Audition

By: Ryu Murakami, Ralph McCarthy - translator

Narrated by: David Shih

Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

The long-awaited translation of the novel behind the cult classic Japanese movie.

In this gloriously over-the-top tale, Aoyama, a widower who has lived alone with his son ever since his wife died seven years before, finally decides it is time to remarry. Since Aoyama is a bit rusty when it comes to dating, a filmmaker friend proposes that, in order to attract the perfect wife, they do a casting call for a movie they don't intend to produce. As the resumes pile up, only one of the applicants catches Aoyama's attention - Yamasaki Asami - a striking young former ballerina with a mysterious past. Blinded by his instant and total infatuation, Aoyama is too late in discovering that she is a far cry from the innocent young woman he imagines her to be. The novel's fast-paced, thriller conclusion doesn't spare the listener as Yamasaki takes off her angelic mask and reveals what lies beneath.

Contains mature themes.

©1997 Ryu Murakami; translation copyright 2009 by Ralph McCarthy (P)2019 Tantor

Powerful tale

The slow, sensuous step by step development of the protagonist’s entrancement belies the power of the Climax. Four Stars. ****

Grisly

My first Ryu Murakami book and I enjoyed the narration very much. Although a bit too grisly for my taste, I really liked Murakami's sharp and precise writing. Looking forward to more of his works.

Liked it

Picked this up as a quick filler until I find my next book, and I really enjoyed it. Slower start, and a bit predictable towards the end, but I still found myself locked in for the last 60 minutes.

What starts as a long wooing session, turns into a quick horror show

While the story was decent, it focused more on the infatuation and meeting of the antagonist, and I felt like the horror ending was a quick blip... and then the book was done. I wish the author had taken more time to explain the antagonist's reasoning for all of this instead of having the protagonist read it off like a chore list. Still a good story though.

Very very slow moving

The first 4.5 hours of this book are super slow and absolutely nothing interesting happens. Then when the story finally hits its climax it only lasts for a few minutes and the story ends. One of my friends once told me that the movie was the most horrifying thing he’d ever seen. Maybe so, but the book is horrifyingly boring.

Great story, flat narration

I loved this movie and the book is definitely just as good. My only criticism is that the narrator reads the story, dialogue and all, in more or less the same flat, neutral tone that seems really inappropriate for the last two chapters.

It was okay

This wasn't quite a 3 star read, but almost. To preface, I did not see the movie nor had I heard of this book. It was short, which was the reason I was able to finish it; the pace was slow and at first I wasn't sure I wanted to finish, but I stuck with it to see why it was described as a cult classic. The action happened quickly at the end, and by then, you already knew what was coming, if not the details of how it happens. (Warning: There is an animal cruelty scene in this book.)

Well, that's one way to end a book

First off, I haven't seen the movie, but if the dog is in it, I'll probably skip it.

I won't pretend I derived a ton of pleasure from the conclusion of this story, but I appreciate that it has one.
And in its own way, the way it ends is kind of awesome.

Excellent Film, Lacking Novel

I was really intrigued when I'd heard Takashi Miike's AUDTITION was based on a novel, but having finally had the chance to read it I'm left a little perplexed. The film seemed to go well out of it's was to expand on what was in the novel regarding the characters histories and trauma where here it's left mostly up to passing conversation. I suppose in a sense it's more Horrible because of just how little time is spent pondering if something is wrong or not that makes the finale so shocking and disturbing but I just can't help but feel like the book fumbles this where the film seems to soar.

Incredible parable

More than simply a view of the dark side. Worth the listen. What else does this Murakami see in each of us?