Yulia's Reviews > Out

A literary page-turner as timely as when it first came out, this biting critique of Japan's social and economic underclass begins when three female co-workers are forced to confront the act of a friend against her abusive husband, but evolves into a blistering exposé on those whose stories are never told: the unseen night-shift factory workers who make Japan's endless supply of box lunches; women who are swamped in credit-card debt but cannot live off their looks, youth, or father's paychecks as "parasite singles"; aging parents who, instead of being looked after by their children, are left to support their grandchildren and still look after their in-laws long after their spouses are gone; and alienated Brazilian immigrants who never attain the rights and respect of citizens. Kirino presents nuanced characters forced to make difficult choices but she does so with immense empathy and humanity, making us see there are no clear labels to put on her characters, like good, evil, victim, or criminal.

This work is a gem. It amazes me I had it in my bookcase for a full year before realizing what it offered (though Frank had seen its potential immediately). It never even pestered me for attention. It just waited its turn politely. What a well-behaved thriller. You'd almost think it was innocent.