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shrugabug's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Xenophobia, and War
jefferz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
My biggest criticism of this novel and Murakami's works in general is the excessive amount of detail and word legnth that's added for no particular reason. The amount of tedious daily activities and movement by that main character adds nothing to the experience, story or characters included which is exacerbated by how repetive and monotonous they're written. Worse is how sporadic
characters are added in to immediately segue into seemingly unrelated stories with no rhyme and reason. Yes there are connections between each story introduced but the execution is so lackluster, you're just left questioning why it was done this way and what was the point of it all? The plot is thin at best non-existent at worst and the characters are wooden do not inspire any level of interest.
The main character Toru Okada is self-described (repeatedly at every possible opportunity to remind the reader) as being apaethtic, forgettable and lacking of honor or drive which serves as a convenient and appropriate summary of the the entire novel itself. I found myself more interested and invested in the main "villains" (who are protrayed as the absolute embodiment of evil) than I did with Toru Okada who I felt half deserved the suffering he experienced. That's a sign that something went really wrong.
Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Kidnapping
shannanigans's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
maybealexisreading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Sexism and Xenophobia
12caro9's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abortion and Abandonment