“I'm still reading this. I'm finding it difficult going, because the characters in the book are all so intensely unlikable. I earlier read "Out" by the same author. That book seemed to be a lot more approachable, even though it also wasn't exactly a fun read. One difference seems to be that the translation of the first book read a lot more smoothly than this second one. Kirino seems to have a low opinion of Japanese women - perhaps because she is a woman herself. She describes women who allow themselves to be exploited, refuse to take responsibility for themselves, and generally are a bunch of sorry losers. Of course, in both this book as well as in Out she presented us with some pretty despicable men, as well. So perhaps it isn't women that Kirino is criticizing, but Japanese society? It's just that the men seem to me to be caricatures, while (most of) the women are more fully realized, not just foils for the story.”
