On Parole

About this book

A man murders his wife wounds her lover and sets the lovers home-with the lovers mother in it-on fire. Sixteen years later 50-year-old Shiro Kikutani a former high-school teacher serving a life sentence for this crime is released. In jail he had thought of nothing but freedom. His release however creates a series of obstacles for which he is not prepared. While he continually examines his conscience he feels no remorse. On parole he slowly begins to lead a normal life and that life seems livable until his new wife pressures him to express remorse he does not feel. Once again Yoshimura has written a finely detailed subtle powerful story that explores the fragile life of a murderer and the quality of freedom in an unforgiving society.