A review by seraphimgt
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami

reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I liked it better than Kafka at least. My major issue with this book was how it handled violence against women.
My professor pointed out that many people believe that Murakami is commentating on how many violent and sexual crimes against women go unsolved in Japan, and the rate of these crimes are rising, but that didn't make what happened to Shiro/Yuzu any less uncomfortable to read. Plus, false accusations are incredibly rare so every time I see one portrayed, it kind of pisses me off because it perpetuates and inflates a dangerously inaccurate idea that many misogynists have. I'm not saying Murakami buys into the idea that many women lie about being raped, and the reveal that Shiro HAD in fact been raped by someone, just not Tsukuru I think gives him a little leeway, but it's just uncomfortable.
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