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第六個小夜子
「學校這種地方還真是不可思議，」「難道你不曾這樣想過嗎？」「為什麼要有學校呢？」……「你不覺得奇怪嗎？」「請看向那邊的教室，」「你看到什麼嗎？」「許多尺寸相同的桌椅，」「一整排方形的空房間，」「這些房間是做什麼用的？」「沒錯，它們是容器，」「是裝什麼的容器？」紅燈亮了。暫停的時間有點長。「裝人的容器。」
……這句「裝人的容器」釋放出的冰冷寒意，讓雅子心頭一驚。
在這所學校裡有一個「小夜子」傳說：每三年，就會從學生中挑選出一名「小夜子」。除了「小夜子」本人，和指定她為「小夜子」的上屆「小夜子」，沒有人知道她的身分。被選為「小夜子」的人會收到一封信，她必須要在四月開學典禮的那天早上，在自己教室插上紅花，表示願意成為「小夜子」。紅花插入的瞬間，那一年的遊戲旋即宣告開始──歷年的「小夜子」裡，有人稱職地完成了任務，替學校帶來了好運；有人對此傳說嗤之以鼻，遭到報應；更有人意外慘死，替這個傳說帶來了恐怖的背書……而在「第六個小夜子年」四月開學典禮的那天早上，出現了一個謎樣的轉學生。她美麗絕倫，而且，她的名字竟然和「小夜子」同音，也叫「SAYOKO」！ 她的出現，將引發一連串令人毛骨悚然的難解事件……
……這句「裝人的容器」釋放出的冰冷寒意，讓雅子心頭一驚。
在這所學校裡有一個「小夜子」傳說：每三年，就會從學生中挑選出一名「小夜子」。除了「小夜子」本人，和指定她為「小夜子」的上屆「小夜子」，沒有人知道她的身分。被選為「小夜子」的人會收到一封信，她必須要在四月開學典禮的那天早上，在自己教室插上紅花，表示願意成為「小夜子」。紅花插入的瞬間，那一年的遊戲旋即宣告開始──歷年的「小夜子」裡，有人稱職地完成了任務，替學校帶來了好運；有人對此傳說嗤之以鼻，遭到報應；更有人意外慘死，替這個傳說帶來了恐怖的背書……而在「第六個小夜子年」四月開學典禮的那天早上，出現了一個謎樣的轉學生。她美麗絕倫，而且，她的名字竟然和「小夜子」同音，也叫「SAYOKO」！ 她的出現，將引發一連串令人毛骨悚然的難解事件……
272 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1992
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Riku Onda
147 books244 followersRiku Onda (Japanese name: 恩田 陸), born in 1964, is the professional name of Nanae Kumagai. She has been writing fiction since 1991 and has won the Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers, the Japan Booksellers' Award, the Mystery Writers of Japan Award for Best Novel for The Aosawa Murders, the Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize, and the Naoki Prize. Her work has been adapted for film and television. The Aosawa Murders was her first crime novel and the first time she was translated into English. It was selected by The New York Times as a Notable Book of 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 29, 2016
Empty, but highly entertaining, with a strange and intoxicating style that makes the reader keep reading even if, really, not much is actually happening.
The story is simple enough. In a high school there is a tradition-legend. Every third year, a third-year student receives a key and becomes 'Sayoko' and has to do some stuff to bring good luck. There are some rules, it is all a little bit silly. Cue this year, when there seem to be two 'Sayoko's. And there is also a new student, whose name is Sayoko. And she seems to be hiding some secret. Shuu, a smart student, will try to uncover if there is more to the tradition that what seems at first look.
Riku Onda does a great job in keeping the reader on their toes. The style is fast, very, very easy to read, and things (and dialogues) keep happening non-stop. She mixes mystery, action, the supernatural and a little bit of romance in the story. Her stronger point is that the characters are relatable and fun to be with. And that the reader doesn't really know what is going to happen. It seems obvious that the new student called Sayoko has some secret, but... what is it?, has it any relation to the 'Sayoko' tradition? Is there a ghost?
However, deep down, this is empty entertainment, and part of the fun I had reading it is that I could read in its original language. I wonder what a translation would do to the fast-paced dialogues or to the atmosphere of the story.
However, the reader can do worse. If they want to have some fun, and enjoy a 'coming-of-age with a twist' story, "六番目の小夜子" is a great option.
6.5/10
(Original Japanese Version)
The story is simple enough. In a high school there is a tradition-legend. Every third year, a third-year student receives a key and becomes 'Sayoko' and has to do some stuff to bring good luck. There are some rules, it is all a little bit silly. Cue this year, when there seem to be two 'Sayoko's. And there is also a new student, whose name is Sayoko. And she seems to be hiding some secret. Shuu, a smart student, will try to uncover if there is more to the tradition that what seems at first look.
Riku Onda does a great job in keeping the reader on their toes. The style is fast, very, very easy to read, and things (and dialogues) keep happening non-stop. She mixes mystery, action, the supernatural and a little bit of romance in the story. Her stronger point is that the characters are relatable and fun to be with. And that the reader doesn't really know what is going to happen. It seems obvious that the new student called Sayoko has some secret, but... what is it?, has it any relation to the 'Sayoko' tradition? Is there a ghost?
However, deep down, this is empty entertainment, and part of the fun I had reading it is that I could read in its original language. I wonder what a translation would do to the fast-paced dialogues or to the atmosphere of the story.
However, the reader can do worse. If they want to have some fun, and enjoy a 'coming-of-age with a twist' story, "六番目の小夜子" is a great option.
6.5/10
(Original Japanese Version)
March 20, 2009
It's not often that I find a Japanese book that I can't put down, but this is one. I'd seen the dorama based on the novel back in 2003, which was far enough away so that I gradually remembered what would happen as it did, which just made it more eerie.
In fact, I forgot to get off the train, because I was so absorbed in the book.
The climax. Oh my god. I couldn't read fast enough. It had me completely caught up in it. The train and the passengers around me melted away, and I was inside that auditorium in the dark, eyes wide and breathing fast in terror and anticipation.
Good stuff.
In fact, I forgot to get off the train, because I was so absorbed in the book.
The climax. Oh my god. I couldn't read fast enough. It had me completely caught up in it. The train and the passengers around me melted away, and I was inside that auditorium in the dark, eyes wide and breathing fast in terror and anticipation.
Good stuff.
June 7, 2010
I borrowed the Chinese translated version of this book while I was in the library searching for Chinese books to read. I'm glad that I've found this author because it has been a long time since I was so nervous and scared while reading a story! I kept wondering, who is 小夜子? What's going to happen next?
I like this book so much that the next time I went to the library, I borrowed another 2 books by the author. It's hard for me to choose Chinese books because I tend to read only certain genre and now there's another new author for me to explore.
I like this book so much that the next time I went to the library, I borrowed another 2 books by the author. It's hard for me to choose Chinese books because I tend to read only certain genre and now there's another new author for me to explore.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews