칠드런

by Kōtarō Isaka, 이사카 코타로, 최고은 (Translator)

이사카 고타로의 대표작의 하나이자 2005년 국내에 그의 이름을 처음 알렸던 <칠드런>이 현대문학에서 최고은의 번역으로 새롭게 출간되었다. 「소설 겐다이」 2002년 4월호에서 2004년 3월호에 걸쳐 발표된 다섯 편의 연작소설을 묶은 <칠드런>은 문장과 대화의 통통 튀는 재미, 조형력이 돋보이는 개성적인 등장인물과 기상천외한 설정, 산뜻한 감동 등 '이사카 고타로적'인 것들이 고루 담긴 그의 기념비적인 첫 작품집이다.

그뿐만 아니라 그가 즐겨 쓰는, 한 작품의 인물이 다른 작품에 살짝 등장하는 식으로 작품 간에 미묘한 연결 고리를 두는 세계관의 공유를 중간중간 발견할 수 있어 이사카 고타로를 처음 접하는 독자라면 가장 먼저 읽어 볼 만한 책이다. 특히 이번의 <칠드런>은 일본에서 2007년 발행된 문고본을 번역한 것으로 평론가 가야마 후미로의 작품 해설이 더해져 그즈음 한창 조명되던 신예 작가 이사카 고타로를 다시금 만날 수 있게 한다.

Genres: Japan, Fiction, Asia, Mystery, Novels

328 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2004

About the author

Kōtarō Isaka (伊坂幸太郎, Isaka Koutarou) is a Japanese author of mystery fiction.

Isaka was born in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. After graduating from the law faculty of Tohoku University, he worked as a system engineer. Isaka quit his company job and focused on writing after hearing Kazuyoshi Saito's 1997 song "Kōfuku na Chōshoku Taikutsu na Yūshoku", and the two have collaborated several times. In 2000, Isaka won the Shincho Mystery Club Prize for his debut novel Ōdyubon no Inori, after which he became a full-time writer.
In 2002, Isaka's novel Lush Life gained much critical acclaim, but it was his Naoki Prize-nominated work Jūryoku Piero (2003) that brought him popular success. His following work Ahiru to Kamo no Koin Rokkā won the 25th Yoshikawa Eiji Prize for New Writers.
Jūryoku Piero (2003), Children (2004), Grasshopper (2004), Shinigami no Seido (2005) and Sabaku (2006) were all nominated for the Naoki Prize.
Isaka was the only author in Japan to be nominated for the Hon'ya Taishō in each of the award's first four years, finally winning in 2008 with Golden Slumber. The same work also won the 21st Yamamoto Shūgorō Prize.

Reviews

[Kana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift from my friend.
Just before I left to study abroad, she gave it to me, saying it would cheer me up.
That’s why it has become a deeply meaningful book for me.

Jinnai, the most memorable character in the story, touched my heart in several scenes. Although his actions often seem annoying to those around him, he always gives people strength in his own way.

I’m also thinking of reading "Submarine", its sequel.

[アマチュア読者 · Rating 4 out of 5]

《銀行》《孩子們》《獵犬》《孩子們二》《內在》

跳時間序，相互交錯的五則短篇


《銀行》講述陣內和友人鴨居，不小心遇上了銀行搶匪，並藉此認識了同為人質的盲人永瀨。永瀨完美地破解了強匪的障眼法。


《孩子們》陣內的同事武藤接到了一件少年在書店順手牽羊的案子。在與少年和其監護人對談後發現疑點重重。陣內給的＜侏儒的話＞在事件中達到不可抹滅的效用。


《獵犬》世界真的會為失戀的人暫停時間嗎？永瀨和女友優子被迫成為陣內告白的見證人（結果慘烈），為了探究為何周遭的人群自兩小時前就毫無移動，他們展開了論證。

《孩子們二》武藤目前負責婚姻仲裁，他接到一位結婚三次、離婚兩次的男子爭取監護權的案子，陣內的演奏可以改變家庭失和少年對父親的看法嗎？

《內在》
優子、永瀨、鴨居一起去百貨頂樓看陣內的演出，在優子和鴨居離開的期間，永瀨守護了優子的包包，陣內則得到可以隨心所欲打父親的道具。

說真的一度期待少女只是放了假包包在永瀨手上的我真的是壞透了……

[Jasmine Yuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but powering, heart-warming

[Lai Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

8.8/10
An amazing comedy novels. It not only written for fun, but also portray some deep life philosophies, and the sarcasm to the society phenomenon.

[kimuchibox4000 · Rating 4 out of 5]

短編に化けた長編作品というのは頷ける。個人的には死神の精度の方が面白かったかな。

[Littlebasin · Rating 4 out of 5]

经典的伊坂风格，几个悄咪咪相互勾连的中篇故事。阵内是贯穿始终的灵魂人物，却都是由他身边人以第一人称来讲故事，很有趣的写作手法。阵内这个人也是典型的伊坂笔下的人物，乍看起来是个麻烦鬼，看多了发现很有魅力。

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

初めて読んだ日本語の諸説。とってもよくて、印象的で、あまり日本人らしくない日本人男性の話です。日本語を読むのが遅い私には思ったよりこの本を読み終えるのに時間がかかった。。。

I am sad to say I remember this book not in Japanese words but in the images evoked by the story. It's written from the points of view of various characters, but all of their vignettes revolve around the same unorthodox social worker named Jinnai.

[Ayaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

豪快な性格でいつも周りの人を自分の世界に引き込む家裁の調査官、陣内。迷惑なヤツだけど憎めない陣内と、その周りで起こる五つの事件について書かれた連作短編集。登場人物が皆揃って「いいヤツ」なので、読後感が非常に良い。

[Mastugae Kiyoaki · Rating 4 out of 5]

edge of a toast is also yummy

[Yuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

刚看完伊坂幸太郎的潜水艇来看这本的。因为故事的人物都已经熟悉了，所以增强了很多代入感。从故事的结构里看和表达方式看，作者很了解读者，知道怎么把故事讲得更有意思。
这本书的几个小故事，和《潜水艇》相比缺少真实感，但这里缺的，在内容植入上得到了补充。作者的故事和某些描写细节是基于真实故事以及少年法、少年调查案例的。在读小说的同时，又了解到了日本对少年犯罪的措施政策，极好。