Out Audiobook By Natsuo Kirino cover art

Out

A Novel

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Out

By: Natsuo Kirino
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
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About this listen

Nothing in Japanese literature prepares us for the stark, tension-filled, plot-driven realism of Natsuo Kirino's award-winning literary mystery Out.

This mesmerizing novel tells the story of a brutal murder in the staid Tokyo suburbs, as a young mother who works the night shift making boxed lunches strangles her abusive husband and then seeks the help of her coworkers to dispose of the body and cover up her crime. The coolly intelligent Masako emerges as the plot's ringleader but quickly discovers that this killing is merely the beginning, as it leads to a terrifying foray into the violent underbelly of Japanese society.

At once a masterpiece of literary suspense and pitch-black comedy of gender warfare, Out is also a moving evocation of the pressures and prejudices that drive women to extreme deeds and the friendships that bolster them in the aftermath.

©1997 Natsuo Kirino; English translation 2003 by Kodansha International Ltd. (P)2016 Audible, Inc.
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What listeners say about Out

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Out...

I saw on the website that this book was for fans of "Gone Girl", so I used a credit. Here's some thoughts for those of you wanting to know if this was worth the listen.

1. This was the first Japanese book I've ever listened to. I think actually reading the names of the characters would be a little bit easier to keep track of them. I'm not very familiar with Japanese names and had a hard time at the beginning deciphering one name from another.
2. The narration was just okay. Not great, not that bad.... just okay. Some characters were better developed and easier to listen to than others. I've never listened this narrator before and thought she was a bit heavy handed in her portrayal of the older women giving them an unpleasant whining tone to them.
3. As described in the notes for this book it has some very very "pitch-black" humor. It is also somewhat graphic for those of you with a timid stomach. I personally like this but it's definitely not for everyone.
4. I'm not sure where I get what the "Gone Girl" comparison was all about other than each of these books are classified as Suspense/Mystery/Thriller. That's about as close as it comes other than it has a female protagonist.

Overall, it wasn't bad. I don't think I'll remember this book for very long though and definitely will not be listening to this again. If you are looking for a suspense novel, I've listened to worse. I enjoyed the change of scenery for me with it taking place in Japan.

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48 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great Book with a Deeply Unsatisfying Ending

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have changed the ending to make it more in line with feminist values.

What about Emily Woo Zeller’s performance did you like?

I think this reader did a great job except for some of the male characters. Some of them sounded like muppets.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This book is too long for one sitting.

Any additional comments?

This is a great book with well developed plot and characters. You definitely feel the desperation and the desolation in every facet of the story. The very ending of this book was terrible. It could've easily turned a completely different direction to become an almost perfect story.

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3 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Story? Rated R. Narrator's voice? More suited for something rated G.

Nails on a chalkboard are only slightly more annoying than the narrator's voice. Slightly.

First half of the book was really interesting. Loved the way the author set up the scenes and introduced some of the characters/plot lines.

Second half was tedious and boring. Ending was lame.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

reluctant fan

I didn't like this book but I couldn't stop listening. It could have had a better ending. I'm reluctant to say but I did like it.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

the most human experience

you get the nitty gritty and grime of every day people as well as their joys hopes and dreams. and even some denial

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Terrifying!

End of your seat listening! Like something terrifying around every corner, an end you never saw coming!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A thrilling ride with a great ending!

Loved the fast pace and the thrilling story. If you like strong emotions and deep characters, this one is for you.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Awkward

Would you try another book from Natsuo Kirino and/or Emily Woo Zeller?

No

Who was your favorite character and why?

didn't develop one

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Her reading was not good for me -- her character voices were annoying, like the way one might read a children's book to a circle of third graders.

Was Out worth the listening time?

No

Any additional comments?

I think a lot of the quality of the writing was lost in the translation. It seemed stilted to me, and a bit ponderous.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Good Story

I liked the story overall. I'm not a huge fan of how it was narrated, but if you can get past it then it's a good listen.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

very dark

I am a huge fan of literary Thrillers and this is definitely one of them. I would warn the faint of heart though, it is very dark. the only thing negative I have to say about it, is that I wish I would have read this instead of listening to it. The narrator can be quite annoying at times. When she's narrating, she's great. But, when she tries to create different voices for the characters, especially any male voices, it was almost laughable. And in a story as dark and intense as this one, wanting to laugh at the narrator's voice can really take you out of the story. I know it is hard for women to do male voices audio books, but I have definitely heard it done much better than it was done here.

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6 people found this helpful