I wish Goodreads would let us give half stars, because this is definitely 3.5 stars, but not quite 4. The book is about a therapist who has a sexual addiction, and he acts on that addiction with patients that he finds fascinating (both female and male). In the meantime, he deprives his loving wife of her sexual needs. The book is written in very short chapters and moves quickly. While the main character is entirely unlikable, he's so fascinating, that we actually have to see what he does next. This book is only recommended to people who can handle strong language and descriptions of sex(not extremely detailed, but sometimes disturbing). ( )

Note: An uncorrected advanced reader's copy was provided to this reviewer by the publisher (Coffee House Press) through the First Reads giveaway.

Netsuke is primarily a character study of several characters. The first is the psychoanalyst who uses his practice to take advantage of several of his clients, many of whom deal with sexual issues. The first thing that become apparent is that the main character has the same issues as many of his clients, that being a sexual addiction and a self-destructive nature, the latter of which manifests through his dropping clues about his infidelities to his wife, Akiko. The main character is only different from his clients in that he has a position of authority over them and uses it to take advantage and indulge in his own sexual desires.

The other main character in the novel is Akiko herself. She is a wife in denial. She clearly knows what her husband is up to, although not necessarily with whom, but she tends to turn a blind eye. There are looks of recognition when her husband drops clues about his infidelity, but then a denial until she is directly confronted with it, such as when he confesses to her about an indiscretion from years before. She simply doesn't want to know, but this denial slowly eats away at her, causing her to start to appear older and worn as the novel progresses.

It's an interesting dynamic in what is a very short novel (only 128 pages; more of a novella), and I would have liked it more, but there are some definite issues with the narrative. First the shifting perspective, primarily a chapter told from the perspective of one of the psychoanalyst's clients (he refers to them as “clients” rather than “patients,” a distinction which becomes important in the novel) felt like it could have been handled better, probably through a longer conversation between the psychoanalyst and said client. The change in perspective is more jarring than I believe was intended, and actually pulled me off the page. What's more jarring is when the perspective shifts from the psychoanalyst's first-person perspective to third-person. I am aware that this is an uncorrected galley copy, so this may be changed in the published novel, but it was extremely jarring and problem, not handled all that artfully, and reminding me that I was reading a book and not watching or living these characters' lives.

The second issue that this novel has is the language used, particularly when it comes to the characters' introspection, of which there is a lot. It felt unnecessarily flowery. Yes, it becomes clear that the psychoanalyst and Akiko are supposed to be part of the more well-to-do societal class, but it reminded me quite a bit of some French novels, such as those by [a:Muriel Barbery|643126|Muriel Barbery|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1262638110p2/643126.jpg], particularly [b:The Elegance of the Hedgehog|2967752|The Elegance of the Hedgehog|Muriel Barbery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1240508801s/2967752.jpg|1531887]. Only the subject of this introspection is a lot more base, primarily having to do with sexual desires or the sexual act. Unlike some other reviewers, I was not offended or felt assaulted by the use of the f-word or description of this f-word being carried out.

But be warned: Readers of this novel will need to have a slightly thicker skin.

Again, I felt that I should like this novel more than I did. I'm giving this novel three stars, although I feel it deserves three and a half, but since we can't give half stars on Goodreads, the novel feels like it leans more towards the three star level. While it's an interesting character study in its purest form with a textbook ending (meaning that it's both surprising and expected), there were enough problems threaded throughout the novel that I just couldn't give it a higher recommendation. ( )

I'm surprised this has such low ratings. There is not much of a plot and the ending is not satisfying, but I still think 5 stars is appropriate for the beautiful and insightful writing. ( )

After [b:The Fountains of Neptune|379259|The Fountains of Neptune|Rikki Ducornet|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403200762s/379259.jpg|1144243] and [b:The Jade Cabinet|379261|The Jade Cabinet|Rikki Ducornet|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1329592325s/379261.jpg|369078], I just couldn’t applaud this one with the same élan. ( )

What makes fiction "literary" instead of, you know, good, is a focus on language instead of story or character, on how the story is told instead of telling a good story. I can't think of a better review of Netsuke than that. ( )

I'm going to be honest; I keep picking up this book, getting hung up on the first chapter, and putting it back down. Here are the two lines that always roadblock me:

"He emerges from her, and with a graceful, almost imperceptible gesture, rearranges his cock."

"He considers the nature of women. The daisies of the field, so fuckable, so breakable."

I have a feeling(/desperate hope) that if I kept reading this opening chapter would turn out to be satirical, but at this point I've been unable to push forward to find out. The writing just isn't enough to keep me pushing forward, and the protagonist, even if he's being mocked by the author after all, is totally insufferable.

