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barker805's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Totally engrossing. So sad and yet throughout there is a vignette of hope and beauty that shine through
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
emamoretti03's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Devo dire che all'inizio non lo stavo apprezzando particolarmente. Ho letto prima altri libri di murakami a cui ho dato tutti 5 stelle, tra cui 1Q84, l'assassinio del commendatore e kafka sulla spiaggia. Ma questo non mi ha trasmesso le stesse sensazioni. Ho però apprezzato molto la retorica sulla morte e sul suicidio di questo romanzo e la specularità tra i rapporti tra Watanabe/Midori-Naoko/Kizuki.
Forse un po' troppo sesso, ogni 20/30 pagine c'è qualche scena di sesso o qualche discorso sul sesso, un po' too much, negli altri libri di Murakami non era ricorrente fino a questo punto
Forse un po' troppo sesso, ogni 20/30 pagine c'è qualche scena di sesso o qualche discorso sul sesso, un po' too much, negli altri libri di Murakami non era ricorrente fino a questo punto
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
vintagececee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
gives a new perspective on how depression consumes the mind.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
the ending was unexpected.itsevie13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I honestly don't know how I feel about this book. I didn't hate reading it, in fact there were times I couldn't put it down, but I didn't like it either. The book mainly focuses around the proganists interactions with various 'tragic female characters' but I found most of these women very 1 dimensional, mainly written as objects of desire for a kind of boring man (the protagonist). I don't know if the novel is actually supposed to say something profound about youth but if so it went over my head. The novel is beautiful prose though but perhaps a little up its own backside, saying a lot without really saying anything at all. I did appreciate the atmospheric setting and there were good philosophical moments but this was overshadowed by the flatness of the supporting characters also I did not appreciate the jumpscare of a graphic sex scene with a minor so watch out for that. Overall just a very male book, attempting to write complex female characters but completely missing the mark and a bit depressing tbh (but not in an interesting way).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
shelbyrodger's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
drymice's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
sinfell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s extremely difficult to understate how well this book approaches topics of grief and death, as well as how well Murakami grounds each character to reality, so much so that I feel as though I have not connected so much with another main character as I have with Toru. While this book, much like Murakami, does have dated and problematic cultural views, I think the sheer quality alone is enough to excuse it, if only to keep reading until completion.
I have read several of Murakami’s stories, but I feel his more realistic works have their own sort of surrealism to it that any fantastical plot points feels completely unnecessary.
Plus Midori is in this book, so that should be reason enough to give it 5 stars.
I have read several of Murakami’s stories, but I feel his more realistic works have their own sort of surrealism to it that any fantastical plot points feels completely unnecessary.
Plus Midori is in this book, so that should be reason enough to give it 5 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
sophiamarkova04's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
3.5
I don't believe Murakami has ever had a meaningful interaction with a woman, or quite honestly even met one in person. That being said, the book has its profound moments, usually broken up by some kind of absurd sexual interaction. I'm unsure whether I'd ever read another book by this author, but surprisingly, I did not hate this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Minor: Sexism and Suicide attempt
bella613's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
4.5
I like the way Murakami writes, as if he must tell a story that really happened and not as if he's creating one.
I didn't love this book the way I loved Killing Commendatore. It was not quite what I expected, especially after hearing it was this book that exploded Murakami into fame. But I did connect with it. As it is with Murakami, there are some uncomfortable sections of the book. But there are some uncomfortable moments in life, so... it's sort of beautiful that he captures it so intensely?
I found myself most drawn to Naoko in this story. Midori as a character is someone I would probably not enjoy spending time with in real life, but added to the story in a mostly positive way. I didn't like Toru much in the same way that one might not like oneself. Listening from his pov felt like looking back on one's own life and seeing all the flaws and mistakes and self-centered choices that were made. But he was very real. That's one thing I also love about Murakami: his main characters feel undeniably real. He's not great at writing women, but since he usually writes from a male ego perspective, this doesn't bother me nearly as much as it seems to bother others. Read any contemporary romance and you'll see that most women are terrible at writing men, too.
My favorite part of the book was probably the long letter describing the sanatorium and the following visit to the sanatorium.
I didn't love this book the way I loved Killing Commendatore. It was not quite what I expected, especially after hearing it was this book that exploded Murakami into fame. But I did connect with it. As it is with Murakami, there are some uncomfortable sections of the book. But there are some uncomfortable moments in life, so... it's sort of beautiful that he captures it so intensely?
I found myself most drawn to Naoko in this story. Midori as a character is someone I would probably not enjoy spending time with in real life, but added to the story in a mostly positive way. I didn't like Toru much in the same way that one might not like oneself. Listening from his pov felt like looking back on one's own life and seeing all the flaws and mistakes and self-centered choices that were made. But he was very real. That's one thing I also love about Murakami: his main characters feel undeniably real. He's not great at writing women, but since he usually writes from a male ego perspective, this doesn't bother me nearly as much as it seems to bother others. Read any contemporary romance and you'll see that most women are terrible at writing men, too.
My favorite part of the book was probably the long letter describing the sanatorium and the following visit to the sanatorium.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
erilcastro's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
⚠️ I tend to enjoy Japanese authors because of the writing style and directness, if you’ve found you don’t like Japanese authors typical it may not be for you.
The beginning of the book was the hardest part of the read, it was a bump I had to get over then finally 20 pages in I was really enjoying myself. The book follows the main character as he develops friendships and relationships, which is my favorite parts of books because this drives growth. Nothing in the writing is especially punchy, the wit and humor is subtle but delightful. If this book where an experience it would be like watching people at the park on a warm spring day with a soft wind when suddenly a large cloud rolls over and it gets cold, so it’s time to go or else you’ll stay cold.
The beginning of the book was the hardest part of the read, it was a bump I had to get over then finally 20 pages in I was really enjoying myself. The book follows the main character as he develops friendships and relationships, which is my favorite parts of books because this drives growth. Nothing in the writing is especially punchy, the wit and humor is subtle but delightful. If this book where an experience it would be like watching people at the park on a warm spring day with a soft wind when suddenly a large cloud rolls over and it gets cold, so it’s time to go or else you’ll stay cold.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt