappreciated.
As I say, this is not really a crime novel. A crime is featured, but only really serves to let Kirino focus her attention on examining, in intense detail, the two dead women, and what led them to lie dead in cheap Tokyo apartments. The novel is narrated mainly by Yuriko's older sister, but also through the diaries of both women, and the court proceedings from the trial of the man accused of killing them. It is a detailed, intense, uncomfortable social examination, which looks at everything from prostitution, gender in society, social status, immigration, and poverty. And those are just the main themes.
As a narrative it is brought to us wonderfully, through the almost Nabokovian unreliability of the narrator, who is bitter, resentful, cold, cruel, probably manipulative, and will, we are all too aware, probably not have too many qualms about stretching the truth to paint her sister and school-friend the light she wants them seen in. It adds another interesting dimension to what is an absolutely excellent book anyway. Indeed, as a character the main narrator is pretty dislikeable, does and says some very cruel things, but Kirino is blessed with a gift whereby we are enabled, maybe not to have empathy, but at least to understand the narrator's cruelty, her resentfulness, as a result of the society she's in, the way the increasingly Western society doesn't seem to appreciate her attributes, her qualities. As a result, she becomes riven with resentment towards almost everyone, withdraws from life and forms a globally negative view of people generally.
Indeed, all three main females characters are somehow destroyed by the society they live in. Kazue's striving for affection and the attention of men, for herself as a woman, leads her down dangerous avenues. Yuriko's treatment at the hands of men who revere her for her beauty and exploit her, leads her down a similar path (though what drives women to prostitution is only one of the main questions). Conversely, the narrator shuts the world at large out, particularly the world of men. And this is the outstanding, grand overarching achievement of Grotesque: the coruscating portrayal of Japanese society. The inter and intra gender competitions, the power-games, that can so affect a person. The status games, the trap of being beautiful, ugly, or even just plain. The resulting un-met need for appreciation. The way people are treated, the view of what they have to offer, where they fit, why they fit.
In a sense, it is a staunchly feminist novel, but one that suggests women's' sense of self can be damned not just by men but other women too. It's a rich, detailed, dense. Kirino's ambition is to examine the psyche's of these women, what internal and external factors drive them and make them who they are, can make them grotesque, in almost intense detail, from every angle. It is both an elaboration and a huge question mark, providing only suggestions not definite concrete answers. It's ambitious and almost oppressively, uncomfortably perceptive and intelligent in terms of individual characters and society. It is supremely rewarding, too, though not a quick read: it is certainly not for those that want an easy thriller. It is written in a studied, considered manner, and needs reading as such. It's one of those books that, not read hurriedly, will more than pay back the effort you put into it. Grotesque is powerful, perceptive, fascinating, and uncomfortable. And well worth reading.
Posted by Fiona Walker in Book Reviews | Permalink
Comments
I have just finished Out...and must say after reading this review I can't wait to pick up Grotesque. Above all else she is a great writer I couldn't put the book down...and toward the end started stalling on the reading because I didn't realize that there was already a book to continue her voice...Thank you GJ
Posted by: Gary | Jun 19, 2007 1:29:22 AM
Look out for translation 3 next year, too, "What Remains"
Posted by: Fiona | Jun 24, 2007 5:37:01 PM
This is my first taste of Kirino's writing (notice I said "first") and I am thoroughly impressed with this book as a character study. As distasteful as the people in it are at first,with each demonstrating noticable flaws as well as methods for coping with them, as time goes on, it's the pieces missing that become relevant to their various fates. As far as the "crime drama" aspect of the novel is concerned, I found it to be more of a sub-plot. I was far more interested in the lives and the sadness that comprised these fascinating,if pathetic,women and the monstrous dictates of a society focused on the superficial.
Posted by: paul b blackwell | Jul 12, 2007 7:35:30 PM
Just finished this book and it was profoundly disturbing mainly because it brings home the deep sadness so many people have in their souls where even doing the most perverse and disgusting things are better than being ignored. This is great feminist writing and certainly give s a better view of the realities of prostitution than the wholly ridiculous belle de jour and the film pretty woman
Posted by: sally wilton | Feb 25, 2008 9:55:12 AM
Great review. Here's my short one referring back to yours http://clovelly4208.wordpress.com/2009/09/13/grotesque/
Posted by: Another Bridge | Oct 5, 2009 4:19:15 AM
