Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

Norwegian Wood: Tokyo Blues by Haruki Murakami

10 reviews

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.

---

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

annahollamby'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? It's complicated

1.0

boring and incredibly unlikeable. found myself wondering so many times if the author has ever actually met and interacted with a real woman before. like genuinely. the way he talks about women and sex is gross and pathetic. yet more complex female storiess and characters lost to the male gaze and the manic pixie dream girl trope. also sincerely What The Fuck (r.e. the supposed lesbian character realising she's a lesbian because of a 13 year old 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 only for her lesbianism to be cured in the end by (you guessed it!) a penis... Fucking Gross. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Suicide attempt, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

kaylanoellesims's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Self harm, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment

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.

---

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

bcooper21's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

zvy_02's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Bullying and Gaslighting

cutepatzie's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I was positively suprise with that book. Such an amazing book to reflect on process of growing up, changes, grief, and more. Great show how Japan look like. How mental illness is hired and how finding yourself is hard. Specialty after so much tragic happening around you. Great book to read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

tawneylee's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective relaxing 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? Yes

3.5

First Murakami! Surely a sad book but also very relaxing in atmosphere. I became immersed everytime I picked it up which is something I seek for in reading. Interesting speculations on grief love and friendship. Can see how this may not be for everyone. However I particularly enjoyed this a lot. A quiet and nuanced story that is definitely sticking with me. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

anotherbookwithtee's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective 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? No

2.0

This book made me feel very uncomfortable didn’t enjoy the readin experience- but as a whole it’s a very interesting book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

georgiamayyy's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I think I accidentally fell in love with Toru 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Abandonment

Minor: Gaslighting