Review: Audition (Ryu Murakami)

Months ago, I walked in on my brothers watching this Japanese film called Audition.

an accurate visual representation of their faces when i saw them

Now, let me say that this isn't out of the ordinary; my brothers are all movie buffs and it's not unusual they'd watch something gory.

But what made this incident memorable is this: I was forbidden to watch the film with them.

Yes. I was sent out of the room while I hear their united screams of agony, begging for everything to stop. From then on, I've been wondering what the hell that film was about.

It's only recently when I've discovered it was from a novel of the same title, written by Ryu Murakami. I immediately read the book and so starts our review of Audition.

• Good Points:

It started off well, with profound character build- ups through these back stories that pretty much tell you of the past of the main character, providing you a clearer picture of who he is.

It's curious how I've found this book hard to put down, considering that there really isn't much happening on the first part except for introduction of that VERY interesting plot (I assure you, it is). It's one of those books that makes you keep asking "Then what happened?!".

Also, it's amusing how the author successfully pulled off the right internal discourse to convey how the main character feels without directly saying it.

• Bad Points (contains spoilers):

Well, first off, I wasn't entirely convinced with the whole purpose of the audition. The whole time I was like, seriously? A freakin' NATIONWIDE audition just to find a girlfriend? Are you serious right now? But nooo, the main character was like, you know what, fuck da police imma go do dis shit (said in a Japanese accent, of course).

how i imagined what the main character was thinking.
(photo from: http://aboutskins.tumblr.com/post/7011108286/alo-im-never-going-to-get-laid-if-you-keep-being_

But I just figured, hey, to each their own. And just went with it. And it wasn't a bad ride, actually. The author was, again, able to provide that creeping uneasy feeling whenever you read a suspenseful novel.

However, it was the ending I had a lot of problem with. Or, more specifically, HOW the author made the ending happen. Which felt, for me, very rushed, and actually left loose ends with no profound answers (that cripple, who was he?).

Also, as finely- defined the main character's profile was, the same could not be said for Asami's character. Instead, the narrator proceeded to slap the explanation behind Asami's behavior to the reader's face, as if he's been wanting to do so for a long time but he only got the chance now.


OVERALL: I'd rate this book 3 out of 5. It was a quick, but also a not- so- satisfying, read.