封口

by Masako Bandō, 坂東真砂子, 王華懋 (Translator)

原本是美術教師的竣亮從學校退休後，為了遠離可能遭受輻射汙染的東京，也為了專心創作陶藝，便和妻子麻由子從東京搬到高知鄉下奈祈村，一個叫白缝的小聚落。白缝的居民大多是老人家，年齡相對年輕的竣亮夫婦一搬來這裡，受到大夥熱情的歡迎。天曉得，自從竣亮在村民信奉的神祇「縫嘴大人」所在的神社路上「赤線」蓋起了一座陶窯，夫妻倆和村人的關係從此變得緊張，甚至出現裂痕。於是，一連串的惡作劇就這麼從平靜到紛亂、從春天到冬天。一切開始荒腔走板。

我們沒錯，一切都是「缝嘴大人」的意思
白縫老人相信，自己的所作所為都是「縫嘴大人」的意思；
退休教師竣亮相信，自己能在隱居的鄉村生活中，找到人生的第二春；
家庭主婦麻由子相信，自己能在純樸的鄉村生活裡，修補漸行漸遠的夫妻關係；
所有的「相信」在每個人心中蟄伏、騷動，終至成了無可救藥的執著，甚至釀成無可救藥的殺人行為。
一樁「加害者和被加害者都不自覺、卻都陷入瘋狂的失控，就此展開……

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 26, 2011

Reviews

[Mizuki · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 stars. The story is quite chilling and realistic, but I still think Dogs' Deity is even better!

At the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and the nuclear disaster soon followed, a pair of retired couple moved from Tokyo (under threat of nuclear pollution at that time) to a remote village to (hopefully) spend the rest of their old age in peace and quietness, but their peaceful life is soon disturbed by the villagers' strange attitude and a series of strange events happening around their household. Are the couple victims of group-bullying? Or something supernatural has been going on?

I'm surprised by how little paranormal happenings have taken place in the story, on the other hand I like how the novelist mentioned the difference between urban life style and the rural one, the uncommon practices in some Japanese villages, It's also chilling to know the novelist based the story on her own true experience living in the countryside at her old age (50-plus). It is not as threatening as the novelists' other paranormal novels. but it is still an interesting read.

[Johnny · Rating 3 out of 5]

有點無聊，偏民俗派推理