REVIEW: The Woman Dies by Aoko Matsuda

A startling, compelling collection of over 50 short stories and micro-fiction from Japanese writers, exploring the treatment of women and girls under a misogynistic society.

From critique of sexist etiquette and expectations, to violence and discrimination - this collection touches on points that all women will be able to find some connection, catharsis and understanding in. From simple, striking prose to whip-smart wordplay to poetic entries and fantastical, powerful metaphors that vividly take root in your head, it's full of beautiful examples of writing. Some readers have said it's not always clear the message of certain stories, potentially the translation could be adding a barrier here or cultural nuance but there's usually a brief overview and explanation at the end to help with any clarification you may need.

As with all collections, you might not enjoy everything, and there's such a variety of styles to enjoy. Sci-fi tales, surreal literary fiction, short but impactful statements - it's a jarring, eclectic mix with a clear cut message.

Subversive, deliberately provoking and boldly itself - this is a wonderful collection of stories burning with feminine outrage.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I received a reviewers copy of this title.

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