A review by glosangela
The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada

challenging dark funny lighthearted slow-paced

5.0

The slightly surreal quality of this book keeps you just a little off balance. Despite the blurb, it's not quite Kafkaesque (try Smallcreep's Day if you want Kafka in a factory!) I understand what it has in common with his work, it's too gentle and mesmeric to be that. But it's rather wonderful. Beautiful as well as, ultimately, chilling.

I read an article not long ago about how you are supposed to structure a plot with conflict; and, more relevant, how you might go about making a plot without conflict. The article described the Japanese approach of Kishōtenketsu. I can't say I really understood it at the time. But I think I do now. I mean the twist comes right in the very last lines, but yeah. This was an awesome plot without the traditional Western element of conflict. It really made me want to read more books like this!