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A review by kimbofo
The Boy in the Earth by Fuminori Nakamura
3.0
The Boy in the Earth is the latest novel by Japanese writer Fuminori Nakamura to be translated into English. I had read two of his earlier works — The Gun (translated in 2016) and The Thief (translated in 2012) — to be interested enough to pre-order this one, which arrived in the post a couple of weeks ago.
First published in 2005, this book was Nakamura’s fifth novel. Winner of the Akutagawa Prize — one of Japans most important literary awards presented twice a year since 1935 — I don’t think it stacks up against the previous two I have read, but it’s a quick, haunting read nonetheless. If you’re feeling a bit low I would caution against reading it though — The Boy in the Earth plumbs some seriously dark territory and has a strong nihilistic streak running through it.
It’s narrated in the first person by a young Tokyo taxi driver, who has obsessive fantasies about dying. In each of these fantasies he envisions himself returning to the earth, being subsumed by the ground and becoming at one with the dirt around him.
It’s only mid-way through the book that the reader comes to understand the reasons for this strange obsession.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
First published in 2005, this book was Nakamura’s fifth novel. Winner of the Akutagawa Prize — one of Japans most important literary awards presented twice a year since 1935 — I don’t think it stacks up against the previous two I have read, but it’s a quick, haunting read nonetheless. If you’re feeling a bit low I would caution against reading it though — The Boy in the Earth plumbs some seriously dark territory and has a strong nihilistic streak running through it.
It’s narrated in the first person by a young Tokyo taxi driver, who has obsessive fantasies about dying. In each of these fantasies he envisions himself returning to the earth, being subsumed by the ground and becoming at one with the dirt around him.
It’s only mid-way through the book that the reader comes to understand the reasons for this strange obsession.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.