(Update: I read 4 more chapters and no, it does not get any better. Even interpreting this as satire/morality play I have to wonder what the purpose is - nothing new is being said here.) ( )

Ah! Another teetering indecision writ large. More than four and less than five* (because as a matter of taste, [b:Gazelle|379258|Gazelle|Rikki Ducornet|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320464330s/379258.jpg|1361250] is so lyrically beautiful that [b:Netsuke|9683311|Netsuke|Rikki Ducornet|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328752966s/9683311.jpg|14571287], for all its brilliance, its macabre sensitivity, its fever dream quality, it rattles rather than ravishes) and my longer review to follow.

Suffice to say (au ce moment) that it is shocking, but not in the closet-prude-turned-avid-voyeur way...shocking in its execution, its exploration, its ethereal decadence and its twisted rendering and its unavoidable fascination - a train wreck in motion approaching its inexorable conclusion...

******

I recommend this book as other than the first foray into Ducornet because this is a writer who commenced powerful (and powerfully) and has developed and extended her range in such a way that to ingest of her, like partaking of finely aged and accented wine without having learned to appreciate the gradations of structure, vintage, palate, and bouquet and pronounce it thus the equivalent of mass-produced and vat-manufactured fermented fruit less than fit to be included in the concoction of the blushful Hippocrene, sans the experience of her transition from gifted raw to genius sophistication risks lacking the necessary apperception and raffinesse to discern the nuances of the story as it unfolds.

Which it does, on a number of levels. The voices of the protagonists are discrete, differentiated and sustained for the length of the novel, irrespective of whether Ducornet employs the first-person point-of-view (which she does, to astounding effect and lending an immediacy all the more acute and penetrating, in present tense) or omniscient narrator, and despite a spare, stark, prose, brutal in its impact, which is not her hallmark style, but which suits the character of her lead protagonist and creates the sense of impending, unavoidable doom that propels the story to its final annihilation. There is no redemption, no reassembling, no means to thwart or defeat the outcome of succumbing to compulsion.

This ability that Ducornet exhibits to craft her prose according to the atmosphere required of that which she wishes to explore, that to which she wishes to direct our attention and force our appraisal (of ourselves and the situation) is reflected in both the title of the work and the netsuke comprising part of the protagonist's collection of art pieces in which he professes so little aesthetic interest, and which inform his personality, his perspective and raison d'etre - the objectification and compartmentalisation of each aspect of his life as a means to deal with his Existenzkrise. That his wife is Japanese is not because she embodies a fascination with the culture but because she is emblematic of its elegance and ethereality, the purity of its precision, its lack of ambiguity, exemplified in the netsuke, miniature sculptures used as toggles to secure small containers to the obi of kimono and kosode, and traditionally worn to adorn men.

The imagery created by the prose demands the reader's willing collusion; but expect scenes to remain long after closing the book. Not because of graphic description of action, but because of graphic allusion. That is a degree of skill that few modern writers evince, let alone master. And it is perfectly suited to the material Ducornet treats here. Avoid reading this book if you expect a pop-corn style reality-docu-drama of a taboo subject - you'll be disappointed. But if you would allow yourself the vicarious experience of a relentless, sensuous, descent into hell, reading this book will bring its own provocative reward.

*On reflection, five stars. ( )

I received this book through Goodreads' giveaway.

This is not the kind of book I'd usually pick up--the reason being not the content, but the cover. In fact, as engrossed in the book as I was, I still couldn't help but feel the cover brought the story down. It just irritated me to say the least!

As for the content, what a beautiful use of language! The plot is OK--an ironic case of a psychologist, check--lots of sex and dirty talk, check--a bit of humor here and there, and a void of what even the most "respected" person's psyche can end up being.
I felt the stories the main character went through with his "clients" was a little strung out, almost as if the author was trying to brag about how often this guy got laid (the main character I mean). I did like the behavior and relationship between the main character and his wife, however, and how the clients fit into that subplot. I liked the length of the book (I love short, short chapters) and how much detail the author was able to fit into such a small literary work.

As for the prose, wow! Like I said, what beautiful language the author uses. I wish I could quote her, but let me just say that a lot of metaphors concerning something grotesque end up juxtaposed with beautiful, naturesque subjects such as the ocean or wolves.

