The other famous writer with
Murakami surname, Ryu, is a very different writer than the more famous Haruki.
His books are much more vicious and have quite a harder edge when it comes to
sexual and psychological aspects of storytelling, as evidenced by his slim
debut novel Almost Transparent Blue, and this novel, Piercing. They will appeal
to fans of transgressive fiction, who read books for blood and guts, which I do
not really have a problem with, but Murakami’s books, including this one, don’t
have a lot to offer besides shocking violence and aberrant sexuality. It is
interesting though, and it does keep your attention, but it can come off as a
cheap way to engage the reader. Murakami does have moments in this book that
are successful at delving into deeply human emotional trauma, and it is quite
powerful, but those moments are few and far between in this novel, which seems
to sacrifice logic and story for shock value. I like the premise a lot and
think it would make a great movie if it were ever to be adapted. A man named
Kawashima seemingly has a perfect life, with a wife who stays at home and
teaches cooking classes at home while she nurses their newborn. But at night,
he stands over the baby’s crib holding an icepick, promising himself he will
fight the urge to stab her with it. Losing this battle with himself, he goes in
search of a victim, a mission that puts him on the equally violent path of
Chiaki, a prostitute whose sexual problems rival Kawashima’s. In any other
book, these two would find some solace in one another, but here, they are intent
on destroying on another. It is an ugly and depressing progression with little
redeeming value, despite moments at the beginning showing the troubled past of
Kawashima and possible reasons for his psychosis. It’s a quick read, but far
from a pleasant one.
Rating: 4/5
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