A review by kennedylamb
The City and Its Uncertain Walls: A Novel by Haruki Murakami

2.75

Haruki Murakami's The City and Its Uncertain Walls is a novel that captivates with its beautiful language and intriguing concept. Murakami's prose is often poetic, with many passages that are a joy to read. The author's unique style and imaginative ideas shine through, making the book a compelling experience on many levels.

However, while the language and concept are strong points, the story's flow left something to be desired. At times, the narrative felt disjointed, with certain sections becoming repetitive. This disrupted the pacing and made it challenging to stay fully engaged. Additionally, the world-building in some parts of the book felt underdeveloped. 

Another aspect that stood out was the portrayal of female characters. Unfortunately, I found the way Murakami writes his female characters to be lacking in depth and nuance. This detracted from the overall experience and left me wanting more well-rounded and realistic portrayals.

In summary, The City and Its Uncertain Walls is a novel with beautiful language and a fascinating concept, but it struggles with pacing and world-building. Murakami's portrayal of female characters also leaves room for improvement. Despite these flaws, fans of Murakami's writing style may still find much to appreciate in this book.