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irisyu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Incest and Pedophilia
Moderate: Murder and Violence
ruthieem's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Rape and Pedophilia
one_womanarmy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
There was so much to hate about this book. Here are just a few things:
1. Boring, unnecessary descriptions – that do nothing to further the story – of what people are wearing, what Kafka likes to do during his workout, what he decides to eat, what he is listening to on his Walkman...
2. The gratuitous cat torture scene. Johnnie Walker cuts the hearts out of living cats and eat them so that he can collect cat souls to make a special kind of flute. There is no point to this scene – we never hear about Johnnie or his cat-flute again.
3. The annoying way characters – Oshima in particular – deliver sermons about philosophy, art, literature and classical music. It took me right out of the story (tangled mess though it was) and smacked of “Look at me – aren’t I clever?”
4. The screechy-preachy scene with the “feminist” caricatures in the library.
5. Hate to be ungroovy or whatever – but I just couldn’t stand any of the sex scenes, particularly with Miss Saeki, the 50-something librarian who gets it on over and over again with the 15-year-old protagonist even though he and she both know she might be his long-lost mother.
6. The unrelenting use of women as sex dolls, cooks, cleaners, and completely vacuous shields for a 15-year olds' inner world and sexual fantasies.
After the first 100 pages I thought that I might end up giving this book three stars. Another 100 pages on, I decided two stars. By page 331 I decided one star, and by the end of this frustrating, pretentious, and completely unsatisfying book, I felt the people who gushed over this book need therapy, more interesting hobbies, and are simple strangers to me
In the end, love or loathing of a book is entirely subjective, and scores of critics loved this one. But if I’d wanted to find meaning in a random jumble of junk, I would have had more luck going to the thrift store and sifting through the bric-a-brac box than wasting time on Mr. Murakami’s sexist and drivel-filled brain-omelette.
Graphic: Incest and Pedophilia
i_webb's review against another edition
1.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Transphobia, Incest, and Pedophilia
lio_ramon_dolor's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Abandonment, Incest, Rape, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Violence, Death, Sexism, Blood, Gore, Misogyny, Body horror, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Minor: War
anamelon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
0.25
This book was mostly a bunch of nonsensical drivel built up to look like a well put together castle meant to give you the impression that it is actually grand and outstanding.
Reading this was a huge waste of time. The writing itself was mediocre with no nuance or any type of impressive prose.
The only mildly interesting plot points were the initial interviews of the children fainting and following Nakata's journey and his dynamic with Hoshino, though even that turned quite insipid towards the end.
I can definitely see why Murakami is said to be the Colleen Hoover of Japan. Bad pacing, bad storytelling, flat characters, no real character to the story itself just an air of pretentiousness to the story made to make you think "this is so intellectual I could never understand it".
I always try finding any type of positivity from books I read, even those I hate with a passion like Prince Harry's "Spare" which was so bad to the point of hilarity, at least. I can't even say that for this book, just relies on a bunch of shock value one after the other to make it memorable in some way because God knows its writing isn't enough to be remarkable. Only time I've read Murakami and I wish for anyone else to spare themselves and not make the same mistake
Graphic: Animal death, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, and Animal cruelty
sara_malo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Sexual content, Incest, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Sexual assault and War
mx_sunshine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I was impressed how the surrealistic story was kept grounded by the realistic characters.
My favourite characters were Oshima and Nakata. I loved reading about the interviews conducted by the US in relation to the Rice Bowl Hill Incident. I loved Nakata and Hoshino’s friendship and all of the conversations with cats. I loved the descriptions of the Komura Memorial Library.
I honestly wouldn’t have given this book a chance if I was given a summary of events. I would’ve been put off by many of the situations. I would’ve felt guilty at the idea of enjoying literature that depicted such disturbing scenarios. But I found it difficult to assign responsibility to any of the characters. The power balance between characters was constantly changing. Not sure I’d be open to recommending this due to the content, but I’ll definitely be reading more of Murakami’s work.
Graphic: Murder, Incest, Animal cruelty, Rape, Death of parent, and Pedophilia
vbarsi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual content, Animal death, Death, Animal cruelty, Medical content, Blood, Pedophilia, and Incest
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Death of parent
shebert's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, Animal cruelty, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Misogyny, Death, Incest, Murder, and Pedophilia