“Nails and Eyes" by Kaori Fujino is a translated Japanese horror collection, set for release on September 12, 2023. The atmospheric and slightly eerie short stories captivate with their vivid imagery make the reader sit with a feeling of unease. While the three included stories are a treat for fans of translated Japanese horror, the lack of clear endings or resolutions might not suit everyone's taste. Overall, it's a good read for those who enjoy this genre, earning a rating of 3.75/5.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3/5 stars

I kiiiiiind of understand why the book is being marketed for fans of <i>The Vegetarian</i> by Han Kang, but I think it was a little bit of a reach. The titular <i>Nails and Eyes</i> novella was by far the best work in this collection, and I actually found it pretty interesting. It was nothing to write home about, but it wasn’t bad and I found it worth reading. The other two short stories, however, left a lot to be desired (and not in a good way).

In my opinion, a short story should never overstay its welcome. It doesn’t need to have extensive expository details, and it doesn’t have to have a definitive ending. All I look for in a short story is that it sets up an interesting premise, keeps me intrigued, and has a satisfactory ending for what story’s being told—whether that means it has a concrete ending or an ambiguous one. I think short stories with ambiguous endings are some of the best kinds, as they can make you think a lot about potential outcomes. A really good short story writer is a master of style and world building, and the best feeling I can have after reading a well-crafted short story is that I <i>need</i> more, either more stories set in this created world or just more pieces of writing from the author. The two short stories included in <i>Nails and Eyes</i>, “What Shoko Forgets” and “Minute Fears,” in my opinion, didn’t have much to say. Their storytelling was only mildly interesting and there wasn’t anything new or engaging with their writing styles. I feel that “Minute Fears” was a bit more fully realized than “What Shoko Forgets,” but both stories only tiptoed around the parts of the prose that made them interesting.

The titular <i>Nails and Eyes</i> novella had an extremely unique POV and Hina’s eerie attention to detail was fascinating. Also, while the ending was by no means a “happy” one, it felt justified for the character and her arc. It wasn’t the best novella I’ve ever read, but it kept me interested.

Would I recommend this to a lot of people? Probably not. I’d direct someone towards Ling Ma’s <i>Bliss Montage</i> first, or Sayaka Murata’s <i>Life Ceremony</i> if they were looking for a collection that’s translated from Japanese (like <i>Nails and Eyes</i>). However, I still think this could be an interesting read for those interested in works in translation, especially during Women in Translation month!

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for this ARC! I found all 3 of these stories to be creepy and unsettling. I enjoyed the writing and the pacing with the stories. I’d say my favorite was the title story, Nails and Eyes, it made my skin crawl!

Nails And Eyes is a short collection of horror including a novella and two stories. The novella is Nails And Eyes which tells the story of a three year old girl and the woman her father moves into their apartment after her mother died under odd circumstances. The story is told in second person, apparently from the point of view of the child.

Their daily activities are detailed and there is a subtle unease throughout. I don't feel like it's a horror story though. It is hard to see where the story is headed until all of a sudden something happens. It's a true creepy moment but I was confused by the point of the story and why certain characters did what they did.

The next story, called What Shoko Forgets, takes place inside a rehabilitation center. Elderly Shoko had a stroke and every night a visitor comes to her room. It's not clear what they do in there because Shoko herself forgets. It's not explained why she forgets although I have guesses. Some thoughts on her daughter and granddaughter are included but I'm not sure of their connection to the story. The ending gives us more information on the visits but it's all very vague.

The third story is Minute Fears. It's about a boy who has a bad experience on a playground. This story has probably the most horror of the three stories but like the others, it's not easy to understand what's going on.

I wanted to like these stories but couldn't because of the lack of clarity. I also expected more horror. This collection might be enjoyable for readers who like lighter, subtle horror.

I had high hopes for this book after reading the description, but instead of horror these three stories were just mildly unsettling.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for a copy of this eARC.

Before seeing this book on NetGalley I’d never heard of it. I can honestly say that this book of three short stories amazed me.

The perspective of the first story was refreshing and perfect, I got completely lost in the story and the ending was perfectly creepy.

The second story made me so uncomfortable; which was obviously the point. It was my least favourite of the three stories due to its theme.

The third story was a perfect balance between childhood fear & adult distractedness. I adored the characters.

I would recommend this book to anyone, 5 perfect stars

I didn't finish this. The writing is clinical and monotonous, reflecting the child's sharp analysis of the woman her father is having an affair with. That said, I find it quite unbelievable that such as young child would notice and then retain such minute details, which lost the book for me. I think it has an interesting premise, but this really wasn't for me.

This is most odd piece of literature I have ever read. Weird. Super weird. But kind of entertaining? You'll just have to read it yourself.

Nails and Eyes by Kaori Fujino was such a great discovery! I love horror and I am always interested in translated fiction, so when I saw this available on NetGalley I was immediately excited.
This edition includes one novella and two short stories: while reading them, you will feel uncomfortable, creeped out, charmed but uneasy. I love this kind of horror, because it's subtle, elegant, and in my case very effective (kudos to Kendall Heitzmann who did a great job in transmitting the anxiety and the creeping tension in his translation).

