Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

107 reviews

froggoz13's review against another edition

dark reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I am very conflicted due to the themes of pedophilia and homophobia and the misogynistic undertones that aren't adressed anywhere in the book. I don't like the characters and don't see myself being drawn to them or worried for them. I experienced the story as very strange and uncomfortable. 

The writing style is good and descriptive in a pleasant way but the dialogues are often quite direct. Overall I did want to continue reading the vook and find out what would happen next but I did not particularly enjoy reading it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Lesbophobia

claukv's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Stalking, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Body shaming, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Lesbophobia

lilydarcie's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

Hated this book and the depiction of women. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that it was written in a different time, but the descriptions were awful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Alcohol

nelsonlala's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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

Wtf va detta. Triggering som fan.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

thecactusprincess's review against another edition

dark reflective sad slow-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? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, and Alcohol

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

m4rtt4's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-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? Yes

4.25

Naoko❤️‍🩹 I truly loved her.
Actually I really liked all the female characters, though they all more or less were also used as vessels for fulfilling the author's sexual fantasies — especially Midori, her personality at times was so pick-me-girly for the sole purpose of getting Watanabe's sexual attention.

This one was a re-read, and I must say I felt it so much more now at 20 — the main characters' age — than when I first read it at 16 years old. I've read all Murakami's novels, and even though I kind of miss the magical realism that was almost nonexistent in this book, it didn't really need it either as it was deep enough just like this. I just wish the metaphor of the "well" Naoko talked about in the beginning had appeared later on in the story, it should have had a greater purpose. Overall a very melancholic yet great reading experience, but for your own good, do consider skipping this if things related to suicide trigger you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Grief

Moderate: Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Medical content, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Violence, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

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

ragingpages's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Grief, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

anna_l's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, and Alcohol

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol

xrosinab's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring medium-paced

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

5.0

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Influenced by one of my favourite bands, the title is named after the song 'Norwegian Wood' which is Naoko's favorite song. This book is about the transition from young adulthood into adulthood, touching on themes such as sex, love, loss, friendship, suicide, etc. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, and Alcohol