Scan barcode
reading_for_the_dopamine's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I read "Out" as part of a reading challenge with the prompt "A thriller or crime novel in translation." This book is outside my comfort zone, as I primarily read romance. However, reading it has inspired me to read more dark mysteries and thrillers.
The author, Natsuo Kirino, is a Japanese novelist who started writing romance. However, she has been criticised for now writing crime novels with strong female protagonists. As a feminist romance reader, I found her emphasis on women, relationships, and psychology to be the most engaging elements. From the start, Kirino drew me in with her compelling portrayal of four ordinary, flawed, yet resilient women navigating the challenges of disenfranchised underclass women in Tokyo. Each woman's voice was distinct and benefited from Kirino's choice of multiple narratives. Despite these women being morally grey, I celebrated their efforts to support each other, even in particularly gruesome ways.
This book was less compelling from the mid-section when the secondary male characters were introduced in the middle. These men, perhaps deliberately on Kirino's part, contrastingly feel flat and one-dimensional. The men's perspective slowed the pace and shifted me from the intense world she created. This may not be the experience of other readers who respond to the very explicit horror scenes that then occur. I appreciated that while the violence was frequent and described in explicit detail, it did not feel gratuitous. I enjoyed how Kirino wove the multiple characters' inner world perspectives around the plot's events. Startlingly, this approach reminded me of the plots for a favourite movie, "Love Actually." I would have liked this aspect of her writing to continue to the end.
Overall, I have likely underestimated the rating of this book. I would recommend this book, no matter what genre of books you usually read. It will appeal to readers who like books that focus on the psychological aspects of intense, gritty women and the intersectionality of the damage of patriarchal oppression.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Gore, Domestic abuse, Grief, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, and Violence
blazieken's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Rape, Xenophobia, Blood, Violence, Murder, and Death
mak97's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death and Domestic abuse
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
karly_ackley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Stalking, Vomit, Physical abuse, Body horror, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Violence, Grief, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Blood, Body shaming, Confinement, Death, and Misogyny
poubelleboi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Chronic illness, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexual assault, Blood, Body horror, Physical abuse, Rape, Torture, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Stalking, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Abandonment, Xenophobia, Racism, and Fire/Fire injury
a1exander's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Toxic friendship, Torture, Death, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Stalking
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Sexism, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Mental illness, and Infidelity
Minor: Vomit, Classism, Adult/minor relationship, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicidal thoughts
rvdk's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Murder, Torture, Death, Stalking, Rape, and Physical abuse
beetaire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Stalking and Domestic abuse
sheabug's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Gore, Body horror, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
sakisreads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
In every turn of this book though, that’s how it feels. Masako, the ringleader, clearly goes through so many different phases and although there’s a real change in her character and a confidence that comes forth, it never felt easy to label. I suppose that is what makes it such a gripping read, is that every single character has their flaws and nothing is ever binary (good or bad) 😳
I actually really appreciated Kazuo and his struggle of ‘not assimilating’; I think Japanese society has a very big problem with ‘othering’ and that was very evident.
The descriptions in this book are VERY gory so if you feel a bit squeamish about blood etc., this one might not be for you 🥺 I’ll put content warnings below!
4 out of 5 stars from me! I was hooked until the very end! The end itself I was a bit disappointed by, but I still enjoyed the book in general ✨ Thank you!
Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Body horror, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, and Blood