The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura

I read this pretty much in a day! It’s one of those “atmosphere” short novels that leaves a taste in your mouth, or an impression, but without a clear sense of meaning or plot. I think the ambiguity is part of its charm.

The loose plot is about a woman who is being followed/stalked, and we are privy to the stalker’s account of her life. There’s a detachment to the description that’s slightly creepy, but overall the aura is actually quite gentle. There’s a sadness here, an oddness perhaps, but it’s not shot through with trauma or horror. Things are presented as they are, without too much explanation.

Sometimes it can be nice to just lose yourself in the experience of reading. No need to always be driven and influenced by plot and opinion, just be present and enjoy the moment! I love this kind of “not underlined” book that leaves things open to interpretation.