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prlprl's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Murakami’s writing style is easy and interesting to read. His ability to recreate life without romanticism is itself charming. The lucid normalcy of Norwegian Wood and honest sexuality makes for a refreshing read where scintillating sensationalism has saturated itself into a genre of romance. The narrator witnesses and experiences much, but does not attempt to explain what he does not know, and for that he is appreciated. Without patronising or proselytising, the simplicity of existing is coloured by the difficulty of living. I enjoyed every page for the writer’s keen ability to touch upon the nature of memory, love, and the inevitability of death, and how this forms and ideates our relationships with others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicide, and Mental illness
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
dee97's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Mental illness, and Grief
fergascod's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Un llibre amb una atmòsfera molt trista. Tots els personatges estan atravessats per la desgràcia. Segurament no l’hauria d’haver llegit tenint en compte com estic últimament, tot i que potser sí.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Death, Mental illness, and Adult/minor relationship
vermiglio's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Fire/Fire injury, Death, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
hunnylemon's review against another edition
medium-paced
- 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
those were three days i’ll never get back. i don’t know why everyone recommends this as a good starter to murakami novels it is shite and the only thing that kept me reading was knowing what will happen to the manic pixie dream girl and her side piece (the main character apparently). there are too many things wrong with this book it felt like i was reading a much more graphic version of “looking for alaska”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Suicide, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
lagaialettrice's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cancer, Suicide, Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness
katanarin's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Like always Murakamis style of writing is very delicate. The plot is interesting, good pacing, poetic descriptions.
The plot and fantasy aspect differs to other Murakami books, this book is a romance novel and got nothing surreal to it.
There is like always one thing that annoys me about this book or about Murakami in general.
The way he writes woman lol
Again - every woman is at one point in this book just an sexual lust-object for the protagonist or another male. In Kafka on the shore it somehow made sense to me but in this book it seemed really unnecessary and at some point it was so annoying that it really ruined the moment. It's just sad :,)
The plot and fantasy aspect differs to other Murakami books, this book is a romance novel and got nothing surreal to it.
There is like always one thing that annoys me about this book or about Murakami in general.
The way he writes woman lol
Again - every woman is at one point in this book just an sexual lust-object for the protagonist or another male. In Kafka on the shore it somehow made sense to me but in this book it seemed really unnecessary and at some point it was so annoying that it really ruined the moment. It's just sad :,)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Mental illness, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexism and Toxic relationship
amilabell's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Death
minihaido's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Suicide, and Death
jennyreadssometimes's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Overall a great read. It was a sad, nostalgic and very raw story with its main focus the difference in relationship dynamic between the main character, Watanabe, and two love interests in his life who are very different.
I had initially expected it to be a bit more of an inspirational story about overcoming mental illness, so I was quite taken back by the unexpected twist of Naoko taking her own life at the end, but I think that made it more thought provoking as it became really reflective of how Watanabe himself dealt with loss.
I've heard things before about Murakami's writing style being slightly objectifying of women, however I didn't feel that with this read. I enjoyed that I resonated with the vulnerability of all the characters and grieved over the parts that didn't work out. It reminded me in some ways of my own grief journey and for that I thought it was quite cathartic.
I've heard things before about Murakami's writing style being slightly objectifying of women, however I didn't feel that with this read. I enjoyed that I resonated with the vulnerability of all the characters and grieved over the parts that didn't work out. It reminded me in some ways of my own grief journey and for that I thought it was quite cathartic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Suicide