Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

52 reviews

sas_lk's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.25

I think this is now my second favourite Murakami book. I appreciate what he did with it, though sometimes I felt like some parts were just too long or unnecessary.
He has this way of blending realities and making you question what reality truly is. That's what I love so much about his books. He makes you so aware of how the world around us is always moving, and that maybe it isn't always linear. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder

Moderate: Vomit and Abortion

Minor: Death and Infidelity

ninthwave's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.5

It feels too soon to review this book. I'm giving it three and 1/2 stars for now, but may change that later. I believe I'll have a better understanding after it has had some time to sink in.

As far as basic enjoyment goes, I didn't realize it would be quite so violent. I understand the necessity of it in the narrative, I just didn't expect it going in. If you haven't read it and are considering doing so, it is very graphic.

It's interesting that readers spend so much intimate time with the main character in his head, yet very few of the other characters with whom he interacts ever address him by his first name; indeed, only one character ever addresses him by his first name alone, and only once, as I recall. This decision by the author is an effective technique that increases the sense of distance between the protagonist and his world.

This was well-written, but I preferred 1Q84's story.

It's difficult to assign a star rating. There's plenty of symbolism and some of the prose is beautiful. However, the pacing dragged for me at certain points, and I didn't find the tale as a whole consistently compelling, particularly some of Mamiya's recollections. Comparing Murakami to Murakami, I think 1Q84 is the stronger work.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and War

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Abortion

jacob_dion's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Torture, Suicide attempt, Murder, and War

Moderate: Cursing, Incest, Rape, Violence, Vomit, Car accident, and Abortion

hello_lovely13's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Suicide attempt, and War

Moderate: Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Abortion, and Murder

Minor: Incest and Suicide

directorpurry's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

1.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abortion

toves's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.5

As someone in-between jobs & on a wild goose chase for an indefinable something that is trapped somewhere in an incomprehensible psychic labyrinth--this book really resonated with me. Sometimes you have to go down into the deepest well you can find and just sit there.

This is my second time reading this book--I read it in high school and remembered it being 'dreamlike and chill'. Was very surprised at the level of graphic content. You'd think I would have remembered That One Part in Lt. Mamiya's Long Story, at the very least! Wow!

Thanks to this book I: cooked pasta while listening to the overture to 'The Thieving Magpie' (& I agree with Mr. Wind-up Bird; it's a good time), took photos of my ears, now refer to the ducks at my local park as 'the duck people'. I still want to: write a description of the alley behind my house, spend a day at the mall staring at people's faces.

LISTEN, TLDR: IS THE CAT OK?:

Yes!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Suicide attempt, and War

Moderate: Abortion

Minor: Physical abuse

geonox's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, and War

Minor: Child abuse, Child death, and Abortion

natattack17's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• 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

Wow something about this book really hit. I can completely understand how some readers may not enjoy that story but the writing is beautiful. I almost always enjoy magical realism and this was such a complex story with so many turns, flashbacks, and tales from others but it is a worthwhile reading experience. The only aspect that I did not fully enjoy of understand was the main character, Toru Okada's relationship with a 16 year old girl named May. Aspects of this relationship didn't sit right with me. The character of May herself also toed the line of of being realistic and making me question her sanity. It felt as though the questions she asked and points she brought up although plausible for a 16 year went too far in her obsession with death and direful topics. Also for being described as an undeveloped teen her character felt overly sexualized.

ex. when Toru Okada comments on how she looked good in a bikini or her in a letter to Toru she speaks about feeling the urge to be naked and undressing when thinking about Toru.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, and War

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual assault

Minor: Suicide and Abortion

loveyoutothemoonandtosaturn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

4.0

honestly not totally sure wtf i just read but i enjoyed the journey 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual content

Moderate: Sexual assault and Abortion

saskia6's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

after i finished this book i was sobbing hysterically but i couldn’t possibly say why. this hit me so hard.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Torture, Kidnapping, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion

Minor: Cursing, Death, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Pregnancy, and Alcohol