While the cover would never have caught my attention, I'm so glad I read this book. Props to the author on language that both caught me off guard and made me smirk. ( )

A netsuke is a small beautifully crafted container for personal items that one would hang from ones kimono. Keeping ones personal identity abstracted from your physical body. Ornamenting the ordinary every day object by enclosng them in highly crafted containers that expressed the merit of the owner. Is the main character in this novel a Netsuke(?) - or is the novel itself a Netsuke(?) - both perhaps. Very well polished prose that encloses and keeps seperate the emotional and personal identities of the character and the book itself - turning both into objects that stand apart from themselves and their meanings. ( )

Horrible. The writing, the story, the characters, all of it. Yes, I know, seems a little much, but that's truly how I feel. However, in saying those things, I did finish the book. Often times when their this bad I don't waste my time on them, but I had to see this one out. The writing alone was painful, hard to follow, and it seemed the author was trying to make it confusing. There was absolutely no character development and what little you learned about them, it was contradicted later in the story. Basically, the entire time your asking yourself, is this man going to stay with his wife, continue cheating, and get away with it? Will he do the right thing and leave his wife to pursure these other women? Or will he say screw it and continue on the same path he's on? Don't bother, because there's what I call an 'M. Night Shamalyn' ending that is strangely predictable... ( )

I won a copy of this book from LibraryThing in their Early Reviewers Giveaway this past April. I've decided for this review I'm not going to follow my usual format of breaking it down into four sections. Instead, I'm just going to do a regular review:

Starting off, we are introduced to a psychoanalyst whose name we do not know. Right away, we are aware of his somewhat disturbing sexual appetite ... whether it is with a random woman while jogging, a patient who's known as 'The Cutter' or a transvestite.

As the story progresses and we encounter deeper recesses of the doctor's mind, it becomes apparent that, perhaps, the doctor is in need of a psychoanalyst himself. His sexual encounters endanger the relationship he has built with his wife, Akiko. His obsession with these encounters becomes so much that he acquires a new office space in town to better facilitate these bizarre activities.

Part two of the book introduces us to Akiko, the doctor's wife who is an artist. I believe she knew all along what the doctor was up to, but chose to turn a blind eye in the hopes that he would be able to stop the acidic relationships on his own.

By the end, it was never said if the doctor and Akiko stayed together or not, but the ending definitely gave you a strong sense of where their relationship was heading.

This book, though short, was definitely different. It's the type of story that sticks with you in the back of your mind long after you've finished reading it. If you're looking for a book that is a quick read, but gives you an deep intimate look into the mind of serious sexaholic, then this would be the book for you. ( )

An interesting novel, that delves into the life of a psychoanalyst particularly interested in seducing his patients, or allowing his patients to seduce him, for therapeutic value.

It is clear, almost from the beginning, that the psychoanalyst is at least as disturbed as his patients. It is unclear whether or not he is actually affording any of his clients any help. He is trying to save himself through lustful encounters, trying to find the right person who can save him, and convincing himself that what he is doing is naughty, but helpful to the other people in his life.

This novel got me thinking, and dealt with some issues which interest me. The concept of an obviously very intelligent individual indulging in self-destructive behavior is one that is come across often in life, and it was interesting to see it in this novel. It was that concept, however, more than the sex which was interesting. This is not erotica - the novel deals with sex, often, but is unlikely to turn you on. This is a book meant to challenge your intellect, rather than stimulate your libido. And it is worth reading.

**semi spoilers below**

The main character in this short novel would be at home in a Roth novel. His sexuality is all-consuming, even perverse, and it torments him. As the novel begins, he is able to maintain a careful balance between his comfortable, solid home and professional life and the sordid "interstices" (his word) where he betrays wife and profession. He seems to exude an animal magnetism at times, but most often his sexual liaisons are with those who seek help from him. As a psychoanalyst, he has access to wounded and needy people, and he takes the almost cliched view that he is helping them as he screws them.

The first part of the novel is told almost entirely from his point of view. We get to know his wife, Akiko, and his patients (or as he calls them, "clients") only through the lens of his torment. The second part, which makes up the final 3rd of the novel, switches to a third person narration that allows us to see the damage he is doing as his life and interstices mix together and collapse. I found the ending to be too rapid, and though descents such as his do occur, I felt like Ducornet robbed the novel of some of its power by having his life unravel so quickly. The ending felt a bit like Checkov's early plays where, though the ending is appropriate, it is somehow at the same time lacking in power. Checkov, of course, went on to write masterpieces like The Cherry Orchard; perhaps Ducornet has a potential masterpiece in her as well. ( )

This is a book that I wanted to like, based on the description, but found lacking in emotional weight and psychological depth. The interior monologues of the main character are silly and strained, making it seem that the author created a plot and characters that she found beautiful and interesting and then tried to force an interior psychology into it.

