lilcashley's review
5.0
It was hard to tell where this book was going, and now that I've just finished it is hard to say exactly what happened. It forced me to examine myself and time and what drives me to do things. I feel like I also learned a lot about what is must have been like to live in Tokyo in the 80s. It was beautifully written and I really really loved it. There was some weird sexual parts, that I don't fully understand, but they never made me feel uncomfortable. I had the book for a few years, and started reading it once and then just revisited it this week and finished it. It was a daunting book to start, but I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in reading it! Once you get into the thick of it, you can't wait to find out how one thing connects to the next and what will result.
knit3314's review
4.0
I really enjoyed listening to the Audible version of this book. I don't think I would have finished it in print. 900+ pages was a bit much. I started listening in June and it's October. 4 months is a long time to devote to one book. I knit or drive while I listen.
I gave four stars because I felt there was a lot of repetition due to the style the author elected to use; where each character tells what happened from their point if view throughout. It was frustrating the further you read into the book. The book could have been much shorter.
The details were vivid and I felt I was given a glimpse of Japanese culture in a day to day life sort of way, which I liked. The characters were great and the story was very good.
It's my first by this author. My next one by him will be a shorter work. I have Kafka at the Shore on my Kindle. Will wait a while though. Need to spread the love to other authors for a bit.
I gave four stars because I felt there was a lot of repetition due to the style the author elected to use; where each character tells what happened from their point if view throughout. It was frustrating the further you read into the book. The book could have been much shorter.
The details were vivid and I felt I was given a glimpse of Japanese culture in a day to day life sort of way, which I liked. The characters were great and the story was very good.
It's my first by this author. My next one by him will be a shorter work. I have Kafka at the Shore on my Kindle. Will wait a while though. Need to spread the love to other authors for a bit.
belemea's review
5.0
I'd read some reviews about this book describing it as a love story and indeed it is, a story of love for life, of coming to terms with this world, as absurd as it might be "we needed that much time to understand how lonely we were" someone says at some point giving in to the fact that the only thing they could ever control is their will to love and live
itsgg's review
2.0
I generally like Murakami, but this book DESPERATELY needed an editor. It was bloated and dragged through much of its completely unnecessary 925 pages. If it had been half as long, I would have given it 4 stars.
kblack75's review
5.0
More like a 4.5. Murakami has an ease about his writing that is both refreshing and elegant. At no point during this massive work did I find myself wishing for a quick end.
danakm's review
5.0
I finally finished. Very good. The writing style would probably be ten times better then it already is if read in original language. Detailed and thought provoking.
ohhkatrina's review
2.0
Had I realized the book was 900+ pages I probably wouldn't have started it. It was really strange. Not bad enough to give up on but I sort of didn't care about any of the characters or what happened. Eventually I got far enough in that I just wanted to finish it, but I felt like nothing ever happened. And nothin was explained well enough. There were also lots of awkward sex scenes/descriptions.
brisk28's review against another edition
4.0
I have never read anything like this, which is why I was surprised to have found this seemingly brand new book at Goodwill for $1.
Anyhow, I noticed that Murakami addressed many social issues and included some really great quotes, but naturally my one complaint was his constant description of women’s breast. Granted, some of the scenes were necessary in a way to the story, but it got a little repetitive after awhile. Maybe since I’m part of the IBTC, I don’t understand what it is about breasts
Anyhow, I noticed that Murakami addressed many social issues and included some really great quotes, but naturally my one complaint was his constant description of women’s breast. Granted, some of the scenes were necessary in a way to the story, but it got a little repetitive after awhile. Maybe since I’m part of the IBTC, I don’t understand what it is about breasts