Reviews

Cult X by Fuminori Nakamura

sngsweelian's review

3.0

DNF

readwithev's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

⚠️ this book is very graphic and has many disturbing topics⚠️ 
 Pros:

• Multiple POVs with different genders and ages
• Unreliable narrators
• Unique and distinct voices
• Flashbacks
• A few characters have long monologues that may seem confusing but ultimately convey alot about their psyche, religious beliefs, etc.

Cons:

• ⚠️graphic and triggering
• Due to the abusive behavior some of the male characters, women are occasionally described in derogatory and belittling ways
• Lots of characters, sometimes difficult to remember all of them.

In order to truly appreciate and understand this book, I recommend Googling Japan’s work culture, their suicide rates, college entrance exam process, etc. This way you can understand why the characters in this book are experiencing alienation and frustration with their society.

Personally, I really liked this book. It is definitely not going to be for everyone. It has a lot of scenes with physical, sexual, and emotional abuse against women and children. Typical of cult leaders, terrorists and religious extremism, Sawatari (the leader of Cult X) lacks real empathy and compassion; instead, he enjoys manipulating others to feel powerful and only serves himself. He preys on weak, hopeless people to brainwash them and disposes of them without remorse. I was happy to see Narazaki grow a backbone by the end of the book. He slowly overcame his weakness for manipulation and uncontrollable lust for women. Tachibana learns to live without Takahara and takes responsibility for her role in Cult X. Even Meneno starts realizing her obsession and jealousy is childish and confesses to Tachibana.

It’s definitely a dense book and the long monologues about religion, metaphysics, and neuroscience are daunting but I liked them. It helped me understand what all theses characters are looking for - they’re searching for meaning in a world so overcome by war, technology, starvation, apathy, etc. i mean who isn’t?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Kidnapping

Minor: Pedophilia, Blood, Suicide attempt, and War

there are a few very graphic torture, rape, murder, and orgy sex scenes in the book that will be disturbing to many readers.

savvystory's review

3.0

I should hate this book … but I don’t? It’s a philosophical book. So all the heinous acts are part of the exploration of good and evil, of being a human and being part of systems, including a nation and geopolitics. If we’re just a bundle of particles, and nothing matters, and we’re floating along in these big faceless systems, what does matter? I like the book’s answers.

kafkaesquehoney's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

rjsori's review

2.0

2.5

Although, I understood the messages of the book, and at some parts there were instances of good story telling and emotional value, I felt like the book relied too heavily on shock factor to appeal to the reader. Sex was a major component of the book, but it was too over the top for me, and some at points the book was so dense with information I had to put it down to recover, not a terrible book, but it was a really hard read

lori85's review

2.0

Cult X resembles 2666 in many ways, which the design of the English edition (which is gorgeous) seems to deliberately draw attention to with its interior cover depicting an artistic scene of violence and madness. Both books are weighty tomes centered on crime and mystery, but using these as springboards to explore the cosmic darkness surrounding human society. Both are quite graphic, but here is where I think Nakamura falls apart.

Now I've listened to my fair share of "The Last Podcast on the Left" cult episodes about Jonestown, the Children of God, Aum Shinrikyo (the inspiration behind Cult X) et al, so I know there's a lot of weird sex stuff that comes with the territory. But Nakamura's book is just straight up porn. We're meant to find women being raped and treated as blow-up dolls titillating. Even a 15-year-old girl is depicted as ultimately enjoying her violation by a grown man. While Nakamura did have some interesting ideas about spirituality and quantum physics, the whole thing is overshadowed by a rank misogyny. He reminds me of those dudebros who write explicit rape scenes of beautiful women and girls into historical fiction and claim it's for "authenticity." Blech.

theadequategatsby's review

dark reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

3.25

I don’t know what to say about the mass of text and pop philosophy I just read. I enjoyed the plot generally but the book feels all over the place with a lot of philosophical exposition all over the place. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

sea_pier's review

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

poisoned_icecream's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-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

3.5

I don't believe this book deserves all the 1 and 2 star ratings. It's not perfect though so 3.5 is a more suitable rating in my opinion. Despite the horrendous things many of the characters say and do, there are still some positive messages in this book, such as how all human life is valuable. I'm not sure I recommend this though because it's 500 pages and there's a lot of names to remember.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, and Medical content

yaraaria's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

1.0