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A review by rknuttel
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
3.0
Probs 3 1/2 stars?
A friend lent this to me like 2 years ago (no lie) and I finally got around to reading it. It was not what I expected. He's a big Murakami fan, and this is my first of his books.
I was surprised by how easy it was to read. Just by Murakami's reputation, I figured I would kind of have to slog through it. But the language was simple yet compelling. Even translated, there is a distinctly Japanese feel too it. By sure if I can describe it in more depth than that... I did want to know what happened in the story, so even in the odder parts, I managed to push easily through.
I had some issues though. Lots of objectifying and kinda gross comments on women. I feel like women were frequently reduced to a dum of their parts. And it made me feel a bit gross sometimes.
The other thing that bugged me was that a lot felt unresolved. There were so many story lines that were started, expanded on, and then left hanging. I have been informed that Murakami does this frequently, adding things without explaining them, because he wants you to figure out how they're connected.
But I'm not that kind of reader.
The finger thing, the magical death guy in the woods, the swimmer friend who disappears, the details of the friend's death? There were so many things that just felt random and unconnected. Maybe in an English class, with someone explaining them to me, I would get it. It seems like a book that would benefit from that. But as I am not a "deep reader," I remain confused.
All in all, better than I expected, but still kinda weird.
A friend lent this to me like 2 years ago (no lie) and I finally got around to reading it. It was not what I expected. He's a big Murakami fan, and this is my first of his books.
I was surprised by how easy it was to read. Just by Murakami's reputation, I figured I would kind of have to slog through it. But the language was simple yet compelling. Even translated, there is a distinctly Japanese feel too it. By sure if I can describe it in more depth than that... I did want to know what happened in the story, so even in the odder parts, I managed to push easily through.
I had some issues though. Lots of objectifying and kinda gross comments on women. I feel like women were frequently reduced to a dum of their parts. And it made me feel a bit gross sometimes.
The other thing that bugged me was that a lot felt unresolved. There were so many story lines that were started, expanded on, and then left hanging. I have been informed that Murakami does this frequently, adding things without explaining them, because he wants you to figure out how they're connected.
But I'm not that kind of reader.
The finger thing, the magical death guy in the woods, the swimmer friend who disappears, the details of the friend's death? There were so many things that just felt random and unconnected. Maybe in an English class, with someone explaining them to me, I would get it. It seems like a book that would benefit from that. But as I am not a "deep reader," I remain confused.
All in all, better than I expected, but still kinda weird.