Reviews

Wind is a mess of a kunstelroman and Pinball is a wonderfully subtle exploration of grief, moving on, and obsession that still meanders in a way that later Murakami books for all their digressions do not. A 2.5 star book and a 3.5 star book so 3. Still not sure what the twins are, though.

deneenernst's review against another edition

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emotional reflective

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

3.0

percy_roy's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective 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

4.25

kristidurbs's review against another edition

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2.0

My first Murakami read and a strange one probably to start with. I've heard too many good things about Murakami for this to be my last read by him. These two novellas were his first, and (we're told) not at all like subsequent works. The first, Wind, hooked me early. The second, Pinball, lost me early. For the latter, all I can say is that the structure echoed its namesake: like a pinball machine, a ball ricocheting from side to side, we go back and forth between two storylines, and two women in the narrator's life, and both narrator and reader are left wondering, what was the point of the game at all?

percivall's review against another edition

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lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

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