A review by ifyouhappentoremember
Where the Wild Ladies Are by Aoko Matsuda

5.0

I thought this was a clever interpretation of Japanese folklore, specifically of Kaidan (a Japanese ghost story). It reminded me of [b: Once and Forever|721863|Once and Forever|Kenji Miyazawa|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1177628395l/721863._SY75_.jpg|708102] by Kenji Miyazawa, although Once and Forever is more of original short stories inspired by Japanese folklore tropes whereas Where the Wild Ladies Are is more of a reimagining/different interpretation of Japanese folklore. I was familiar with most of the folklore referenced and I enjoyed how they intersected with modern Japanese life. I also really liked that all of the short stories were connected in some way. They all share a universe, the mundane and the strange living side by side, as it is in the folktales.

I am so curious how this collection would be interpreted by someone unfamiliar with the referenced folktale. I do not know how it would affect someone's enjoyment; it may be dependent upon how familiar a reader would be with folktales in general (some tropes just make an appearance in practically every culture). Personally, I think a reader unfamiliar with Kaidan would be missing a key component. The stories Matsuda draws from are very famous and have vastly influenced Japanese culture. To see these characters and stories in a new but familiar light is part of the enjoyment.