여섯 번째 사요코

by Riku Onda, 恩田 陸, 오근영 (Translator)

미스터리, 판타지, SF, 청춘소설 등 장르를 넘나들며 무한한 상상력과 몽환적 글쓰기를 선보여 '마르지 않는 이야기의 샘'을 가진 작가로 인정받는 온다 리쿠. 데뷔 26년차를 맞은 그녀의 전설적인 데뷔작 <여섯 번째 사요코>가 개정 출간되었다.

'데뷔작'이라는 사실을 잊을 만큼의 충격적 구성과 섬세한 글쓰기를 선보인 이 작품은 일본 NHK에서 12부작 드라마로도 방영되어 화제를 모았다. '학교'라는 특별한 공간 속에 담아낸 서정적 공포와 소녀적 감수성은 세대를 넘어서도 널리 사랑받으며 독자들을 압도하는 걸작 미스터리로 손꼽힌다.

새 학기 첫날 '사요코'라는 여고생이 지방의 고등학교로 전학 온다. 이 학교에는 '사요코'라는 수수께끼의 괴담이 전해지고, 붉은 꽃과 열쇠를 물려받아 그해의 '사요코'로 지목된 자는 대대로 내려오는 특별한 의식을 치러야 한다. 그러나 어떤 이유에서인지 올해는 두 명의 '사요코'가 등장하고, 진짜 '사요코'의 정체를 밝히려 한 이들은 이해할 수 없는 사건에 휘말리는데….

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

316 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

About the author

Riku 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.

Reviews

[Angel 一匹狼 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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)

[Gijs · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Asia · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.