Strange Pictures by Uketsu

Book Review: Strange Pictures by Uketsu (Translated by Jim Rion) Ever feel like reality is just a little… off? Like the world’s colors are slightly warped and your morning coffee might be watching you? That’s the vibe of Strange Pictures, Uketsu’s delightfully surreal novel, brought brilliantly to English by Jim Rion. The story follows a protagonist wandering through a series of peculiar, sometimes hilarious, sometimes eerie snapshots of life. Every encounter feels both ordinary and absurd, like stepping into a parallel version of your own day—but one where the ordinary suddenly becomes unforgettable. It’s equal parts quirky, unsettling, and oddly charming. What makes this book such a treat is Uketsu’s sharp eye for the little absurdities in life. A glance, a remark, a mundane street corner—everything carries hidden tension, humor, or mystery. Rion’s translation keeps the prose light, fluid, and playful, perfectly capturing the novel’s subtle mix of surrealism and introspection. If you love books that make you stop mid-page, tilt your head, and think, “Wait… what just happened?” then Strange Pictures is right up your alley. It’s a clever, whimsical, and slightly eerie ride through the ordinary turned extraordinary. Final verdict: for fans of the uncanny, the witty, and the quietly bizarre, this novel is a puzzle you’ll happily get lost in. https://amzn.to/45OtvgB