Weasels in the Attic

Weasels in the Attic is a surreal and introspective novella by Japanese author Hiroko Oyamada that explores themes of domestic life, identity, and existential unease. Told through a series of interconnected stories, the narrative centers on a middle-aged man navigating societal expectations, marriage, and the quiet tensions of adulthood in modern Japan.

The protagonist's visits to an old friend, Saiki, who lives in a remote countryside home plagued by a mysterious weasel infestation, serve as the novella’s eerie backdrop. Each visit reveals strange occurrences, blending the mundane with the uncanny. The weasels become symbolic, reflecting suppressed anxieties about family, parenthood, and personal failure.

With its haunting prose and unsettling atmosphere, Weasels in the Attic masterfully blurs the line between reality and metaphor. Oyamada’s subtle storytelling invites readers to peer into the dark corners of everyday existence, where hidden fears and unresolved emotions fester like unwanted intruders. It’s a quiet yet powerful meditation on life's creeping uncertainties.