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dedavond's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Suicide, and Alcohol
rowannn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Toru Watanabe is the most infuriating main character I have ever read. This book is ripe with trauma and frankly the end was absolute bullshit but it explores grief and loss well. As much as I hated the romance in this, the character studies were interesting. The female characters were the perfect example of women written by men but theres no denying that Murakami's style of writing does have a certain allure to it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Suicide, and Grief
stephdavis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
I’ve never found it so hard to rate a book in my life.
On one hand, Murakami’s writing (and therefore Ruben’s translation) is so evocative and transportive, I feel an innate understanding of early 1970s Japan. It also means I find myself feeling complete sympathy for all his emotionally traumatised characters at first.
However, if any of these characters were to be a real person telling me their stories, nine times out of ten I’d be horrified (one time in particular). Watanabe, our narrator, is so deeply insular it could be described as narcissistic, but has no issue spending time commenting on everyone else’s flaws. I was at a constant back and forth about if I loved or hated his character.
In addition, the constant reference to sex is quite jarring and (while I’m no prude) feels like it takes away from what is otherwise a deeply philosophical perspective of love, life and death.
Overall, I couldn’t put it down, but I also couldn’t stop myself from thinking, “what the fuck?”. I’m still confused.
On one hand, Murakami’s writing (and therefore Ruben’s translation) is so evocative and transportive, I feel an innate understanding of early 1970s Japan. It also means I find myself feeling complete sympathy for all his emotionally traumatised characters at first.
However, if any of these characters were to be a real person telling me their stories, nine times out of ten I’d be horrified (one time in particular). Watanabe, our narrator, is so deeply insular it could be described as narcissistic, but has no issue spending time commenting on everyone else’s flaws. I was at a constant back and forth about if I loved or hated his character.
In addition, the constant reference to sex is quite jarring and (while I’m no prude) feels like it takes away from what is otherwise a deeply philosophical perspective of love, life and death.
Overall, I couldn’t put it down, but I also couldn’t stop myself from thinking, “what the fuck?”. I’m still confused.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
rubywaitweg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Really enjoyed the general reading experience of this book but also felt quite unsure and a bit confused a lot of the time.
Why is everyone obsessed with Toru?? Almost all of the characters (maybe apart from Stormtrooper?) find him to be extraordinary in some way. In reality he seems to have a pretty average (and kinda boring?) personality. He’s also pretty emotionally distant and has sex with every woman in the book when they’re in extremely vulnerable states? Made me feel quite uncomfortable, especially bc they all seem to have amazing sexual experiences?? Just didn’t seem realistic to me and made me question the male (/just misogynistic?) perspective
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual violence
erikajoy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
Minor: Grief
glacialis's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Terminal illness
Moderate: Suicide
exlibris_asrc's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
i wouldn’t be surprised if the wood in norwegian wood was alluding to a boner. nothing but whining, misogyny and senseless name-drops like ok we get it they all like Bach and you read American literature. this is just a horny Catcher in the Rye glazed with heavy(er) misogyny. i don’t care if people like it - whatever - but if this was Murakami’s way of challenging himself to write a “straight” and “simple” story then all he is without his dreamscapes is a massive pervert. pick another book.
⚠️ oh and by the way, the “romantic love scene” was SA ⚠️
i can only manage to stomach a 2-star rating but i give it a 5/5 on grossness.
⚠️ oh and by the way, the “romantic love scene” was SA ⚠️
i can only manage to stomach a 2-star rating but i give it a 5/5 on grossness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Suicide
emamoretti03's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Devo dire che all'inizio non lo stavo apprezzando particolarmente. Ho letto prima altri libri di murakami a cui ho dato tutti 5 stelle, tra cui 1Q84, l'assassinio del commendatore e kafka sulla spiaggia. Ma questo non mi ha trasmesso le stesse sensazioni. Ho però apprezzato molto la retorica sulla morte e sul suicidio di questo romanzo e la specularità tra i rapporti tra Watanabe/Midori-Naoko/Kizuki.
Forse un po' troppo sesso, ogni 20/30 pagine c'è qualche scena di sesso o qualche discorso sul sesso, un po' too much, negli altri libri di Murakami non era ricorrente fino a questo punto
Forse un po' troppo sesso, ogni 20/30 pagine c'è qualche scena di sesso o qualche discorso sul sesso, un po' too much, negli altri libri di Murakami non era ricorrente fino a questo punto
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
kandisebrown's review against another edition
slow-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? Yes
2.0
Mediocre man has sex with every (deeply damaged) woman he encounters. 🙄
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child abuse, Mental illness, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Sexual harassment
rooy_soga's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
- Karakter yang beragam dengan berbagai kompleksitas permasalahan masing-masing membuat pembaca bisa bersimpati dengan apa yang mereka lalui.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content