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joanamlr's review against another edition
4.0
"En nuestro mundo, “lo que sabemos” y “lo que no sabemos” coexisten en una nebulosa, fatalmente unidos, como hermanos siameses. Caos, caos. ¿Quién diablos puede distinguir el mar de lo que en él se refleja? ¿Puedes tú distinguir entre la lluvia que cae y la soledad? Así pues, renuncio con gallardía a separar el conocimiento del desconocimiento. Éste es mi punto de partida. Un terrible punto de partida, tal vez. Pero las personas necesitan partir de algún punto. ¿No es así? En consecuencia, tema y estilo, sujeto y objeto, causa y consecuencia, yo y las articulaciones de mis manos, todo se toma como una unidad indivisible. Todo el polvo esparcido por el suelo de la cocina es una única cosa, una mezcla de sal y pimienta y harina y fécula de patata."
"Es que, cuando te disparan, sangras."
"Es que, cuando te disparan, sangras."
beelo268's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
bbildanainat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
4.75
So that’s how we live our lives. No matter how deep and fatal the loss, no matter how important the thing that’s stolen from us—that’s snatched right out of our hands—even if we are left completely changed, with only the outer layer of skin from before, we continue to play out our lives this way, in silence. We draw ever nearer to the end of our allotted span of time, bidding it farewell as it trails off behind. Repeating, often adroitly, the endless deeds of the everyday. Leaving behind a feeling of immeasurable emptiness.
dreamydes's review against another edition
4.0
(4.5 stars) it’s not a murakami novel without a beautiful ending that is completely up to interpretation. he writes about longing and loneliness is such a personal way you can feel the yearning through the pages.
beac3's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
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? No
1.0
laurans's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
irxren's review against another edition
2.0
The book talks about love hitting you like a tornado, but sadly, it didn't pack the punch I expected. Compared to the author's other works, this one felt a bit weak. The Murakami magic just didn't show up for me. On the upside, Sputnik Sweetheart was anything but predictable. Around the halfway mark, the story takes a turn with a character disappearing on a Greek island and a trippy Ferris wheel ride.
However, the reason behind the disappearance isn't a mystery; it's more about magical realism. Instead of moving the story forward, we are told about pasts of the characters. Despite themes of loneliness and yearning, the female characters, Sumire and Miu, didn't evoke much emotion in me. As the story unfolded, I stopped caring about any of them. While there's nothing I hated or got angry about, the book just didn't grab or entertain me.
However, the reason behind the disappearance isn't a mystery; it's more about magical realism. Instead of moving the story forward, we are told about pasts of the characters. Despite themes of loneliness and yearning, the female characters, Sumire and Miu, didn't evoke much emotion in me. As the story unfolded, I stopped caring about any of them. While there's nothing I hated or got angry about, the book just didn't grab or entertain me.
theuncultured's review against another edition
2.0
"It’s enough just to sit here in a cafe, sniff the smell of the city, like a dog might, listen to voices and sounds, and gaze at the faces of the people passing by."
I was idle enough one day to attempt another go at Sputnik Sweetheart. I originally gave it a one-star rating with the intention of never opening it up again. I knew what drew me away from the book the first time (see: the deep/undeep feelings of Sumine who is ultimately a wannabe writer, her obsession with being elsewhere on a shallow scheme that only looked good for pictures, the "love at first sight"/"love because why not?" feelings of the characters, the incessant mansplaining by the narrator...)
However, the book wasn't nearly as horrible as I previously thought. I mean, it had its redeeming moments, some passages were lovely enough to copy down, and the second half of the book easily made it up for me. Murakami isn't the best teller of tales here, he's kind of boring to be honest. His straightforwardness contained a certain austere aesthetic that I wouldn't normally link to "good prose." The writing was mostly on the corny side (and I don't know if this is because of the translation?) I had to roll my eyes every time the main character started to self-deprecate, it was uncomfortable and very very old.
But as this turned out to be an overall gentle read, I must up my previous rating.
I was idle enough one day to attempt another go at Sputnik Sweetheart. I originally gave it a one-star rating with the intention of never opening it up again. I knew what drew me away from the book the first time (see: the deep/undeep feelings of Sumine who is ultimately a wannabe writer, her obsession with being elsewhere on a shallow scheme that only looked good for pictures, the "love at first sight"/"love because why not?" feelings of the characters, the incessant mansplaining by the narrator...)
However, the book wasn't nearly as horrible as I previously thought. I mean, it had its redeeming moments, some passages were lovely enough to copy down, and the second half of the book easily made it up for me. Murakami isn't the best teller of tales here, he's kind of boring to be honest. His straightforwardness contained a certain austere aesthetic that I wouldn't normally link to "good prose." The writing was mostly on the corny side (and I don't know if this is because of the translation?) I had to roll my eyes every time the main character started to self-deprecate, it was uncomfortable and very very old.
But as this turned out to be an overall gentle read, I must up my previous rating.