This is an odd little novel, one to read if you like quirky books by Japanese authors. I wasn’t really sure what to make of it but the unpredictability of the writing ensured I kept on reading. It’s about a young woman, shy and isolated, who is hired to converse in Latin with a statue of Venus in a museum (the statues talk when the public aren’t there). She falls in love with Venus and wants to set her free from her tedious long life of posing and being on display, but the curator, who is also in love with Venus, wants her for himself.

The most interesting thing about the book was the invisible yellow raincoat which the protagonist constantly wears, which prevents her from getting close to others and explains her skin conditions. She works in a frozen foods warehouse and being frozen refers to her emotional state. I felt there were messages in the book but they were expressed in a confusing way. The ending was weak because it’s an epilogue by the professor who taught her Latin. On balance I liked the book because it was memorable but I wouldn’t be very keen on reading more from this author.

First published in Japan, 2023. English translation by Yuki Tejima published by Harvill, 2025.