Review: The Woman in the Purple Skirt

The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I went into The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura with no expectations and still ended up disappointed. It was a Libby recommendation as a similar book to The Hike, by Lucy Clarke (which I had just finished and was a lukewarm experience, so maybe it's my fault for not realizing this book would not be spectacular).

The narrative centres on a peculiar woman—simply referred to as the Woman in the Purple Skirt—who piques the narrator's curiosity—the Woman in the Yellow Cardigan. The story moves in a strange way as the narrator seems to be fascinated and consumed by this mysterious figure. Though the idea had great promise, the way it was carried out left me disappointed. What may have been a captivating study of social dynamics and obsession turn into dull and meaningless reading.

The novel is filled with introspective monologues that delve deeply into the narrator's thoughts and feelings, which could have help create interesting layers. However, I still found the character lacked development. The lack of compelling arcs made me feel disconnected from both women, and I struggled to invest emotionally in their predicaments.

One of the main subjects of the book is the battle between involvement and observation. The narrator spends her days observing the Woman in the Purple Skirt from a distance; although this viewpoint offers some interesting insights, it also made me feel detached and made it hard for me to fully engage with the story.

I felt quite disheartened as I finished the book. The conclusion seemed abrupt and inadequate, rather than the closure I had hoped for. It left me with more questions than answers, which could be good for a novel, but in this instance felt like a lost opportunity to connect the several threads of the plot.

Simply said, The Woman in the Purple Skirt presents a fascinating concept and features moments of lyrical beauty, but it did not provide a memorable experience. The writing's introspective nature, combined with a lack of major character development and irregular pacing, made it uninteresting.

If you enjoy slow, contemplative reads and can appreciate a more subtle approach to storytelling, you might find value in this book. For others looking for an exciting and interesting story, though, it may be wiser to search elsewhere.

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