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rachelhelps's review against another edition
3.0
I brought this along for an airplane ride, hoping it would be as gripping as The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles, but it wasn't. That's okay. I like books that I can put down at any time and then come back to pleasantly; I just wasn't expecting it with Murakami.
There are two settings: a future where information encryption is performed by unpredictable humans and a town where you must lose your shadow to enter and is described as both everything and nothing. Typical Murakami hijinks follow: a divorced man with unusually pretentious tastes meets some attractive women and a crazy scientist. I'm a little sick of Murakami's constant praise of analog media, Russian authors, and Italian cooking. I know, I know, write what you know... but I think he can do better. This is an earlier work so I should cut him some slack. I hope 1Q84 will be better.
There are two settings: a future where information encryption is performed by unpredictable humans and a town where you must lose your shadow to enter and is described as both everything and nothing. Typical Murakami hijinks follow: a divorced man with unusually pretentious tastes meets some attractive women and a crazy scientist. I'm a little sick of Murakami's constant praise of analog media, Russian authors, and Italian cooking. I know, I know, write what you know... but I think he can do better. This is an earlier work so I should cut him some slack. I hope 1Q84 will be better.
blau_elmo's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Equally, if not slightly better than Kafka on the Shore in my opinion.
This novel features two seemingly separate worlds with alternating perspectives, until suddenly towards the end, it is revealed at how inextricably linked the two worlds truly are. The characters are fun, the adventure they go on is riveting and creative and the inner turmoil of the protagonist as he realises his unfair fate is terrifying.
The plot in the alternate world is slightly too slow at times. However, its mystic backdrop is always breathtaking, so the extra descriptors do not feel too overbearing.
This novel features two seemingly separate worlds with alternating perspectives, until suddenly towards the end, it is revealed at how inextricably linked the two worlds truly are. The characters are fun, the adventure they go on is riveting and creative and the inner turmoil of the protagonist as he realises his unfair fate is terrifying.
The plot in the alternate world is slightly too slow at times. However, its mystic backdrop is always breathtaking, so the extra descriptors do not feel too overbearing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
lauren708's review against another edition
3.0
Kind of between 3 and 4 stars on this one. I did enjoy it and it inspires a lot of thoughts on consciousness and ideas of the self; some beautiful lines, of course, and a beautiful universe in its own way. It also wasn't quite what I expected and I'm guilty of comparing it to Kafka on the Shore.
cherrychess's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
4.25
sungold's review against another edition
4.0
I'd be smiling and chatting away, and my mind would be floating around somewhere else, like a balloon with a broken string . . .
rollerr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
franceswilde95's review against another edition
5.0
I was literally wowed by this. I love the dual narratives and the way that they move together until the last 100 pages is pretty intense if you are a generally anxious person when it comes to running out of time! I love the simple writing style (very detective fiction like) but also all of the references woven in, particularly the apt Bob Dylan ones towards the end! So worth sticking at and appreciating for its philosophical concepts before the exact meaning of the two narratives becomes apparent.
kittykels's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I'll have to re-read this book eventually to fully grasp it, but it was interesting and enjoyable throughout.
books_and_cha's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked this book. The parallel stories, the plot - all of it was ingenious. The main character himself was fascinating and multi-faceted. Despite his solo career, and absence of human company in his life, he did feel love and affection. I personally wanted him to fall for the chubby girl, not the Librarian, but the love-story wasn't the main focus so I didn't care either way.
merrysociopath's review against another edition
2.0
Una gran delusione. Un libro di cinquecento pagine che avrebbe potuto benissimo essere lungo la metà. Riempito all'inverosimile di digressioni e divagazioni che distruggono il ritmo già non particolarmente incalzante della storia.
L'idea alla base, per inciso, non è male, ma è sviluppata malissimo e in maniera troppo nebulosa. Il paese delle meraviglie hard-boiled è privo di spessore e del tutto identico alla quotidianità; diverso è il discorso per quanto riguarda la fine del mondo, l'unica ambientazione che riesce a sostenere una storia indebolita dalla logorrea di Murakami e dei suoi protagonisti.
Peccato, mi aspettavo di più.
L'idea alla base, per inciso, non è male, ma è sviluppata malissimo e in maniera troppo nebulosa. Il paese delle meraviglie hard-boiled è privo di spessore e del tutto identico alla quotidianità; diverso è il discorso per quanto riguarda la fine del mondo, l'unica ambientazione che riesce a sostenere una storia indebolita dalla logorrea di Murakami e dei suoi protagonisti.
Peccato, mi aspettavo di più.