Inthis“delightfullyuncanny“collectionoffeministretellingsoftraditionalJapanesefolktales(TheNewYorkTimesBookReview),humanslivesidebysidewithspiritswhoprovideavarietyofusefulservices--fromtruth-tellingtobabysitting,fromprotectingcastlestofightingcrime.Abusybodyauntwhodisapprovesofhairremoval;apairofdoor-to-doorsaleswomenhawkingportablelanterns;acheerfulloverwhovisitseverynighttotakealuxuriousbath;asilenthouse-callerwhobabysitsandcleanswhileasinglemotherisoutworking.WheretheWildLadiesAreispopulatedbytheseandmanyotherspiritedwomen--whoalsohappentobeghosts.Thisisarealminwhichjealousy,stubbornness,andotherexcessive“feminine“passionsarenottobefearedorsuppressed,butrathercultivated;and,chancesare,amannamedMr.Teiwillnoticeyourtalentsandrecruityou,deadoralive(preferablydead),tojoinhismysteriouscompany.WithWheretheWildLadiesAre,AokoMatsudatakestherich,millenia-oldtraditionofJapanesefolktales--shapeshiftingwivesandfoxes,magicaltreesandwells--andwhollyreinventsthem,presentingaworldinwhichhumansareconsoled,guided,challenged,andtransformedbytheonlysometimesvisibleforcesthatsurroundthem.
