Out - Softcover

Kirino, Natsuo

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0099492687 ISBN 13: 9780099492689

Publisher: Vintage, 2006

Synopsis

In the Tokyo suburbs, four women work the draining graveyard shift at a boxed-lunch factory. Burdened with chores and heavy debts and isolated from husbands and children, they all secretly dream of a way out of their dead-end lives. A young mother among them finally cracks and strangles her philandering, gambling husband then confesses her crime to Masako, the closest of her colleagues. For reasons of her own, Masako agrees to assist her friend and seeks the help of the other co-workers to dismember and dispose of the body. The body parts are discovered, the police start asking questions, but the women have far more dangerous enemies - a yakuza connected loan shark who discovers their secret and has a business proposition, and a ruthless nightclub owner the police are convinced is guilty of the murder. He has lost everything as a result of their crime and he is out for revenge. "Out" is a psychologically taut and unflinching foray into the darkest recesses of the human soul, an unsettling reminder that the desperate desire for freedom can make the most ordinary person do the unimaginable.

About this title

Product Description:

Rare Book

Review:

"A potent cocktail of urban blight, perverse feminism and vigilante justice." -The New York Times Book Review"Kirino's tale is so dark, so gruesome and so depressing, it left this reader reeling. No gritty urban American tale of violence can match the horror of OUT." -USA Today"The scarily omniscient Kirino knows not only everybody's business but everybody's mind-her way with interior monologue is pungent and prismatic..." -The Village Voice"OUT remains a daring account of empowered Japanese women, and just too damn macabre to discount." -Flaunt"OUT offers an intriguing look at the darker sides of Japanese society while smashing stereotypes about Japanese women." -Washington Post Book World"Daring and disturbing, OUT is prepared to push the limits of this world-not only in violence and sex but also in human outlook." -The Los Angeles Times"OUT probes the more sordid corners of the criminal psyche." -The Houston Chronicle"A knuckle-clenching thriller." -Entertainment Weekly"OUT turns the whole subservient geisha image on its head." -JANE"Kirino, as is the case of the best mystery writers, combines a strong plot with a canny description of contemporary Japanese mores and culture to make this an unforgettable work... this is a novel that will be shared, and discussed, for some time to come." -Bookrerorter.com"Sensational." -Time Out New York"In Snyder's smoothly unobtrusive translation, all of Kirino's characters are touching and believable.... the gritty realism of everyday existence in the underbelly of Japan's consumer society comes across with pungent force." -Publishers Weekly"With volcanic urgency, Kirino's story erupts onto the page with a searing heat, flowing like lava to a remarkable finish... It's rare when a novel is so well rendered, so reaching in scope, and so thematically relevant that is transcends its type and demands a wider reading. OUT does that and more." -Barnes & Noble's Discover New Writers, Fall 2003"One of the year's most impactful works of mystery." -Borders.com"OUT descends beneath the genre's foundation to provide a remarkable series of insights into the forces that drive the charnel house of a postindustrial culture." -American Book Review..".a captivating portrayal of what an individual will do to find a reason for living...." -ForeWord"OUT is interesting for the way it invites questions of gender's relationship to violence." -Bitch"[OUT] brings the mystery thriller to new levels of intensity and realism, drawing readers into a nightmare of murder, suspicion, and fear.... [It] has great plot twists, intensity, and an ending that would make Hannibal Lecter smile." -Library Journal (Starred Review)"Dark, seductive and occasionally brutal, OUT explores the lower classes of Japanese society with a distinctive gallows humor." -Book.."..the most exciting crime novel of the year...the novel is darker, grittier, and more disquieting than nearly anything that's come along in recent years on either side of the Pacific Rim." -Orange"A gutsy, unflinching foray into the darkest, most dangerous recesses of the human soul. And the book's riveting, hair-raising final scenes, although definitely not for the faint-at-heart, serve as an unsettling reminder that the desperate desire for freedom has the potential to set any ordinary individual among us off down a very dark and lonely road." -Minneapolis Star-Tribune"An entrancing, perverse tale of murder." -The National Post (Toronto)"Dramatic as the plot is, it's the penetration of Kirino's insight into her characters and their capacity to keep surprising each other that linger longest in this grimly satisfying tale. Crime and Punishment meets A Simple Plan-yet in the end Kirino manages her banal heroines' descent into hell like no one you've ever read before." -Kirkus Reviews"Kirino doesn't rush the complex plot; she takes time to develop her characters and set up the crisis, with fantasies and realities about to collide." -Toronto Globe & Mail"One of the most popular authors in Japan-known as 'the reigning queen of crime fiction.'" -International Herald Tribune"Finally, a masterpiece in this genre... Whereas the lead characters in most crime fiction are outlaws, here is a novel that realistically shows how ordinary people can be drawn into committing brutal crimes." -Prize jury, Mystery Writers of Japan"OUT