Review : The Goddess Chronicle by Natsuo Kirino
In a poor ancient Japanese island culture, Natsuo Kirino shows primitive religious power regimes as a specific example of social structures which are inimical to human life. Finding love, freedom and personhood means escaping their male dominated rules, which only a heroic few seek to do, but this in turn forces cycles of betrayal and bitterness which haunt human life from beyond the grave. It’s a gripping plot. Her female goddess dispenses retributive, vindictive death. There is, according to Kirino’s myth, no redeeming grace, no ultimate light.
You know this novel has been sitting on my boseohklf for years, since before I went to Japan to live for a year (in 2005), in fact. I bought it thinking, like you, that I’d learn more about everyday life in Japan. I’ve picked it up a number of times since then and never made it past chapter two. I sensed, I think, that it might be too dark for my tastes. Your review certainly confirmed my suspicions. I think I’ll still give it a go (someday), I’ll just have to hype myself up to do it.For something a little less dark, you could try “69″ by Ryu Murakami. It was given to me as a birthday present when I was in Japan and came highly recommended.