Swallows - Natsuo Kirino

Swallows

(Author: Natsuo Kirino | Translator: Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda)

An acerbic, gripping vision of contemporary Japan, gender dynamics, and social class from the internationally acclaimed author of 'Out'.

Twenty-nine-year-old Riki is sick of her dead-end job and the relentless struggle to get by ever since moving to Tokyo from the countryside. When she is offered a life-changing sum of money to become a surrogate, the opportunity seems impossible to turn down.

Meanwhile, retired ballet star Motoi and his wife, Yuko, have spent years attempting to conceive. Desperate for an heir and a child, Motoi views surrogacy as a straightforward business transaction. However, as Motoi and Yuko attempt to exert increasing control over Riki’s life, body, and choices, their tightly spun contract begins to unravel.

Vibrating with the sharp injustices of class, gender, tradition, and power, Swallows is a fierce exploration of modern Japanese society and a young woman's desperate fight to preserve her dignity at any cost.

Key Features:

• By the Renowned Author of 'Out': A masterful social critique and psychological narrative from Japan’s premier literary noir writer, Natsuo Kirino.

• Translated into English: Flawlessly translated by Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda, capturing Kirino's signature sharp, tense, and provocative prose.

• Exploration of Urgent Themes: Deeply examines surrogate motherhood, body autonomy, economic inequality, and class tension in modern Tokyo.

• For Fans of Japanese Fiction & Dark Literary Thrillers: A captivating read for fans of Sayaka Murata, Mieko Kawakami, and intense character-driven dramas.