will remain in the memory of readers as The pick of the crop of Japanese mysteries. There is terrific energy in it, from start to finish." Mainichi Shimbun"There are few authors who are willing to probe deep into the innards of modern society and write about what they find there. This novel is proof that Ms. Kirino is one of them." Hokkaido Shimbun"Intricately constructed, like the assembly of a mosaic, stone by stone. Even the minor charactersa loan shark, a Brazilian Japaneseare vivid and memorable." Asahi Shimbun"Stark realism, lit up by flashes of unexpected humor and psychological insight." Nihon Keizai Shimbun"Ingenious." Shukan Asahi "A potent cocktail of urban blight, perverse feminism and vigilante justice." -The New York Times Book Review "Kirino's tale is so dark, so gruesome and so depressing, it left this reader reeling. No gritty urban American tale of violence can match the horror of OUT." -USA Today "The scarily omniscient Kirino knows not only everybody's business but everybody's mind-her way with interior monologue is pungent and prismatic..." -The Village Voice "OUT remains a daring account of empowered Japanese women, and just too damn macabre to discount." -Flaunt "OUT offers an intriguing look at the darker sides of Japanese society while smashing stereotypes about Japanese women." -Washington Post Book World "Daring and disturbing, OUT is prepared to push the limits of this world-not only in violence and sex but also in human outlook." -The Los Angeles Times "OUT probes the more sordid corners of the criminal psyche." -The Houston Chronicle "A knuckle-clenching thriller." -Entertainment Weekly "OUT turns the whole subservient geisha image on its head." -JANE "Kirino, as is the case of the best mystery writers, combines a strong plot with a canny description of contemporary Japanese mores and culture to make this an unforgettable work... this is a novel that will be shared, and discussed, for some time to come." -Bookrerorter.com "Sensational." -Time Out New York "In Snyder's smoothly unobtrusive translation, all of Kirino's characters are touching and believable.... the gritty realism of everyday existence in the underbelly of Japan's consumer society comes across with pungent force." -Publishers Weekly "With volcanic urgency, Kirino's story eruptsonto the page with a searing heat, flowing like lava to a remarkable finish... It's rare when a novel is so well rendered, so reaching in scope, and so thematically relevant that is transcends its type and demands a wider reading. OUT does that and more." -Barnes & Noble's Discover New Writers, Fall 2003 "One of the year's most impactful works of mystery." -Borders.com "OUT descends beneath the genre's foundation to provide a remarkable series of insights into the forces that drive the charnel house of a postindustrial culture." -American Book Review .,."a captivating portrayal of what an individual will do to find a reason for living...." -ForeWord "OUT is interesting for the way it invites questions of gender's relationship to violence." -Bitch "[OUT] brings the mystery thriller to new levels of intensity and realism, drawing readers into a nightmare of murder, suspicion, and fear.... [It] has great plot twists, intensity, and an ending that would make Hannibal Lecter smile." -Library Journal (Starred Review) "Dark, seductive and occasionally brutal, OUT explores the lower classes of Japanese society with a distinctive gallows humor." -Book .,.".the most exciting crime novel of the year...the novel is darker, grittier, and more disquieting than nearly anything that's come along in recent years on either side of the Pacific Rim." -Orange "A gutsy, unflinching foray into the darkest, most dangerous recesses of the human soul. And the book's riveting, hair-raising final scenes, although definitely not for the faint-at-heart, serve as an unsettling reminder that the desperate desire for freedom has the potential to set any ordinary individual among us offdown a very dark and lonely road." -Minneapolis Star-Tribune "An entrancing, perverse tale of murder." -The National Post (Toronto) "Dramatic as the plot is, it's the penetration of Kirino's insight into her characters and their capacity to keep surprising each other that linger longest in this grimly satisfying tale. Crime and Punishment meets A Simple Plan-yet in the end Kirino manages her banal heroines' descent into hell like no one you've ever read before." -Kirkus Reviews "Kirino doesn't rush the complex plot; she takes time to develop her characters and set up the crisis, with fantasies and realities about to collide." -Toronto Globe & Mail "One of the most popular authors in Japan-known as 'the reigning queen of crime fiction.'" -International Herald Tribune "Finally, a masterpiece in this genre... Whereas the lead characters in most crime fiction are outlaws, here is a novel that realistically shows how ordinary people can be drawn into committing brutal crimes." -Prize jury, Mystery Writers of Japan "OUT will remain in the memory of readers as The pick of the crop of Japanese mysteries. There is terrific energy in it, from start to finish." Mainichi Shimbun "There are few authors who are willing to probe deep into the innards of modern society and write about what they find there. This novel is proof that Ms. Kirino is one of them." Hokkaido Shimbun "Intricately constructed, like the assembly of a mosaic, stone by stone. Even the minor charactersa loan shark, a Brazilian Japaneseare vivid and memorable." Asahi Shimbun "Stark realism, lit up by flashes of unexpected humor and psychological insight." Nihon Keizai Shimbun "Ingenious."Shukan Asahi "A potent cocktail of urban blight, perverse feminism and vigilante justice." -The New York Times Book Review "Kirino's tale is so dark, so gruesome and so depressing, it left this reader reeling. No gritty urban American tale of violence can match the horror of OUT." -USA Today "The scarily omniscient Kirino knows not only everybody's business but everybody's mind-her way with interior monologue is pungent and prismatic..." -The Village Voice "OUT remains a daring account of empowered Japanese women, and just too damn macabre to discount." -Flaunt "OUT offers an intriguing look at the darker sides of Japanese society while smashing stereotypes about Japanese women." -Washington Post Book World "Daring and disturbing, OUT is prepared to push the limits of this world-not only in violence and sex but also in human outlook." -The Los Angeles Times "OUT probes the more sordid corners of the criminal psyche." -The Houston Chronicle "A knuckle-clenching thriller." -Entertainment Weekly "OUT turns the whole subservient geisha image on its head." -JANE "Kirino, as is the case of the best mystery writers, combines a strong plot with a canny description of contemporary Japanese mores and culture to make this an unforgettable work... this is a novel that will be shared, and discussed, for some time to come." -Bookrerorter.com "Sensational." -Time Out New York "In Snyder's smoothly unobtrusive translation, all of Kirino's characters are touching and believable.... the gritty realism of everyday existence in the underbelly of Japan's consumer society comes across with pungent force."-Publishers Weekly "With volcanic urgency, Kirino's story erupts onto the page with a searing heat, flowing like lava to a remarkable finish... It's rare when a novel is so well rendered, so reaching in scope, and so thematically relevant that is transcends its type and demands a wider reading. OUT does that and more." -Barnes & Noble's Discover New Writers, Fall 2003 "One of the year's most impactful works of mystery." -Borders.com "OUT descends beneath the genre's foundation to provide a remarkable series of insights into the forces that drive the charnel house of a postindustrial culture." -American Book Review , .."a captivating portrayal of what an individual will do to find a reason for living...." -ForeWord "OUT is interesting for the way it invites questions of gender's relationship to violence." -Bitch "[OUT] brings the mystery thriller to new levels of intensity and realism, drawing readers into a nightmare of murder, suspicion, and fear.... [It] has great plot twists, intensity, and an ending that would make Hannibal Lecter smile." -Library Journal (Starred Review) "Dark, seductive and occasionally brutal, OUT explores the lower classes of Japanese society with a distinctive gallows humor." -Book , ..".the most exciting crime novel of the year...the novel is darker, grittier, and more disquieting than nearly anything that's come along in recent years on either side of the Pacific Rim." -Orange "A gutsy, unflinching foray into the darkest, most dangerous recesses of the human soul. And the book's riveting, hair-raising final scenes, although definitely not for the faint-at-heart, serveas an unsettling reminder that the desperate desire for freedom has the potential to set any ordinary individual among us off down a very dark and lonely road." -Minneapolis Star-Tribune "An entrancing, perverse tale of murder." -The National Post (Toronto) "Dramatic as the plot is, it's the penetration of Kirino's insight into her characters and their capacity to keep surprising each other that linger longest in this grimly satisfying tale. Crime and Punishment meets A Simple Plan-yet in the end Kirino manages her banal heroines' descent into hell like no one you've ever read before." -Kirkus Reviews "Kirino doesn't rush the complex plot; she takes time to develop her characters and set up the crisis, with fantasies and realities about to collide." -Toronto Globe & Mail "One of the most popular authors in Japan-known as 'the reigning queen of crime fiction.'" -International Herald Tribune "Finally, a masterpiece in this genre... Whereas the lead characters in most crime fiction are outlaws, here is a novel that realistically shows how ordinary people can be drawn into committing brutal crimes." -Prize jury, Mystery Writers of Japan "OUT will remain in the memory of readers as The pick of the crop of Japanese mysteries. There is terrific energy in it, from start to finish." Mainichi Shimbun "There are few authors who are willing to probe deep into the innards of modern society and write about what they find there. This novel is proof that Ms. Kirino is one of them." Hokkaido Shimbun "Intricately constructed, like the assembly of a mosaic, stone by stone. Even the minor charactersa loan shark, aBrazilian Japaneseare vivid and memorable." Asahi Shimbun "Stark realism, lit up by flashes of unexpected humor and psychological insight." Nihon Keizai Shimbun "Ingenious." Shukan Asahi "A potent cocktail of urban blight, perverse feminism and vigilante justice." -The New York Times Book Review"Kirino's tale is so dark, so gruesome and so depressing, it left this reader reeling. No gritty urban American tale of violence can match the horror of OUT." -USA Today"The scarily omniscient Kirino knows not only everybody's business but everybody's mind-her way with interior monologue is pungent and prismatic..." -The Village Voi...

About this edition

• Publisher: Vintage
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0099492687
• ISBN 13: 9780099492689
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 528