Strangers

Yesterday I finished reading Taichi Yamada's Strangers (Ijintachi to no Natsu).

Clear and straightforward writers have always been effective in scaring the bejesus out of me so I expected at least one sleeples night gripping my pillow hard.

Instead I found how increasingly cozy each reading was becoming, how I longed to tuck myself into bed and experience how the portrayal of human psychology warmed me with feelings of empathy and human understanding. Good writers captivate and Yamada is very good in doing so.

The novel itself was not that frightening but knowing how good a writer Yamada is I'm sure there will be 'The One' novel or text of his that will chill me to the bones. I'm certainly looking forward to that moment and I'm already looking for more of his writings.