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alessiolarva's review against another edition
5.0
Penso sia l'opera che più mi è piaciuta di Murakami; forse mi è capitato di leggerlo nel momento giusto, sicuramente ho molto amato le riflessioni del protagonista e l'approfondimento esteso che l'autore ha concesso all'intimità dei personaggi.
Scritto bene e agile da leggere, lo consiglierò a chi vuole conoscere Murakami senza iniziare con l'impegnativo 1Q84 (che a mio parere rimane davvero la sua 'magna opera').
Scritto bene e agile da leggere, lo consiglierò a chi vuole conoscere Murakami senza iniziare con l'impegnativo 1Q84 (che a mio parere rimane davvero la sua 'magna opera').
alayseslibrary's review against another edition
3.0
Toru Watanabe, our main character, starts thinking about his past, what he went through in his last teen years, while his plane arrives in Germany listening to the song Norwegian Wood by The Beatles. With this, we are presented with several characters that intertwine with the life of Watanabe.
I really had to do an effort to finish this book, the female characters are not real at all, they are all weak and dependent, the conversations Watanabe has with them are either, in a way, almost disgusting, or not serious at all, it feels like everything, from the description of the female characters to the interactions with them, was done to the male gaze. All of this, really made it difficult to be in the story enjoying it. This book was published in the 1980s and is set up at the end of the 1960s, which would explain many of this things, but it has clearly not aged well at all.
On the positive side, Murakami's style is always unique, he really knows how to address delicate or difficult topics in a very simple and easy way, pessimism is a constant in this book, as well as death, suicide and loss, in a way that only Murakami can write it. How he talks about arts, and especially, music, is very nice to read, you can feel the passion through his words.
I would not recommend this as a first reading of Murakami's work, but it would give you a wider understanding of his beginnings.
I really had to do an effort to finish this book, the female characters are not real at all, they are all weak and dependent, the conversations Watanabe has with them are either, in a way, almost disgusting, or not serious at all, it feels like everything, from the description of the female characters to the interactions with them, was done to the male gaze. All of this, really made it difficult to be in the story enjoying it. This book was published in the 1980s and is set up at the end of the 1960s, which would explain many of this things, but it has clearly not aged well at all.
On the positive side, Murakami's style is always unique, he really knows how to address delicate or difficult topics in a very simple and easy way, pessimism is a constant in this book, as well as death, suicide and loss, in a way that only Murakami can write it. How he talks about arts, and especially, music, is very nice to read, you can feel the passion through his words.
I would not recommend this as a first reading of Murakami's work, but it would give you a wider understanding of his beginnings.
queenslovebooks's review against another edition
4.0
In most case, I’m pretty sure of what’s happening but I don’t know what to feel.
Buy in this case, I’m not sure what happened but I’m sure about what I feel.
I love it.
I usually have reasons why I love a story or a book.
But on this one, I don’t. I was just captured.
I usually hate cliff hangers and this book definitely left me hanging.
I still hate that part tho.
But still, I have things I formulate in my head.
I’m lost for words.
Buy in this case, I’m not sure what happened but I’m sure about what I feel.
I love it.
I usually have reasons why I love a story or a book.
But on this one, I don’t. I was just captured.
I usually hate cliff hangers and this book definitely left me hanging.
I still hate that part tho.
But still, I have things I formulate in my head.
I’m lost for words.
lucky2496's review against another edition
I'm not sure how to rate this book yet. Or how to even review it. It's left me with a lot of lingering emotions.
hsunflower's review against another edition
3.0
2.5/3 ⭐️
I truly have mixed feelings about this book. it was my first Murakami book and let me tell you, his writing is amazing, but I dont feel super connected and didnt enjoy much the story itself, therefore I was in between giving a 2.5 or 3 stars, but have it 3 because I feel like it still a nice book, but not a fav one.
I truly have mixed feelings about this book. it was my first Murakami book and let me tell you, his writing is amazing, but I dont feel super connected and didnt enjoy much the story itself, therefore I was in between giving a 2.5 or 3 stars, but have it 3 because I feel like it still a nice book, but not a fav one.
malu_penafort'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
1.0
rubywaitweg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Really enjoyed the general reading experience of this book but also felt quite unsure and a bit confused a lot of the time.
Why is everyone obsessed with Toru?? Almost all of the characters (maybe apart from Stormtrooper?) find him to be extraordinary in some way. In reality he seems to have a pretty average (and kinda boring?) personality. He’s also pretty emotionally distant and has sex with every woman in the book when they’re in extremely vulnerable states? Made me feel quite uncomfortable, especially bc they all seem to have amazing sexual experiences?? Just didn’t seem realistic to me and made me question the male (/just misogynistic?) perspective
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual violence
rkiveoflyn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.5
josephinemosely's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.25
socraticreader's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0