Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

37 reviews

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”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Suicide, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

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 :,)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Mental illness, and Suicide

Moderate: Sexism and Toxic relationship

redflyingbook's review against another edition

4.25

This was my first murakami novel - I did recognize some problematic aspects but altogether it was a stunning rendition of what might be some of the most formative years of a life. It beautifully depicts complex personalities and struggles that hit quite close to home, exploring topics like love, friendship and mental health in utterly poetic and emotional ways. I really did like the writing style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, and Sexual content

kimberlyallen011's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Rape and Sexual violence

peckreadsbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional funny medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, Mental illness, and Suicide

mikj's review against another edition

challenging tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Suicide

felicityj's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Sexual violence

meliflowers's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• 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

2.0

The translation was insanely good and I really love how Murakami carefully chooses his words and describes the monotonous life and the world and its noises and scents so prettily.
But gosh getting through this book was hell of a task. Especially once you've reached the halfway mark. The protagonist, Toru Watanabe, is insufferable and all the other characters (Naoko, Reiko and Midori) solely exist within his vision.
The message is to live one and to choose for happiness whenever you can but the delivery was so obnoxious and pretentious.

Two stars because I like the writing and the setting. Would not recommend it unless you enjoy torturing yourself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Suicide

fayewilsoon's review against another edition

emotional reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• 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

4.75

I loved this, but

I was wondering from like halfway in the book if Midori was the girl who had deceived Reiko - she may have been, and I both like and hate the mystery of not knowing, as it leaves it to be ambiguous but also unsatisfying - maybe I overthought it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

sweetpotatoes's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Rape, Sexism, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Sexual content