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challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Blood
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Having never read Murakami, I feel that this book touches every critique I’ve heard from others that have read Murakami’s books. Sexism, excessive gore and violence, and overwrought excess scenes. For the good, anyone interested in surrealist, dreamlike mysteries this is a deep dive into these themes. Murakami weaves Twin Peaks-esque mystical surrealism and his complex, flawed, and confused narrator to create a novel that feels meaningful and profound yet superficial and easy to consume, much in the same way a dream feels just after you wake up. Ultimately, I have never read a book quite like this and am happy to have finished it but would not recommend it to a reader unless they’re interested in the specific qualities I’ve mentioned here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, War
I did like it, even though there were disturbing scenes of violence and it was deeply sexist. It was just such a work of imagination and so unselfconscious. He's a product of a sexist culture (as am I, as are most of us), so of course since he writes in such an unpurposeful and non-deliberate manner, his writing will reflect that. In an interview he said "I’m not a thinker, or a critic, or a social activist. I’m just a novelist. If someone tells me that my work is flawed when viewed through a particular ism, or could have used a bit more thought, all that I can do is offer a sincere apology and say, 'I’m sorry.' I’ll be the first guy to apologize."
I do feel like my curiousity about his work has been satisfied and don't care to read more as this is reputed to be his masterpiece (and least sexist novel). I do want to read his short story "Sleep" sometime because I read that the first person narrator was a well-developed female character and that it was a wonderful story.
I do feel like my curiousity about his work has been satisfied and don't care to read more as this is reputed to be his masterpiece (and least sexist novel). I do want to read his short story "Sleep" sometime because I read that the first person narrator was a well-developed female character and that it was a wonderful story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Incest, Suicide, Vomit
Minor: Abortion
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape
I REALLY wanted to like this book. At first, I was intrigued by Murakami's storytelling. I was enjoying the bits and pieces that reminded me of the Monogatari series by Nisio Isin, who cited Murkami as one of his biggest influences. However, I was not okay with the misogyny in the book. None of the women could pass the Bechdel Test. Also, they were just so sexualized and the gender roles + stereotyping were as clear as day. Overall, very disappointed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
honestly not totally sure wtf i just read but i enjoyed the journey
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault, Abortion
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A new drinking game: take a shot every time Murakami mentions someone's breasts.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Murder, War
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Misogyny
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, War
I chose this book to be my first proper Murakami because, as description said, it's a collection of all the typical Murakami elements, and of course the cover is absolutely stunning. The cover is also the only thing that could make me regret not finishing or liking this book. I'm over a 100 pages in, and so far, despite lots of things happening and many many words, it feels like the book lacks real substance. What really makes me uncomfortable though (and it is the main reason for me dnf-ing this book) is the way Murakami writes women or about women. Associating a teenager with a woman who propositioned him phone sex? Talking about violent rape and forced prostitution like it's a weather forecast and then having a wet dream about the sane woman woman? Sounds a tiny bit disturbing to me, no thank you very much. I doubt I'll ever give Murakami another try after this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Pedophilia