Of all the great Japanese novelists, Kobe Abe was indubitably the most versatile. With The Ruined Map , he crafted a mesmerizing literary crime novel that combines the narrative suspense of Chandler with the psychological depth of Dostoevsky. Mr. Nemuro, a respected salesman, disappeared over half a year ago, but only now does his alluring yet alcoholic wife hire a private eye. The nameless detective has but two clues: a photo and a matchbook. With these he embarks upon an ever more puzzling pursuit that leads him into ...
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Of all the great Japanese novelists, Kobe Abe was indubitably the most versatile. With The Ruined Map , he crafted a mesmerizing literary crime novel that combines the narrative suspense of Chandler with the psychological depth of Dostoevsky. Mr. Nemuro, a respected salesman, disappeared over half a year ago, but only now does his alluring yet alcoholic wife hire a private eye. The nameless detective has but two clues: a photo and a matchbook. With these he embarks upon an ever more puzzling pursuit that leads him into the depths of Tokyo's dangerous underworld, where he begins to lose the boundaries of his own identity. Surreal, fast-paced, and hauntingly dreamlike, Abe's masterly novel delves into the unknowable mysteries of the human mind. Translated from the Japanese by E. Dale Saunders.
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Add this copy of The Ruined Map to cart. $11.27, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2001 by Vintage.
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Kobo Abe is a master of crafting deliberate, suspenseful tales with decidedly surreal twists; The Ruined Map is a haunting, excellent read. Very complex, beautifully drawn characters in a grey world where everyone seems to have something to hide. The story of a detective tracking a man who disappeared without a trace. Although many people want him found, they are also deliberately obtuse and misleading. As the novel progresses, the protagonist begins to see the appeal and beauty of simply slipping off into the mist, until he begins to mentally and spiritually overlap with his quarry. Abe's books move at a glacial pace, slowly drawing you in until the characters problems become your own, and you begin to feel their hopes, anxieties, and frustrations. I have returned to this book many, many times over the years, and will return to it many more. Very, very highly recommended.
