Wrong About Japan

When Peter Carey offered to take his son to Japan, 12-year-old Charley stipulated no temples or museums. He wanted to seemanga,anime,and cool, weird stuff. His father said yes. Out of that bargain comes this enchanting tour of the mansion of Japanese culture, as entered through its garish, brightly lit back door. Guidedand at times judgedby an ineffably strange boy named Takashi, the Careys meet manga artists and anime directors, the meticulous impersonators called "visualists," and solitary, nerdishotaku. Throughout, the Booker Prize-winning novelist makes observations that are intriguing even whenas his hosts keep politely reminding himthey turn out to be wrong. Funny, surprising, distinguished by its wonderfully nuanced portrait of a father and son thousands of miles from home,Wrong About Japanis a delight.

Peter Carey is the author of eight novels, including the Booker Prize–winning Oscar and Lucinda and True History of the Kelly Gang, and, most recently, My Life as a Fake. Born in Australia in 1943, Carey now lives in New York City.


From the Hardcover edition.