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geonox's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Torture, War, Violence, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abortion, Child death, and Child abuse
natattack17's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: War, Sexual content, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault and Child abuse
Minor: Abortion and Suicide
maybealexisreading's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Torture, Blood, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
Minor: Sexism and Xenophobia
jckurtz's review
- 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
2.5
Graphic: War, Violence, Gore, and Rape
acecatlady's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: War and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual violence
grace_ocb's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: War, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Rape
elyselani's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Gore, Death, Violence, War, Suicide, Torture, and Sexual violence
verbamatic's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, War, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment
m4rtt4's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I read this in English a couple years ago and it didn't hit me quite as hard as Murakami's other thicker novels, thought it was just a language issue and now re-read it in my native tongue. Turns out it wasn't the language, it was the story or maybe me. Not bad this time either, a solid more-than-three-stars, even better if you exclude the excessive #menwritingwomen scenes Murakami's unfortunately known for – and this time, sexualising a minor?? Poor Mei/May. My favourite scenes were the ones set around the war times Lieutenant Mamiya's story and Akasaka Muscot's childhood, though I also liked the Kano sisters and Mei/May a lot and let's be honest, plot-wise there wasn't much to dislike, just not much to really love either.
Graphic: Blood, Abortion, Murder, Torture, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, and War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Misogyny
maia313's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As with all murakami books, the magical realism, the feeling of being in a dream is ever present, but this felt slower paced than some of his other books.
The beginning had me invested, and the ending I found exciting and well written- however I did get slightly stuck in the middle, where it seemed a bit too slow for me and it took me longer to finish. Again as is common with Murakami, lots of things are left unanswered, Chekhov's guns are not fired, which can feel unfirfilling to some- this aspect, due only to the style of his works, I don't mind, although in this book I did feel like it was building up to something that didn't necessarily arrive.
This book also had long interludes from stories told by other characters, some of which I liked and found really interesting, especially those by lieutenant Mamiya, although some I found myself skimming and wanting to get back to the main story. That being said, the main character's interactions with these outside characters is something that really makes the book.
Overall I did really enjoy reading this book and it's one I think about after having completed it. The slow middle is evened out by either side of it to make it not my favourite book by his, but very enjoyable nonetheless and one I would recommend to someone who is willing to invest time into a book and doesn't need to have incredibly fast paced action!
Graphic: Violence, Rape, and War
Minor: Incest