Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - Kafka på stranden

This book is really strange and I don’t know how to feel. Some parts I really did not enjoy reading and I don’t know why anybody would think it’s a good idea to write that down and publish it. But overall it was kind of a great book? Definitely loved the idea of different worlds and how that was done, but I think I’d be scared of recommending it to anyone because I don’t want people to think I’m sick. I am confused.

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ellenlovre's review against another edition

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challenging 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

2.0

I just want to thank everyone who let me complain to them about this book while I was reading it for class. I guess this book was character driven, since there was no plot to speak of, but the characters felt contrived and one-dimensional. Way too much incest and use of one of my least favorite words for the male genitalia. Not everything needs to be a metaphor.

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epshcherbinina's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-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

3.5

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cowboynixan's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark reflective sad 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

4.5

This really is one of my favourite books if you skim over the oedipus complex. The incest and weird sexual moments felt extremely unnecessary and uncomfortable, and felt like it was a jarring insert in the books most of the time. Otherwise its a really beautiful book focused on the complexities of consciousness, individual experiences, and growing pains. Although Murakami heavily lacks in understanding or respecting of women in his books (which honestly i just feel numb to at this point.) Its pleasant to see how he handles trans identities and mental disabilities with care, considering this was written a couple decades ago.

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thequiltyreader's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-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? Yes

3.5

Having finished this book I don't quite know what to make of it. I think I enjoyed it, it certainly kept me reading. I found it slow but intriguing. I also however felt there was unnecessary overuse of violence and sexual content. I was wondering how it was all going to come together in the end but I felt I got to the end and had no idea what happened. I think I need some time to dwell on the book and what I think of it.

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marsmartis's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.75

The sex scenes become more justified the more the book advances, but it still feels like not good enough of a reason for them to be there, let alone so detailed, let alone incest and rape.

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corpsepose's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective

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

Ambiwalentna w odbiorze. Lekka, ale nie prosta. Po przeczytaniu mam do niej stosunek "środkowy", ale w żadnym razie nie neutralny, może nawet nieco bardziej na minus. Na pewno do ponownego odwiedzenia, być może więcej niż raz.

Mitologizacja nie zatrzymuje się na przepowiedni, być może stąd trudna w ocenie przez pryzmat zwykłego, "dzisiejszego" zestawu norm i wartości.

Historia, zdaje mi się, o pudełkach, drzwiach i ramkach, a także o połowach rzeczy, co zgrabnie podsumowują cytat przytoczony na okładce i wspomnienie o "Uczcie" Platona.

Z prostszych obserwacji: Murakami nie umie pisać kobiet, za to ciekawa transreprezentacja. Różnice kulturowe mogą dawać się we znaki czytelnikowi.

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