The second book of Kirino's that I read, and the one that officially turned me into a fan! Every woman can see shades of herself tossed around in the sea of the story as it unfolds. Prostitution, the work both women share as a way to escape their mundane lives above ground, is aptly referred to as "the water business", presenting a metaphor that is so close to life itself that it stirs the guilt of envy within all of us. It is a reason to delve into this shady game that we can all understand for what it is: every person is in need of water to live, just as a prostitute is in need of sex to feel alive, and a woman struggling for freedom is in need of her power over a man to feel fulfilled.

Japan's traditions are being modernized, and yet clung so tightly to that there is no room for give. The head that rises above gets hammered back down. Grotesque's aim is to mock those traditionalists who continually deny the changes in the society, to present a challenge to them, to say people like these women exist below the surface where you can't scratch at. Yet at the same time, it is a lesson. The higher you fly, the harder you fall.

If you have ever read 'Memoirs of Geisha' or read anything by Haruki Murakami, you will definitely enjoy reading this book! As well,

This book has so many metaphors, ideas and themes scattered throughout, it's so hard to keep track of since all of them stuck a cord with me. So if you are looking for a book that is thought-provoking and real, this is for you!

BUT I would like to point out that this is NOT a very happy book, where everything is neatly tied up at the end. After reading it I felt so depressed and drained. Maybe it was because of the ending (which was shocking!) or maybe it's because what the author wrote reflects how our world is really like. The books does not show both men and women in a good light. It shows both sexes in the worse situation you can imagine, in my opinion, and reveals the weaknesses in our morality and society.

I don't know what it is about Japanese authors that makes their stories sp riveting. Maybe it's the style of their writing or maybe the help of their English translators? Who knows and who cares, because all the Japanese writers and stories that I have come across have written with such skill and brilliance!
For example, the use of letters and journals, as well as the dialogue, were reminiscent of the movie Rashomon (and the short story 'In the Field'), where after hearing each of the individuals point of view, you don't know who's telling the truth anymore or if there is any single truth at all.
Another example is how the main character of this novel is totally unnamed throughout this novel. The author uses various ways to conceal her name, usually stating her as 'Yukiro's older sister', 'daughter', 'granddaughter'...etc. I am very amazed at the skill of the accuracy to detail and patience that was involved in crafting the anonymity of the character. The lack of name also adds to the genre of the novel and gives the readers a feel that while this story is about a set of individuals, there are (unfortunately) many other anonymous' out there who have the same story to tell.

This book is considered to be a 'mystery type' novel, which I, at first, did not understand since they already know who the murderer is near the beginning of the novel. But then as you continue to read on, you begin to realize that it's not your typical mystery book where someone is looking for a serial killer that is leaving clues/bodies behind..etc...., but a book about the mystery of humans beings. What I mean about this is that it describes the inner workings of the characters in the book (with diary entries and court proceedings), revealing the good and the bad of each individual, but mostly shows the effects of the dark and ugly side of our society . This is probably where the author gets the name of this novel from.

: )