The Glass Slipper and Other Stories   Yasuoka Shotaro
Bleak and strange stories about the self-perception and inner lives of odd characters. I felt off balance reading all of them, and didn’t like any of the people. Too bad.

The Return   Michael Gruber
Entertaining novel about a man who returns to Mexico to avenge his wife when he finds out he has an inoperable brain tumor. Nicely written, and there is enough violence and sex to keep it interesting. But the increasing religious fantasies and plot improbabilities made it seem hollow. Not really bad, though.

The Thief   Nakamura Fuminori
Slim, well-written novel about an accomplished Tokyo pick pocket who gets involved, against his will, with an evil yakuza. Much rumination about fate that keeps us from what we want. Pretty good.