That said, Netsuke would be good summer reading. Sitting on a beach under the hot sun reading this book, cocktail in hand, Ducornet’s florid and self-consciously precious language would probably distract you sufficiently from the plot and characters--which I found shallow and uninteresting during the chilly damp Pacific Northwest spring when I read it. Oh well. ( )

To be honest, I found this novel kind of hard to read. It was at times very boring and lengthy. None of the characters were relatable to me and I just couldn't get into it. ( )

"Netsuke" as a novel exudes the very kind of spare beauty that the protagonist's wife, Akiki, strives for in her home and garden. The symbolism of the sinister netsuke and the compartmentalization of the protagonist's practice and mind is very well done. There is much to enjoy in this slim volume. ( )

A short, tightly-written story about a psychologist as he observes his own spiral of self-destruction. Unfortunately the book was not to my taste. I found the POV changes off-putting and while I normally find despicable characters fun to read I could not find any sympathy or curiosity that would cause me to keep my attention. However, it was tightly-written and despite the short length of the book it told its story with great detail and a gallery of character studies to pick from. ( )

Netsuke is the story about a married psychiatrist who sleeps with his patients. The narrative is lyrical and at times blunt and this novella was an unexpected gem.
Author Rikki Ducornet does an excellent job at getting inside the doctor's mind and at expressing his thoughts. This psychiatrist is unwilling to stop cheating on his wife and has been living this secret life for many years.

He seems to want his wife to find out about his infidelities, he drops clues often, but she turns a blind eye. The wife, Akiko, is a successful artist, often away due to her work. This is the doctor's third marriage and the couple live well off because of their professions. The doctors lover's all have issues and he seems to enjoy playing with fire this way. One of his partners is a young woman who cuts herself, another is a cross-dresser. He has no shame in his sexual encounters, whether they occur in his office or in his home. He even schedules his affairs into his week on a regular basis, i.e. Fridays afternoons are kept open for sex with patients.

The doctor himself is despicable, not only is he unfaithful, but he is taking advantage of his patients. I couldn't help but be sucked into this story and was curious as to whether he would get caught. He was unstable and impulsive, and his actions kept shocking me until the final page. When he wants to impress a patient, he goes out and buys new clothes, bringing his wife along for her opinion.
I felt he both loved and hated his wife. He resents her for his own unfaithful ways, blaming her for his behavior. His complex character is what made the story. I found it ironic that the doctor was the one that needed the therapy.

This is the type of book that you read slowly. Some of the passages were poetic, and I found myself re-reading them. Due to the subject matter, I found this to be very impressive. I also found it impressive that for being just 127 pages long, this was heavy reading. This is not the type of book you read in a single sitting.

But always the clock strikes. The knife falls. In love I am only blind. There is no knowledge there. No purifying fire. A moment's bliss and then: the mule brays.
p.37

I should mention that there is graphic language used in this story, I know some readers would veer away from that. Sex is a main theme in this book. I didn't mind the explicit language, I felt that it added to the straightforwardness and darkness of the story.
Rikki Ducornet is an interesting writer and a poet, and I would definitely read her work again. ( )

As much blame as other readers place on Akiko, I believe that she is a product of her culture and blameless. To me, this is a truly beautiful novel (novella?), as the prose is so beautiful, and the story speaks nothing but the truth. While it is dark, to me it was also inspired. Artful. I want to read it again and again, but for the first time, and I only wish it were longer. ( )

When Rikki Ducornet's Netsuke was offered through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program, the title immediately caught my eye. I had recently seen a collection of netsuke--miniature sculptures used as toggles to secure personal belongings in traditional Japanese dress--at the Toledo Museum of Art. Now, Ducornet's Netsuke isn't actually about netsuke, although they are used symbolically. Instead it is about the sexual proclivities of a troubled psychoanalyst, but I found this premise to be fascinating as well. I haven't read any of Ducornet's previous works but in addition to Netsuke, released by Coffee House Press in May 2011, she has written seven novels, three short story collections, five poetry collections, and a book of essays, many of which have been translated into multiple languages. In addition to being a writer and a poet, Ducornet is also an illustrator and a painter.

Netsuke closely examines the internal turmoil of an unnamed psychoanalyst. Akiko is his third wife and their marriage is close to failing as well. If she suspects him of being unfaithful, she mostly keeps her suspicious to herself. In the meantime, he feels compelled to drop hints and leave clues about his many and frequent affairs although he claims not to want to hurt her. He sleeps with complete strangers and people he picks up at local establishments. Most damning of all, he abuses his power as a psychoanalyst and seduces his own patients, trying to convince himself that it is for their own good as well as for his own. But it is only a matter of time before his life completely unravels as he struggles to keep control of the volatile situation he has created.

The protagonist is really not a likeable guy or a sympathetic character. He is completely aware of what he is doing but does not fully understand the extent his actions affect other people although he obviously knows that they do. His betrayals of his wife, of his patients, and of his sexual conquests are harsh, brutal, and ultimately explosive. I can't help but wonder about his previous two marriages; surely there must have been some indication or warning for Akiko that he would be dangerous person to become involved with. It is apparent from the very beginning of Netsuke that things cannot possibly end well for the psychoanalyst or any of those connected to him. And although it is often painful to watch his demise, unlikeable though he is, it is also oddly compelling and difficult to look away. The ending is not entirely unexpected but it still makes a stunning impact.

Netsuke is a very brief but very intense novel. From most of the review I've seen, it is a book that readers either absolutely love or absolutely hate. I can certainly understand why some people have problems with the novel. The subject matter, for one, is rather dark, difficult, disconcerting, and distressing. The language that Ducornet employs is strong and could easily be offensive. Just about every iteration of "fuck" is used as well as many other choice words and phrases. I didn't have an issue with the language and found it to be appropriate to the story, but others would probably appreciate the warning. Ducornet's narrative style in Netsuke, while lyrical and often evocative, is also fragmented. Of course, this is a reflection of the protagonist's state of mind and Ducornet captures it extremely well. This does mean that the reader never gets the full story and is almost exclusively limited to the extraordinarily biased viewpoint of one character, but the technique is very effective.

Experiments in Reading ( )

This book is about a psychoanalyst who has a nasty habit of seducing his patients. I was really unsure what rating to give this book. It was very dark and not at all enjoyable, but definitely interesting. The main character had not a single likable thing about him and I felt frustrated that his sweet and caring wife had wasted so much time being with him. The book was barely over one hundred pages, which is good. I don't think I could have read two hundred plus pages of that story. ( )

This slim volume centers around a psychotherapist with severe psychological issues of his own. He is tormented and, in turn, torments his artist wife, Akiko. While his problems are clearly rooted in his troubled childhood, it is never clear what has driven him to be so obsessed sexually with his patients. He is cruel to his wife, and cruel to his patients. As he moves towards a complete unraveling, his wife either fails to see how sick he is or refuses to acknowledge it in her own mind. Beautifully written, but a bit too enigmatic for my taste. ( )

Other members have written some eloquent reviews of this book and I'm afraid I won't be able to do the same. I finished this book with feelings of ambivalence. I did find the language compelling and the metaphors were original but I can't say that I really cared much about what happened to any of the four major characters in the end. This is a short novel and perhaps I would have appreciated it more had I read it over the course of a couple of hours instead of spreading it out over a few days. It was interesting but it doesn't leave me wanting to read more by the author. ( )

Netsukes are tiny Japanese sculptures that reflect important aspects of Japanese folklore and life. (1) In the novella, “Netsuke” by Rikki Ducornet, they become a symbol for the life led between a pathological psychologist and his wife, Akiko. Akiko has given her husband a number of Netsuke since the time they met. They are housed in a beautiful cabinet within one of his offices (it is important to note, the doctor refers to his various offices as “cabinets”). This lovely cabinet symbolizes their home, filled with quiet beauty. A home that makes it seem the couple have everything - money, beauty and love, with passion for a shared life. They do not. Akiko is simply a possession that represents the life the doctor knows he should appear to have. This is the only reason he has acquired it. One must dress, live and look trustworthy, so that you will not be suspected of what you really are. In order to maintain what has become a house of cards, the doctor must lie repeatedly. He has convinced himself that his sexual acquisitions are simply interstices, meaning the parts lived between his real life with his wife and ordered life, and the sexual deviance he craves. However, the lies he must maintain in order to enjoy these interstices take over and become life itself. The author successfully depicts this with the lyrical prose of a master builder. As the story develops, the reader anticipates a peak moment where the seed of her direction will be revealed with extraordinary verse. Yet it does not. The meter-or that is rapidly descending out of the sky, ready to explode, dissipates before impact and the reader is left wondering, what just happened. This does not diminish the value of the author’s writing before her ending. It simply leaves the reader wanting more, in the style and originality that fueled the first three-quarters of her, otherwise, intriguing novella.

1 – “Netsuke.” Wikipedia. 2011. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.. 25, May, 2011 ( )

This is my first experience with Rikki Ducornet. I loved the flow of the language. It's written as if the author is writing as the characters brain thinks. I think this is a glimpse into self importance and narcissism of a Doctor and what happens to a person who has no accountability for his actions and seeks only to fulfill his own wants.

Good book, quick read, but definitely not for everyone. ( )