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Out cover art

Out

Written by: Natsuo Kirino
Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller
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Publisher's Summary

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
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Amazing story

incredible. absolutely stunning. Natsuo Kirino's haunting portrayal of perverse femininity and survival is fantastic and an audible delight

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  • Kim
  • 2022-02-02

Fascinating Read!

Don't let the Goodreads reviews put you off. The descriptive scenes of torture aren't as awful as some reviews will have you believe, especially if you typically read horror/gore stuff. Amazing performance by this narrator! Fascinating look at the misogynistic underbelly of Japan combined with a good old fashioned thriller.

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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

As great as the 1st time

I read this book years ago and remembered it being fantastic! The storyline is so ingenious and brings insight to an unknown world, the bond that can exist between women and how far the pursuit of happiness can bring you to. I did not particularly enjoy the narration but you do get over it after a couple of chapters. It evens gets better allowing you to thoroughly enjoy the book.
Highly recommend sticking to it until the end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Slight surprise

At first I thought this novel would be a bit boring but I was very satisfied with the story line and really liked the ending

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Good book.

I enjoyed this book and the story line thoroughly. The narration was good too.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Sweet baby Jesus.

This book had so many twists I was spell bound. How I wish there was a sequal to see what happens next!

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Hated it

I hated the shrillness of the narrator. I hated the violence that in the end seemed pointless. The whole story was horrible and pointless in the end. I listened to the whole thing hoping it would somehow redeem itself but it never did and it left me with an awful feeling.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Narrator ruined it

I was intrigued by the story, but I don't know if I'll be able to finish it because the narrator is so bad. Every female caracters are always whiny and on the verge of tears and her male voices were downright ridiculous. Pulled me right out of the story.

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1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

twisted

well written but a really twisted story with destructive relationships & quite a bit of abuse including quite a bit of sexual assault/rape

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