(updated review after a reread)
A light, surreal premise that observed and revolved on a theme of identity and social conformity that was told in a dreamlike reality-bending narrative. I followed Mitsuko; a school teacher who became the center of gossips among the folks at the town regarding her ways of teaching after she shared a fable to her students about a princess who married a dog. Later, the fable that Mitsuko told seemed to reflect into her life when a strange man suddenly appeared acting in an animal-like manner and started to live at her house.
Despite my love-hate for its mundane, minimalist tone and sparse-styled prose, the premise was actually an easy to grasp and delve into. The interactions in between Mitsuko and Taro can be intimately uncomfortable at times, bit drama-ish with all the talks around the town and backstory about Taro’s identity that soon surfaced. Whether a love-triangle or something it was bizarre even for how Mitsuko’s relationship with Fukiko go from a teacher-student to that incident revolving Fukiko’s father and the unexpected, perplexed ending of the chaos.
A tale that challenge norms and appreciate ambiguity in its social and gender commentary arc; sharp, subtle and unemotionally intrigued. Still find it fairly gripping in my second time reading it— a freaky, dreamy in a way and totally odd overall.
**thank you Pansing Distribution for the gifted physical copy!