Grotesque
- Author
- Natsuo Kirino
- ISBN
- 9780307267290
- Category
- Fiction
- Rating
- 4.5/5
- Date
- 19 Jun 2025
Haven't read something that has made me this uncomfortable in quite a while. Objectively speaking though (and parroting my previous review), Natsuo Kirino might be the definitive leader in the Crime Thriller genre of Japanese literature. Her grasp of multiperspectivity not as a gimmick, but as a weapon that breathes life into each individual within her twisted worlds is on full display within Grotesque. If it's true that Out has a tighter plot structure Real World has the best replication of the fractured psyche of Japanese Youth, then Grotesque wins out for its sheer, unbridled focus on strong character writing above all else.
None of the individuals within Grotesque come close to being sane, but Kirino's writing is compelling to the extent that she convinces you of the reasonableness of their delusions.
Maybe it's for this reason that I enjoyed Grotesque all the more despite it's subject matter making it near impossible for me to read on public transport, summarise or recommend.
By flittering near constantly between different perspectives and time periods, Kirino traces the accursed paths of each of Grotesque's characters so intricately that by the end, it's sombre conclusion appears unmistakeable and by no means incidental.
Highly recommend this read, but please educate yourself on the book's subject matter beforehand.