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Too many graphic descriptions. The story is just not interesting (although I do want to find out if the cat came back).
All the characters seem detached somehow.
Quite depressing.
All the characters seem detached somehow.
Quite depressing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, War
Minor: Rape
This is only in the first 157 pages. There may be more graphic or explicit detail further on.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
I seriously considered starting this book again as soon as it came to a close. A close companion in feeling to Blue Velvet, with just as much uncomfortable material, but a more brilliant constellation of supporting characters, and (of course) more questionable protagonist decisions.
If I had read this when I was younger it would have built my personality wholesale, and as it stands, it brings a lot of things into focus, especially which things are importantly outside of focus.
If I had read this when I was younger it would have built my personality wholesale, and as it stands, it brings a lot of things into focus, especially which things are importantly outside of focus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, War
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Trafficking, Abortion
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Genocide, Incest
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence
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
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Read it quickly. This masterpiece isn't meant to be drawn out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, War
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Damn. Damn, damn, damn. This is a phenomenal work of literature that I’m confident has the complexity and density to be looked back upon as a masterpiece. It is truly unlike very many books of its time: Murakami is a master of motif and theme, ensuring that his characters just barely think they know each other, and ensuring that each of those characters is completely imperceptible from one another. Only we, the reader, can bridge that divide. His unique brand of magical realism meshes with vivid settings and diverse characters that create this world that feels so real, in more ways than one.
This is a book about desires and the subconscious with a little bit of Imperial Japanese history thrown in as a wonderful way to ground the novel and really bring it home. It’s confusing at first but grows increasingly clear the more and more we learn about the plot. Toru Okada is not the most interesting protagonist in the world, but that’s the point: the things that happen to him are so extraordinary and strange that by the end of the novel, he’s grown so much and yet he’s almost exactly the same. He just… makes more sense.
Maybe we’re the ordinary ones and this book is pulling us away from what we think we know. That’s how I see it, anyway.
Definitely reading more Haruki Murakami.
This is a book about desires and the subconscious with a little bit of Imperial Japanese history thrown in as a wonderful way to ground the novel and really bring it home. It’s confusing at first but grows increasingly clear the more and more we learn about the plot. Toru Okada is not the most interesting protagonist in the world, but that’s the point: the things that happen to him are so extraordinary and strange that by the end of the novel, he’s grown so much and yet he’s almost exactly the same. He just… makes more sense.
Maybe we’re the ordinary ones and this book is pulling us away from what we think we know. That’s how I see it, anyway.
Definitely reading more Haruki Murakami.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Vomit, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexual violence
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This isn't my favorite of Murakami's novels. It features his classic young protagonist who loses both job and wife, and proceeds to do nothing much but make very strange friends (acquaintances?) who either tell him their life stories or come onto him very strongly. Somehow Murakami uses this same structure often and still makes completely new stories.
I love Murakami's writing style. He's both straightforward, and roundabout. Descriptively realistic and still wildly fantastical. But this novel didn't do as much for me as his others. I'm not exactly sure what it was (or wasn't) because the main character was definitely more likeable to me than the lead of Norwegian Wood. I liked the side stories, especially the war time ones, even if it was uncomfortable at times to read. I think the overall feeling of this book just vibed with me a little less.
Also- just a little warning if you haven't read it yet. It's not horror but there are rather graphic descriptions of gore and violence and it feels pretty horrific at times. All of Murakami's stuff is definitely adult rated but this one is a more specific-to-horror type feeling.
If you don't like dark reading this one isn't for you.
I love Murakami's writing style. He's both straightforward, and roundabout. Descriptively realistic and still wildly fantastical. But this novel didn't do as much for me as his others. I'm not exactly sure what it was (or wasn't) because the main character was definitely more likeable to me than the lead of Norwegian Wood. I liked the side stories, especially the war time ones, even if it was uncomfortable at times to read. I think the overall feeling of this book just vibed with me a little less.
Also- just a little warning if you haven't read it yet. It's not horror but there are rather graphic descriptions of gore and violence and it feels pretty horrific at times. All of Murakami's stuff is definitely adult rated but this one is a more specific-to-horror type feeling.
If you don't like dark reading this one isn't for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, War, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Rape, Vomit, Abortion