The stories included are:
- Nails and Eyes (novella): a woman recalls her childhood memories around the sudden death of her mother and the acceptance of her father's girlfriend. While the story was incredibly fascinating and disturbing, I found a bit difficult to get into it because of 2nd person POV narration (I'm not a fan).
- What Shoko Forgets: a short story about an old woman in a medical facility, who's visited by a mysterious man during the night, but it's unclear if she is imagining things, recalling memories and remembering her present. Very creepy and sad.
- Minute Fears: a child believes to have been cursed and his mother tries to reassure him with evidence that it's not real. Because of this story, I decided to remove 1 star from my rating: I liked the plot, but because of the lack of tension and the abrupt ending I couldn't enjoy it fully.

Still this book remains a very interesting and original read, I loved the darkness around these macabre tales and the beautiful writing. I would like to read more by this author, hopefully her other books will be translated as well!

* I'd like to thank Kaori Fujino, Pushkin Press and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review. * Nails and Eyes is out on September 12th, 2023.

a small collection of shorter stories, mostly comprised of the title story, this collection is very nicely written, subtly daunting, uncomfortable, sometimes horrifying. the writing style was very reminiscent to me of someone like mieko kawakami, or sayaka murata, very character focused, sometimes the translation felt a little stilted, but it almost added to the eerie realistic horror feeling. i think if you are a fan of short story collections, and if translated fiction, this would definitely be an interesting read.

Comprised of a novella (the titular tale, which won Japan’s Akutagawa Prize) and two short stories, this collection, while not quite horror, explores feminist themes of women’s lives and roles in modern Japanese society; a position seemingly pulsing with dread and danger. Kaori Fujino’s writing (in translation by Kendall Heitzmann) is crisp and allusive, and despite frequent whiffs of the supernatural, I absolutely believed the lives and characters she has created here. A short read that I found totally satisfying.

A collection of tense and unsettling short stories, Fujino presents one novella and two shorts that are claustrophobic insights into the lives of three women at different stages of life, and the creeping horrors that infiltrate their worlds. The eponymous novella is by far the strongest of the three offerings, with the tension that builds in the house and the relationship between child and stepmother culminating in a shocking conclusion that is so visceral to read, it is a perfect example of the new wave of Japanese fiction that has begun to rise to prominence globally.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC

In "Nails and Eyes," the gripping title novella that marks the emergence of a unique and talented voice in Japanese literature, readers are taken on a journey of creeping tension and unsettling minds. This masterfully crafted narrative, presented in English for the first time, leaves a haunting impression that lingers long after the final page is turned.

The novella opens with a young girl grappling with her mother's recent death, which occurred under mysterious circumstances. Shortly after, her stepmother moves into their home, and from the very beginning, an eerie atmosphere is set. The girl's unnervingly detailed knowledge of her stepmother's past immediately draws the reader in, creating a palpable sense of unease.

The author skillfully weaves a web of obsession that tightens with each passing page. As the stepmother settles into the household, the girl's fixation on her intensifies, taking on a sinister tone that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The gradual escalation of tension and the psychological exploration of the girl's mind contribute to the book's allure.

The pacing of the novella is expertly managed, slowly building towards a climax of uncanny power that leaves the reader breathless. The author's control over the narrative is commendable, drawing the audience deeper into the unsettling world they have created.

One of the novella's greatest strengths is its ability to evoke a sense of place and atmosphere. The setting comes alive through vivid descriptions and subtle details, adding to the overall sense of disquietude. It's as if the house itself harbors secrets that mirror the characters' emotional states, creating a haunting backdrop to the unfolding events.

For fans of psychological thrillers and atmospheric mysteries, "Nails and Eyes" is a must-read. It will appeal to those who enjoy immersing themselves in tales of suspense, haunting psychological dynamics, and finely wrought narratives. Prepare to be captivated and unsettled as you delve into this intriguing novella that showcases the dark side of human obsession. However, the other two short stories in the selection have brought the overall rating down.

"You thought of me as something of an animal. Yes, I am an animal—the same as you."

I cannot stop thinking about these stories.

The title novella is obviously the main event here, and for good reason; even throughout its slow, unassuming start, the methodical voice of the narrator, Hina, sets an uneasy tone that I was instantly captivated by. The story itself centers gender issues in a way that is both as subtle and as horrific as patriarchal abuses of power and societal gender roles can be and are within our real world. As the daughter of a neglectful mother, I find myself grappling with my mother’s individual personhood more comprehensively as I get older; bad mothers are, after all, still women in a world that is unfailingly anti-woman. Accordingly, the relationship between neglectful mother and powerless daughter featured in “Nails and Eyes” feels as impossibly intimate as it does unavoidably perilous. Seeing myself in Hina’s detached delineation of a traumatic past, I felt represented, and I felt bereaved. This novella also features one of the wildest, most disturbing conclusions to any fiction in my recent memory. I love when a story can make me audibly react, and my hurried reading of those final few pages was full of gasps, what!?s, and disgusted interjections.

