“When Christopher Ransom opened his eyes he was on his back, looking up into a huddle of Japanese faces shimmering in a pool of artificial light. Who were these people?”
So begins Jay McInerney’s Ransom – a thriller set in and around 1970s Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. Although the title may lead you to expect some sort of kidnapping scenario, Ransom in this case refers to the name of the central character – and a more complex interpretation of lost identity, negotiations and the price of freedom and atonement.
As a thriller, I enjoyed this book almost until its conclusion, however as a travelogue I loved it all the way through.
McInerney brings to life the streets of Japan as he covers the intricate traditions of the Geisha, collaborative business etiquette, Kyoto’s temples, the principles of martial arts and the blaring reality of screechingly-loud television. He then turns the tables on the expats by exploring and gently mocking their reasons for being there.
If you want to get a taste of Japan – or relive your time there – then I would highly recommend this book.
By the way, if you do decide to buy this book through the link above then I will receive (an incredibly small) commission. At the moment that will go back into covering the costs of this website but if I ever hit the big time by doing this then I’ll be sure to let you know.
