The reviewer enjoyed the first half of Strange Houses, finding it interactive and creepy with intriguing floor plans and a logical yet bizarre explanation for the house's design. The second half, while less innovative, delves into a complex family history with curses and traditions, reminiscent of Seishi Yokomizo's mysteries.
The reviewer was excited to read Strange Houses after enjoying Uketsu's Strange Pictures. The novel starts with a freelance writer helping his friend find a house with a mysterious 'dead space' and other unusual features. The architect friend provides a terrifyingly logical explanation for the house's design, leading the narrator to investigate further. The first half of the book is engaging and interactive, with creepy floor plans that make the reader think. However, the second half shifts focus to the complex history of the family who built the houses, becoming convoluted with rivalries and curses. While less varied than Strange Pictures, the book allows readers to follow one family's story through generations. The reviewer appreciates the translator's work in making the writing accessible and looks forward to Uketsu's next book, Strange Buildings.
Quick quotes
I loved Uketsu’s Strange Pictures when I read it earlier this year, so I was excited to see another of his books, Strange Houses, available on NetGalley.
Although Kurihara’s theory about the design of the Tokyo house seems ridiculously far-fetched, it does also make sense when you consider the layout of the rooms, the positions of doors and windows and the location of the house itself.
In the second half of the book, the focus moves away slightly from the plans and layouts and concentrates more on the history of the family.