Peter Carey can definitely write. This memoir is full of his easy to read prose. He also uncovers a number of interesting facts about Japanese culture – especially manga and anime. To my mind though, it all comes off a little flat.

I know Japan is a strange and bewildering place. I’ve spent about 8 weeks there, all told. But the Japanese are also humans and their cities work like cities, their relationships, fears and trials are, by and large, quite understandable. Carey seems to focus too much on what makes Japan and its people so very different to Westerners and the overall feel I get from the book is one of exoticism.

That said, I didn’t dislike “Wrong About Japan” I just didn’t see the point of it and felt Carey was a little lazy with it.