FICTION

Last Winter, We Parted

Soho. 2014. 224p. tr. from Japanese by Allison Markin Powell. ISBN 9781616954550. $25; ebk. ISBN 9781616954567. F
COPY ISBN
In Nakamura's new novel (after The Thief), a young writer is asked to write the biography of a death row inmate who had burned two women alive, hoping to capture their fleeting essence in the flames. The book's dark, creepy aspect and twist at the end come as no surprise, as The Thief was a finalist for the 2012 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Mystery/Thriller. But it also won Japan's prestigious Kenzaburo- O-e Prize, so the fluid language, sophisticated structure, and reflections on how we know what we know don't surprise, either. Chilling.
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


RELATED 

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?