In the Miso Soup

“Most people think nothing can happen to them, until it does.”

This book takes you into the dark nightlife of Tokyo, specifically the infamous Kabukichō district in Shinjuku. Kenji is a night guide who leads foreign tourists through this red-light and entertainment district.

He accepts a job from Frank, a mysterious American tourist who wants to be shown around Kabukichō for three nights. From the start, Kenji feels uneasy about Frank, but the money convinces him to go through with it.

Murakami builds tension right away; a constant sense of dread lingers, and so much happens in such a short time that you can't help but keep reading.

I was on board for the first two thirds, but the book plays its hand way too early, and quickly goes from gritty and intriguing to aimless. The tension and threat evaporate and the story spends the third act petering out. I liked the writing and seedy atmosphere, but the violence and monologues didn't interest me as much as the suspense.

Not only is this book kind of hard to describe, it's really hard for me to say whether I liked it or not. I have no idea how to give it a start rating! I don't regret reading it at all, because it was strange and thought-provoking, but I certainly didn't enjoy it. Hmm.

《I didn't know if he was a murderer, but I knew he had a bottomless void inside him. And that void was what made him lie. I've been there. Compared to where Frank was at, it may have been like a Hello Kitty version, but I've been there.》

THIS. BOOK. IS. SO. DISTURBING.
Oh my- At some point I was going to throw up the hell out of me, seriously.
... But I have to say that from 80% on (I was reading the ebook version, of course) I was kinda bored, but obviously I wanted to know how it ended so I tried my best to finish it.
A final comment? I feel so paranoid right now. Just let me live in my bedroom and don't let me see the sunlight ever again, please.