Natsuo Kirino, Out

[la_vie_noire]

Yes. I'm also pissed because I looked for this book for an eternity; I bought it here, in Spanish; and it was EXPENSIVE.

What the shit. No seriously, what the shit.

I mean, sure, great social critique and insight into Japanese working class and economical issues. But seriously, I can't remember the last time a book made me feel to icky.

What the shit? So, you have this woman who is smart, cold, has agency, but that immediately makes her better than any other woman character in the book who isn't like her; even if it's shown they all are oppressed women. And The Woman is specially superior to those who are fat and ugly. And also she is wanted by every man, specially by the... sadist rapist who, by the book's standards, is more sympathetic than the fat and frivolous co-worker. Actually, the book makes the sadist, icky killer the pseudo "love interest." For a book that is supposed to be "feminist," it's something that the woman who killed her abusive, unfaithful husband in a rage attack for his abusive behavior is regarded in a worse way than the man who killed and tortured a prostitute for pleasure. Just because he "sees himself as corrupted." Right.

Ugh. Ugh. Fuck you, book. I thought you were better than that.

Also, I'm kinda tired of reading stupid shit on facebook. God, I can't make myself away from it due to having a lot of my real life there, but how much I wish it every time politic issues are mentioned. Stupid, stupid privileged assholes.

Comments

[eccentricyoruba]

I admit, I enjoyed reading Out the first time. All your concerns are valid and I guess I chose to ignore them because I badly wanted the book to be something that it wasn't. Against odds, I felt sympathetic with the fat and frivolous co-worker. I still don't get why the sadistic rapist killer was a "love-interest".

[la_vie_noire]

It was a good book, a pretty good one, but very frustrating.

Against odds, I felt sympathetic with the fat and frivolous co-worker.

I was actually there waiting for her to look good in any way, but it never came.

I still don't get why the sadistic rapist killer was a "love-interest".

You don't get why I think so, or why the book kinda went for that? Well, of course it's arguable, but it was shown he wanted to fulfill his sadistic impulses, and Matsuko wanted to... kind of to be "freed" or something by experimenting... fear in a sexually way, and his death was all... ugh. So I kinda read it that way, I much preferred the young Brazilian immigrant. Yeah, also, the book was extremely bad with rape.

[eccentricyoruba]

I was actually there waiting for her to look good in any way, but it never came.

I just imagined she was there to show how myopic the other women actually were?

I meant I don't get why the book went for that. I don't know if it is arguable...you're right Matsuko wanted to be freed while to him, she was like "the one". And according to the book, even though Matsuko knew she was in danger, she still wanted that "freedom" that would only come violently. His death and the ending of the book suggested that Matsuko really felt sorry for the sadistic dude. Like she needed him in some way or the other and was sorry she killed him.

The Brazilian immigrant was alright. What do you think about the book's handling of immigration and race? There was another character that amused me, the man who was behind Matsuko starting the business. I don't remember his name but I always imagine him in a suit.

[la_vie_noire]

Yeah, I would like to believe that, but to me it was more, "how superficial and consumerist some people get."

Yes, also she showed more for him than for the consumerist co-worker, or even her own family.

It was decent, it was bad he sexually attacked Matsuko, but then it was shown "it was a one time thing, he was lonely, young and desperate" and then the book went over itself to redeem it (and also due to that stupid treatment of rape). So I don't know.

Jumonji you mean? I kinda hated him, specially for the way he treated Kuniko, women "who look like her" are worth nothing, etc., etc.

[la_vie_noire]

*redeem him.

[eccentricyoruba]

Yes, also she showed more for him than for the consumerist co-worker, or even her own family.

Which was just weird but was written away as Matsuko possessing something special.

I totally forgot about him sexually attacking Matsuko. And his name is Jumonji? And he treated Kuniko like shit? I think I need to reread Out, if possible, quite a few problematic issues seem to sailed over my head.

[la_vie_noire]

No, no no no. XD My bad. That went across as very confusing.

My intention was to respond to your question about immigration and race; so I was talking about Kazuo, the Brazilian immigrant, when I was saying he attacked Matsuko.

Jumonji was the one behind Matsuko business, and the one who though that Kuniko "was ugly, etc., etc." and also liked school girls. So I kinda detested him.

[la_vie_noire]

Also, I'm calling her "Matsuko," but her name was Masako. Yeah. <.