Reviews

Coin Locker Babies by Ryū Murakami

frofox's review

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gunderchump's review against another edition

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

buckyeahice's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

ajisai6's review

3.0

Definitely not for the faint of heart, but if you want to know how much worse your life could be, this is it.

lizzie2408's review

challenging dark medium-paced

• 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

2.75

twott123's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• 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

4.75

rat_guts's review against another edition

challenging dark tense slow-paced

• 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

3.75

vsoulas's review

dark reflective sad tense

3.0

rancid87's review against another edition

medium-paced

• 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

3.5

Magic is always simmering closer to the surface of reality in Japanese fiction and Coin Locker Babies is no exception. A disturbing deep-dive into violence, insanity and the impact trauma has on the body and the mind. I didn't find the plot that compelling and the use of sexism, homophobia and racism were hard to swallow but overall contributed to the vileness of the main characters.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Biphobia, Physical abuse, Excrement, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Racism, Rape, Body horror, Child abuse, Animal death, Sexism, Blood, Self harm, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Hate crime, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Violence, and Homophobia

kozumethan's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Gore, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Homophobia, Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Murder, and Physical abuse