menniemenace's review against another edition
1.0
1.5/5
There is cool weird and there is this. It's genuinely bad.
There is cool weird and there is this. It's genuinely bad.
isoseismic7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It’s been a little bit since I read a Murakami book. So awesome, and I don’t know why!
jesssika's review against another edition
3.0
This was a short, weird read. In it, we follow a young, lonely boy. He returns a book and then asks to get some more books from the library. He's sent to room 107, and from there things get worse. Along the way we meet a mysterious, vanishing girl and a sheep man who will work with the boy to plan their escape from this strange, foreboding library.
This, although written like a child's story, is not for children. If they read it, they may never enter a library and request more books. Filled with imagery and short parts, you traverse the pages with dread lurking at the next page. Holding out hope that in the end, this lonely boy will survive.
Whereas, I thought the premise was fantastic, I was left feeling cheated out of a good ending. Where was the rest, the meat of the story, or what the point of it all was. All I know my brain, however foggy, is still in tact.
This, although written like a child's story, is not for children. If they read it, they may never enter a library and request more books. Filled with imagery and short parts, you traverse the pages with dread lurking at the next page. Holding out hope that in the end, this lonely boy will survive.
Whereas, I thought the premise was fantastic, I was left feeling cheated out of a good ending. Where was the rest, the meat of the story, or what the point of it all was. All I know my brain, however foggy, is still in tact.
elizabeth22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
lily5678's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps I’m just too stupid for Murakami, but I didn’t get this at all. It was too short to evoke any strong feelings, but I do feel weirdly offended by the storyline that libraries are scary and evil places that ought to be avoided.
hollydunndesign's review against another edition
4.0
I was so excited to see this title come into the shop! It’s a novella, or short story, that has been redesigned for publication in English. This is the British Vintage edition and designed by Suzanne Dean and is yet another gorgeous book that proves that physical books are better than e-books (or at least more versatile). There's also the American edition designed by Chip Kidd that I'm dying to get my hands on.
The story itself is weird and wonderful in true Murakami fashion. Set in a library, it is part horror story, part fairy tale. It left me with a slightly unsettled feeling, as Murakami so often does (that’s one of the reasons I love his work), but also a complete reverence for the possibilities of book design. This is definitely one for the collector’s bookshelf, and the perfect present for lovers of books and design.
The story itself is weird and wonderful in true Murakami fashion. Set in a library, it is part horror story, part fairy tale. It left me with a slightly unsettled feeling, as Murakami so often does (that’s one of the reasons I love his work), but also a complete reverence for the possibilities of book design. This is definitely one for the collector’s bookshelf, and the perfect present for lovers of books and design.
youkirmv's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lezliepez's review against another edition
5.0
La sensación de perturbación e inquietud que me había dejado "Sueño, solo se vio amplificado cuando termine de leer La biblioteca secreta, sin duda es un total acierto mezclar a Murakami con Kat Menschik, una historia que sin duda adquiere un sentido más intimo para aquellos que trabajamos en una biblioteca o para los que suelen frecuentarlas.
jessafewpagesin's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the general story but the photos and illustrations—while pretty—didn’t really add much but pages.