Disclaimers :
1) Before you go into this book, please know that this book will leave you extremely uncomfortable.
2) I for one do not condone pedophilia (yes biggest trigger warning here)
3) Again, do read this book on your own discretion. If you can't handle these kind of topics, be warned and do not proceed.

This book left me with the same feelings after I read Earthlings.

I was not only perplexed, but Ogawa had brought forward such a whirlwind of very, very, very, strong emotions that this book was unputdownable. In fact, its been 10 minutes after finishing this book -whilst I'm writing my thoughts here- and I find that the story will haunt me in such a way that I don't think I can forget this story at all.

Deeply disturbing, Hotel Iris tells the story of 17 year old Mari and a translator she met while manning the front desk at the hotel that her mother owns. A gothic-tale that will leave you queasy and questioning your morals; a story that of exiles, loneliness and a form of love that is frowned upon by society and a story of two souls that found each other in their own messy form.

I don't know how to properly write this review without sounding like a creep, but I lowkey enjoyed this book really much. Its to a point ; that I'm sad that it ended the way it did. With this book, Ogawa lamented her ways to write in such a way that will question every moral fibre in your body. The act of the translator with Mari is most definitely frowned upon; and its to show a dark side of human emotions in such that questions Mari's upbringing in the first place. Was her childhood that bad? Was the treatment of her mother made her the way she is? Was the affection that she so badly crave can only be fulfilled by the translator? Ogawa's writing will coerced the readers to a point of breaking. She had shown the complexity of the human's nature into accepting things and the expression of desire.

If Ogawa is a man, I would question every single things about this book. It leaves me to wonder, the power dynamics that she holds over the readers had made it seemed like the relationship between the translator and Mari in some ways. The story is relentless; in a way that makes the readers so so so so uncomfortable and yet, there is a beauty behind the story. And no matter how we see it, everything that was done in the book is both consensual; which further leads you to question yourself. Ogawa had splendidly narrated the story; with its beautiful prose and vivid detail, in human complexity in its darkest core.

Not a book for everyone mind you. But what I can say is , Ogawa is an exceptional writer.

Would have been 5🌟 if not for the ending.

4.5🌟 for this gem