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klaralyle's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
sinfell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have read several of Murakami’s stories, but I feel his more realistic works have their own sort of surrealism to it that any fantastical plot points feels completely unnecessary.
Plus Midori is in this book, so that should be reason enough to give it 5 stars.
Graphic: Death, Self harm, Suicide, Grief, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
bella613's review against another edition
- 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 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.
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
abril6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, and Alcohol
countdraculahimself's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, and Grief
disgustingmeg_reads83's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail
soniaaaaaaaa's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
i would also check the trigger warnings before reading, some stuff i read i didnt expect and it was quite disturbing
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault
Minor: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Lesbophobia
janainthebooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Minor: Classism
soubi1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicide
fiona_sch's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer