Hiroko OyamadaLiterary Fiction · Magical Realism·b. 1983
The Hole
Synopsis
Asa's husband transfers jobs, prompting the young couple to move to his family's rural home during a sweltering summer. While her husband is busy with work, Asa struggles to adapt to the remote countryside, her in-laws' constant presence, and the incessant cicadas.
One day, she encounters a strange creature, follows it to a river, and falls into a hole seemingly made just for her. This incident marks the beginning of bizarre experiences that draw Asa deeper into the landscape's mysteries, forcing her to question her place in the world and her own mind.
How it reads
Prose complexity 7/10