A review by chris_davies
Picnic in the Storm by Yukiko Motoya

2.0

There are some good stories in this book, but most of them are just too obscure for me. The writing is good, and when I am able to appreciate the subtext or analogy being made, it all works very well. But roughly two-thirds of the stories here left me confused and underwhelmed. Perhaps my lack of knowledge of Japanese culture is the reason, although that hasn't stopped me enjoying other books by authors from that country.

It's a shame, because the I usually really like the type of stories being told - in which weird goings on infest everyday life - and the first three stories are good. Sadly, it's downhill from there, with the longest story - An Exotic Marriage - not really justifying its length and the rest leaving me baffled.