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A review by kirstiemccrum
Naoko by Keigo Higashino
4.0
As a massive admirer of Japanese mystery and crime fiction, I couldn't wait to dig in to Naoko, and I wasn't disappointed.
It was less of a straightforward 'mystery' than I thought, but that didn't have any impact on my enjoyment of it.
Heisuke's wife and daughter are in a bus accident, and he's devastated when his wife, who he loves very much, dies.
But when his daughter comes out of her coma, her personality is actually her mother's.
As well as being difficult socially - how a 36-year-old mother has to become a sixth grade elementary school pupil - it's a tale which has lots of attendant problems for Heisuke's relationship with his wife.
As a read, it was weird and sometimes difficult, sometimes creepy, but overwhelmingly sad, as Heisuke's lot is that he will never get what he wants - his family together again as a happy trio.
I absolutely loved the book, reading it in on Saturday sitting, and know it will stay with me for a long time.
It was less of a straightforward 'mystery' than I thought, but that didn't have any impact on my enjoyment of it.
Heisuke's wife and daughter are in a bus accident, and he's devastated when his wife, who he loves very much, dies.
But when his daughter comes out of her coma, her personality is actually her mother's.
As well as being difficult socially - how a 36-year-old mother has to become a sixth grade elementary school pupil - it's a tale which has lots of attendant problems for Heisuke's relationship with his wife.
As a read, it was weird and sometimes difficult, sometimes creepy, but overwhelmingly sad, as Heisuke's lot is that he will never get what he wants - his family together again as a happy trio.
I absolutely loved the book, reading it in on Saturday sitting, and know it will stay with me for a long time.