- Hardcover: 320 pages
- Publisher: Vertical (Aug 26 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1934287261
- ISBN-13: 978-1934287262
- Product Dimensions: 16.5 x 2.9 x 24.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 476 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #542,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
“A tensely wrought tale. Suzuki doesn't stereotype true believers as mindless automatons, the way they've been frequently portrayed in the mass media. He nevertheless provides interesting insights into how people in a spiritual vacuum are drawn to cults. The climax is presented in a deviously clever manner… The style supports the narrative, raising tension through artful understatement while working in unexpected shocks. Promenade is a fine effort, with a ring of plausibility that subtly revives the mood back in March 1995, when the public's fears of Shoko Asahara’s doomsday cult were palpable.” —Mark Schreiber, The Japan Times
The Japanese attitudes presented in the book are interesting, from the formality at various encounters to how the police treat the kidnappings to the way the media reacts. Suzuki obviously also means to show how people look to fulfill their ambitions and dreams, from lackadaisical Shirow, unsure whether or not to pursue Miyuki, to his star employee, who just dreams of flying, to Miyuki, willing to perform ignominious sex acts because she can't imagine anything better; part of the (peculiar) fun of the novel is how Suzuki presents these quests for fulfillment. --The Complete Review
"...a rewarding and enjoyable tale."--Ken Haley
The Japanese attitudes presented in the book are interesting, from the formality at various encounters to how the police treat the kidnappings to the way the media reacts. Suzuki obviously also means to show how people look to fulfill their ambitions and dreams, from lackadaisical Shirow, unsure whether or not to pursue Miyuki, to his star employee, who just dreams of flying, to Miyuki, willing to perform ignominious sex acts because she can't imagine anything better; part of the (peculiar) fun of the novel is how Suzuki presents these quests for fulfillment. --The Complete Review
"...a rewarding and enjoyable tale."--Ken Haley
Product Description
It begins with a woman's search to find her husband, who disappears after watching a TV show. She enlists the aid of her husband's best friend, and together they discover that the famous female personality of the TV show disappeared after the same evening's broadcast as well. The duo's search leads to a battle within a religious cult. Each answer brings only more questions, until the story's stunning final solution is revealed.
Promenade of the Gods is a parallel piece to Koji Suzuki's successful Ring series and even contains some sl nods to his famous work. Its theme of planet-wide subjugation via technology echoes that in Ring, and like Ring, the way in which the pieces of the mystery in Promenade come together only materialize in the book's final moments, culminating in a most unsettling conclusion.
Promenade of the Gods is a parallel piece to Koji Suzuki's successful Ring series and even contains some sl nods to his famous work. Its theme of planet-wide subjugation via technology echoes that in Ring, and like Ring, the way in which the pieces of the mystery in Promenade come together only materialize in the book's final moments, culminating in a most unsettling conclusion.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Mystery which Loses its Pace, May 8 2012
By Drew B. "tknotrnce558" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Promenade of the Gods (Hardcover)
First, if you're expecting the same type of horror from Suzuki's Ring series, you'll find yourself disappointed. Even then, if you think about it, the Ring Series played out progressively less paranormal and horror by the 3rd book. In any case, there's almost no paranormal or horror element to this book at all. It still has a rather dark tone, however.Put simply, Promenade of the Gods is sort of like the child of 'Paradise', Suzuki's first book, and the Ring series. It's like this interesting amalgamation of the deeper elements of 'Paradise' with the fast paced and engaging mystery/thriller elements of the Ring series. I'm not sure the former translated well for me and I wonder if that has to do with cultural differences. The book also takes a very surprising tone toward the end but I shouldn't reveal too much about that as it would ruin the book I think.
All in all it was an enjoyable read but the more suspenseful and mysterious elements felt to me like they tapered off and got lost and the book seemed to never again regain that pace. You definitely have to come at it with no expectations of anything similar to the horror elements of the Ring series. It just doesn't happen in this book.
3 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Expertly translated from the original Japanese, Oct 10 2008
By Midwest Book Review - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Promenade of the Gods (Hardcover)
Acclaimed Japanese author Koji Suzuki now has his biggest novel since his beloved Ring trilogy published in "Promenade of the Gods." Miyuki's husband suddenly vanishes, and not willing to accept single motherhood without a fight, she contacts her husband's old friend in a desperate attempt to find him. What they find is not something one would call ordinary. Expertly translated from the original Japanese by Takemi Nieda, "Promenade of the Gods" is highly recommended reading.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good delivery, bad book, Mar 15 2011
By Magdelen R. Wyatt - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Promenade of the Gods (Hardcover)
This book arrived on time exactly how it was described but UGH. What a let down. I've read the entire Ring series and other works by Koji Suzuki and this was just disappointing. It started out interesting and I really wanted to find out the mystery, but nothing supernatural seems to be going on, and the middle through the end of the book plods along at such a slow, meandering pace I could barely stay interested. The ending was not predictable, but also not very satisfying. Toward the end there is a chapter, which I had to reread to clarify, adds absolutely nothing to the plot. It's a conversation with a totally ancillary character that doesn't add or reveal anything, or tie in later, it just exists like a moment in time that is utterly useless to the reader. I really cannot recommend this book. If you want to see Koji Suzuki at his best, read Ringu or Spiral but not Promenade of the Gods.
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