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yasmin_raev's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia and Suicide
eule's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Weird. Confusing. Mysterious as fuck. Feverdream. Loneliness. Connections and ties. Aimless. Unresolved. Open end. Suffering. Sexism. Interesting relationships.
(Some words and phrases that come into mind after reading this book)
Soooo … this was my first Murakami novel and I have no fucking clue what to think about this book. I only bought and read it right away due to a video on Pinterest with a guy describing this book in vivid colors and heavily praising it as some kind of murder mystery (which it kinda was but not really). I only realized while reading that this book is supposed to be kind of part of a series called the Rat (I had no idea about the Sheep Men). Maybe that’s why I was confused as hell.
Now I feel a little empty. We never now who killed a specific person in this book. We never know for certain what is reality and what is the dream land or a parallel universe. I am simply unsatisfied as I have no certainty about anything. I am mad. And I have no idea what this book is actually about.
Is it supposed to be a murder mystery? The description of a midlife crisis? A book about the importance of friendship? A novel about loneliness? I don’t even understand why this book is called like it’s called. Hell, I don’t know anything for certain. But maybe that’s the intention of this feverdreamlike book.
Additionally, I feel the need to heavily criticize how women are portrayed in this novel. All the time I just PRAYED THAT THE MAIN CHARACTER (34) DOES NOT FUCK THE 13 YEAR OLD „FRIEND“ HE HAS. Simply disgusting. If the author would have left out the description of her beauty or how the main character would like to be HER FUCKING BOYFRIEND, the friendship would have been cute.
(Some words and phrases that come into mind after reading this book)
Soooo … this was my first Murakami novel and I have no fucking clue what to think about this book. I only bought and read it right away due to a video on Pinterest with a guy describing this book in vivid colors and heavily praising it as some kind of murder mystery (which it kinda was but not really). I only realized while reading that this book is supposed to be kind of part of a series called the Rat (I had no idea about the Sheep Men). Maybe that’s why I was confused as hell.
Now I feel a little empty. We never now who killed a specific person in this book. We never know for certain what is reality and what is the dream land or a parallel universe. I am simply unsatisfied as I have no certainty about anything. I am mad. And I have no idea what this book is actually about.
Is it supposed to be a murder mystery? The description of a midlife crisis? A book about the importance of friendship? A novel about loneliness? I don’t even understand why this book is called like it’s called. Hell, I don’t know anything for certain. But maybe that’s the intention of this feverdreamlike book.
Additionally, I feel the need to heavily criticize how women are portrayed in this novel. All the time I just PRAYED THAT THE MAIN CHARACTER (34) DOES NOT FUCK THE 13 YEAR OLD „FRIEND“ HE HAS. Simply disgusting. If the author would have left out the description of her beauty or how the main character would like to be HER FUCKING BOYFRIEND, the friendship would have been cute.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicide, Vomit, and Car accident