Welcome to Litsy!

"So in the final analysis the only use for the education my old lady so highly prizes is to brag about it in front of others. Nobody outside K High knows I‘m at the bottom of the class, or that the teachers make fun of me."

"The cold air crystallized my sweat. I had the illusion that my whole skin was covered with a thin layer of glittering white salt. With my salt suit on, I was better than any other person around."

""But I do remember this one weird thing. When I grabbed my mother by the hair, I thought, Wow, her hair‘s just like a woman‘s. I really felt like, Hey, she‘s a woman. But the person in front of me was just this crabby, complaining old bitch who was talking nonsense. It was like I thought, Shut the hell up! and pushed the off button on a machine.""

"If Worm was caught, wouldn‘t they think that I‘d lent him my phone and bike to help him get away? I suddenly felt like Worm had forced some awful thing into my hands. Now it had liquefied and was dripping down between my fingers."

A raw and real perspective of young women coming if age in a modern Japan, finding out who they are, and who they want to be. With all the pressures of family, school, social obligations, and covering for punk a murderer.

#japan #kirino #tokyo #murder
Too this picture before starting to read the book and I just now realize how the quote #yourfuturedependsonwhatyoudotoday perfectly fits this book. This novel tells the story of 4 young girls who become friendly with a teenage murderer for different reasons. If you're into the rawness of Japanese fiction, this book is for you.

Out was my first and favorite by Natsuo Kirino, but I‘d probably read anything I‘m able to by her.

Oh, and I loved Thornhill, thought the ending was great. I wonder if there‘s space left for a second book?

Strange. Disturbing. Teenagers in Japan burdened with the pressure of academic success try to come to terms with what they really desire. Murder your mother who you can‘t stand? Why not? Maybe include Dad? 🤔 Some translation issues. I won‘t be reading any more of this author‘s books. #japanesethriller #booked2018

“You‘re not so bright, I want to tell her, so why bother with studying? What‘s the point? You‘re a girl, so that‘s plenty! That‘s enough to see you through life, right? Who cares if you don‘t do well in school?” Quote from Worm, teenager who has killed his mother. 😬 #stupidman #septemberdanes

Going in. Such a disturbing cover. Originally was planning on her other book “Out”. I had to wait for an inter Library loan, and this was on the shelf. #booked2018 #japanesethriller

A #brutal #murder occurred in a crowded residential suburb on the outskirts of #Tokyo, and 4 teenage girls somehow got themselves involved with the #killer. A so-so read. It was suspenseful in the beginning but it got monotonous after that.

#booknerd #bookphotos #bookart #bookphotography #loverofbooks #readinglife #calgaryreads #japan #asia #japanesewriter #teenagers #cultures #crime #calgarylibrary

I've had quite a long weekend to indulge into a new (albeit borrowed) book.

I'm currently reading Natsuo Kirino's Real World, which is a thriller, and although I don't love it, but there is undoubtedly something irresistible about the book. I also like how it's getting darker (and creepier) by each chapter.

I'm through three chapters and hoping to finish the book by tomorrow.

My CBC Creeper seems to match my evening reading! This week has dragged and I'm looking forward to my #bookandbrew 🍻

This was terrible. I think that part of it has to do with the translation. The other part was that I didn't believe the motivation of these bloody teenagers. I got really tired of reading about how deep they all are but that they couldn't be themselves around their friends. Nothing about this story rang true to me and I feel that it was a waste of the £.60 that it cost me to reserve it at the library.

Y'all have already seen my shrine to Haruki Murakami, so here is my shelf of other Japanese writers/Japanese culture. #booksbyasianwriters #japanophile

My miniature book haul featuring Japanese literature. I 🖤🖤🖤 Natsuo Kirino & her twisted tales of feminist noir themes, & I also ❤️❤️❤️ Banana Yoshimoto with her tales of familial bonds & the resilience of life during emotional tragedies. Seicho Matsumoto is a new author for me, but from what I've checked out, the writing is fantastic!!
🌸🌸🌸🌸
#diversereads #diversebooks #natsuokirino #bananayoshimoto #japan #japaneselit #asianlit #bookhaul

This was a strange book about a boy who kills his parents and goes on the run. It's a little creepy and totally weird. I liked it a lot! #halloweenreads

How about some #scaretober psychological thrillers? Kirino does some crazy stuff. Gory sometimes but always strongly grounded in Japanese culture as that's the audience she writes for.
#diversereads
#booktober

Mystery readers! Get thee to Kennebunk, Maine and this adorable shop. They have a nice selection of mysteries from all around the world. The books are mostly used and I think there's something here for every reader. The grab bag was a fun treat. For "Favorite TV Sleuths" it included one paperback novelization each for Monk, Diagnosis Murder, and Burn Notice. I just wish I lived closer to I could stop in here all the time! ???

If you're a fan of mystery/crime I wrote a 100 must-read for novels around the world 📚: http://bookriot.com/2016/07/26/100-mystery-crime-novels-around-the-world/

Kirino might be best known for her book OUT, but REAL WORLD is a fascinating and compelling story about four teenage girls who are curious about the teen boy that killed his mother. Told in alternating POVs, this is a weird, dark, twisted, and thrilling read. - @Kelly

Delicious croissant. Delicious feminist noir. Hello Sunday, I love you.

What are your #sundayplans ? (Feel free to tag me in your pics my TBR pile is never full enough!)

Today's #bookhaul !!!!

I'm just starting this one. It's my first read by this author (and a gift from my best friend!)

Obsessed with east asian noir/dark fiction right now. This rec from a coworker sounds like it will scratch my itch.