The two short stories, “What Shoko Forgets” and “Minute Fears,” address similar real-world issues in a shorter format. Like a lot of contemporary Japanese authors, Fujino is understated in the delivery of her stories’ themes and “morals,” and I know this level of reservation can be hit-or-miss for Western readers. For me, it has always been a hit. The two stories did a lot with few pages, and I highlighted many passages of Fujino’s simple-yet-mesmerizing prose throughout both. I especially loved “Minute Fears” — I need the A24 adaptation of it in theaters yesterday!

Thank you so much to Pushkin Press for providing this ARC through NetGalley.

A short, well-written and well-translated collection for those who love Sayaka Murata, Mieko Kawakami and Mieko Kanai. It consists of one novella and two short stories.

In the novella, Nails and Eyes, a daughter directly addresses her negligent stepmother, who has taken the place of her mother who has tragically died under suspicious circumstances. The use of the second person singular works very well here: it is accusatory but it also makes that a lot is left unsaid. Normally I don't like it when body parts are used as symbols, but in this case the girl's nails and the stepmother's eyes are functional and well-integrated in the story.

The other two stories also read very well: quite suspenseful and with a touch of horror.

A good surprise and I would be interested to read more from this author. 3,5

I've said before that I adore East Asian literature. I've also said that I am new to horror.

I wanted to love this more, but couldn't finish the last story, although this is more about my taste that the book itself. The concepts are good, I can see the appeal but it's not for me.

Fans of horror, Japanese in particular would love this I'm sure.

I love translated Japanese fiction, however, I’m not always a fan of horror…until now. This collection of stories from Kaori Fujino gripped me from the start. All the stories are well paced, creepy and sinister but Nails and Eyes stood out to me. I was unnerved by the 2nd person narration, which is done so well with a child describing her relationship with her new step mother. It’s more psychological and suggestive but still gruesome enough to stay with you as the tension really builds up to a shocking climax I did not see coming. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

I was expecting strong horror but was pleasantly surprised by its subtlety.

A pretty alright collection. I liked how nails and eyes recurred in each story. The movement and flow between scenes was expertly handled. The prose could have been more efficient in some places, but it was digestible.

Here are my reviews for each story and a rating out of 10.

Nails and Eyes 7/10
I liked the uneasy atmosphere and build up. But I think the story was too long and could have been shorter. The end was underdeveloped compared to the rest of the story.

What Shoko Forgets 5/10
I don't know what Shoko forgets. The story doesn't give answers. I liked the first few pages, but that's about it. I would not call this horror—it did not even have the feeling of uneasiness like the previous story.

Minute Fears 7/10
I liked the second half of the story much better than the first. I was uninterested at first. There were a few uneasy/creepy moments, nothing too horrific. I did not predict the end.

"Nails and Eyes" by Kaori Fujino

Rating: ★★★★½ (4.5/5 stars)

"Nails and Eyes" by Kaori Fujino is a masterfully crafted Japanese literary horror that leaves readers on the edge of their seats, perfect for those who enjoy the chilling darkness of a good book. This novella and short story collection introduces a unique and unforgettable new voice in Japanese literature, showcasing Fujino's ability to weave subtly disturbing tales with precision and finesse.

The novella centers around a young girl, reeling from the loss of her mother, who finds herself facing an unsettling reality as her father introduces his secret lover into their home. Fujino's choice of a child narrator adds an extra layer of creepiness and innocence to the narrative, as the girl attempts to maintain a facade of normalcy while silently observing the new interloper's every move. The slow-building tension and psychological depth make "Nails and Eyes" an unforgettably haunting experience.

Fujino's narrative control is exceptional, creating an atmosphere that is both atmospheric and unsettling. The novella's gradual escalation toward a disturbing conclusion is brilliantly executed, leaving readers with a lingering sense of unease long after the final page.

The additional short stories in this collection further showcase Fujino's talent for creating stories of unsettled minds and creeping tension. Each tale is meticulously crafted, delving into the darker corners of the human psyche and painting vivid and macabre portraits of the characters' inner struggles.

Nails and Eyes by Kaori Fujino had me up at night. It is a haunting and tense collection of short stories told by three female protagonists at different stages in their lives.

Story 1 is narrated in the 2nd person by a preschooler addressing her neglectful stepmother.

Story 2 switches to the first person and is about an elderly woman at the end of her life, stuck in a rehab ward with three (perhaps 4) other patients.

Finally, the third story (which happens to be my favourite) is about a mother and her child. I think it's about loss of self, love, and safety. However, this is the kind of book that might lead to different experiences for each reader. 

The book has a slow start, but the collection builds quickly in suspense and discomfort. I found myself wanting to return to previous points the further I got into the book. It will leave you deep in thought!

Fujino's style of storytelling is something else—quietly sinister, heavy on metaphor, slipping into surrealism, and always ending abruptly. I found myself cut off just a bit too soon with each tale. While this might be frustrating to some, it really works with the subtlety of her storytelling and will leave you haunted... if you let it.

After reading this, I hope that we see more of her work translated for English-speaking audiences!

Thank you, Netgalley and Pushkin Press for this ARC digital copy. My review is my own honest opinion of the collection.