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qstew's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Misogyny, Murder, Stalking, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Kidnapping, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Mass/school shootings, Body shaming, Gun violence, Alcohol, and Classism
Minor: Suicide attempt, Confinement, and Torture
kypo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, and Suicide
bites_of_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Murakami can write really beautiful passages but this 1000+ book was just way too long and about 40% of it was just boring descriptions of mundane things. I do enjoy it when an author takes care to describe certain details but this was just too much.
We follow Aomame, a young woman who climbs down a staircase off a freeway and finds herself in a seemingly different world from her own. On the other hand we also follow Tengo, a young man who is tasked with ghostwriting a novel for a teenage girl by his editor. Aomame and Tengo live different lives and the first Book in this novel is spent trying to figure out how they fit together.
The themes explored in this book go from loneliness, religion, the power of literature, broken family dynamics, and more. Some of it did feel visceral and real, but others were just explored over repetitive and overdone writing.
Then there are all the descriptions of women and anyone who isn't perfectly attractive in the author's eyes... it was just awful. The mysoginy was rampant throughout as well as deeply uncomfortable descriptions of certain intimate encounters that left me feeling like chucking the book in a corner and going for a walk.
I do not recommend this novel, it's not magical realism in my eyes, it's fantasy/sci-fi. It's entirely way too long for what it is and it's not enjoyable in the least.
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Rape, Abandonment, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Torture, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, Body horror, Body shaming, Cancer, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Animal death, Confinement, Misogyny, Murder, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, and Lesbophobia
erosencrantz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Pedophilia
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Suicide
rafagina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Death, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Murder, Abandonment, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Medical content, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, and Violence
mxpringle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Death, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicide, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Torture
Minor: Gore
spiralingoaks's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual content
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Murder
isaospina's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
It took me a while, the beginning is tough, Murakami female characters are... Sexist at best but once you go through the first book you learn to swallow it.
The second book was my favorite, it's where the plot thickens and the entire cult-murder deal is right down my alley. It's also the book that took me less time to read as I didn't have to deal with countless descriptions of boobs.
Third book was Ok, I guess. It did feel like Aomame's character took some steps backwards. But the ending made me smile, so I'll give it that.
Not gonna lie, s my first Murakami read I don't feel excited for more, nor feel the need to blacklist him from authors I read or will read. Still this book is a little over the place, with too much repetition and plot holes, also sexism and flat as tortilla female characters. If you can power through that, it's an entertaining read.
I know he doesn't get better with female characters but I believe there must be better books that give him the reputation he has, this one isn't one of them.
Graphic: Death, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, and Torture
sumaiyaa's review against another edition
As soon as I reached around 100 pages, I knew this was not for me. Too much sex scenes, sexualizing women (sometimes men), mentions weird kinks which got absolutely no connection with the main plot. Halfway through the book the description got so repetitive and boring. MCs thoughts were overly emphasized. The plot kept stretching like rubber band, then suddenly snapped and hit my face. I realized I cannot do this to myself anymore.
Another thing is the characters. Extremely dry and unlovable. Sure, sad thoughts and imaginations are inevitable but ever heard of "normal" thinking? I personally could not see any character development, just two MCs being carried on with the flow. No self-will or self-esteem. I also could not find any "average" character until 800 pages at least. The nearest one would be Komatsu ig.
Although I must say, Murakami's imagination was impressive. Two moons and new world slowly taking over reality (idk what is the reality anymore tbh) inspirations from Famous authors like Goerge Orwell. But I think that was made too apparent. It seems like every character had read all classic books which was unbelievable for me. Personally I only know one person who'd read at least single one (except for pride and prejudice lol)
Reading 1q84 was like running on a round track. There was no prominent goal or conclusion. Or even Moral. I know for sure that if I had finished this book I'd ask myself "so what was the author's point?" Maybe there are readers who would enjoy based on the process only. But for me and I am sure for most of you guys, I need a lesson, maybe even a point learned, just like a hunter brings a catch back home.
Keep in mind that I overlooked cliches like "first love" of both MCs during primary school, who are still chasing that and it's been more than a decade. How can a girl grabbing your hand for 20s make you fall for her for 15 yrs (or more)?? Without even meeting once after that? She must have emitted some radiation or woteva into your brain when you guys made the eye contact. looks like I have ended up ranting about this as well 😂
So yeah, in conclusion I could not finish it. I don't normally DNF books but this was not it. It's my 2nd ever DNF. My standards aren't high, it's just that when bad (it's a general term ik) overrides goodness, I do not find it worth my time.
Thanks for reading guyz.
Graphic: Sexual content, Murder, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, and Domestic abuse
Too much sex and details.kibiiiariii's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Acephobia/Arophobia, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Pedophilia, Biphobia, Cancer, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Abandonment, Blood, Death of parent, Infertility, Abortion, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Violence, and Toxic friendship