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seanhelvey's review against another edition
3.0
I think I'm over Murakami. He's my favorite author of dream fiction, but the end of this story seemed disjointed. It was particularly disappointing because I really enjoyed reading the book.
dyno8426's review against another edition
5.0
It would probably take a genius director to make a movie out of Murakami's stories, which can be considered good and actually appreciated. Otherwise, it will be a collection of random incidents happening across a Japanese landscape, the viewers as clueless as the characters in the story, accompanied by unreal and weird situations without any "logical" explanation whatsoever.
Because Murakami's stories are outlandish (from the stories among literature). Through his extremely simple story-telling style, Murakami is able to make sense through all the situational chaos that ensues in his stories, especially the mental chaos. After reading some stories of his, one can realize the unique and completely new ideas that this author has to offer. His themes are constantly emphasizing the existence of the border between reality and imagination, the body and the mind, logic and inexplicable mystery, which is so easily crossed as falling asleep. The search for love, the curiosity about death and a tragedy wrapped meaningless life, are other universal wrappers which make you feel the reality of confusion which torture the minds of many. There's more to the world around than the surface, with only few conscious of its existence. Like a netherworld which is accessible only through your imagination. And the effects of which reach the "real" world in ways mysterious.
This has to be the best of Murakami's books that I've read; or may be, now only have I come to feel what the author really wants to tell to his readers who dare.
Because Murakami's stories are outlandish (from the stories among literature). Through his extremely simple story-telling style, Murakami is able to make sense through all the situational chaos that ensues in his stories, especially the mental chaos. After reading some stories of his, one can realize the unique and completely new ideas that this author has to offer. His themes are constantly emphasizing the existence of the border between reality and imagination, the body and the mind, logic and inexplicable mystery, which is so easily crossed as falling asleep. The search for love, the curiosity about death and a tragedy wrapped meaningless life, are other universal wrappers which make you feel the reality of confusion which torture the minds of many. There's more to the world around than the surface, with only few conscious of its existence. Like a netherworld which is accessible only through your imagination. And the effects of which reach the "real" world in ways mysterious.
This has to be the best of Murakami's books that I've read; or may be, now only have I come to feel what the author really wants to tell to his readers who dare.
lancefestivalen's review against another edition
2.0
Jag måste nog förklara det låga betyget. Haruki Murakamis smått episka berättelse kretsar kring Toru Okada, som i allför många avseenden påminner om mig själv. Han har en berättarstil (eller om det åtminstone till viss del är översättarnas förtjänst) som jag skulle kunna tänka mig "låna" om jag någonsin kommer till skott och skriver den där debutromanen som ligger oskriven på botten av en uttorkad brunn. Och varannan rad innehåller en så där typiskt asiatisk visdom som bara en typiskt asiatisk asiat kan åstadkomma.
I början kändes det som jag läste en japansk variant på Arto Pasilinna, med de absurda händelserna och det lite kärva i språk och handling hos herr Okada. Men efterhand fördjupades det hela och blev något annat. Sedan tappade han mitt intresse i tredje delen.
"It was ok." Egentligen var den nog bättre än så. Men det är det högsta betyg jag kan ge utan att drabbas av dåligt samvete.
I början kändes det som jag läste en japansk variant på Arto Pasilinna, med de absurda händelserna och det lite kärva i språk och handling hos herr Okada. Men efterhand fördjupades det hela och blev något annat. Sedan tappade han mitt intresse i tredje delen.
"It was ok." Egentligen var den nog bättre än så. Men det är det högsta betyg jag kan ge utan att drabbas av dåligt samvete.
tryne's review against another edition
5.0
I am not good at writing reviews, alot has already been said and I can't add much to it. It was mesmerizing.
But one thing that made this even more magical and mysterious, melodramatic.. was to listen to Ludovico Einaudi piano albums while reading this. The two melted together and are inseparable now to me.
But one thing that made this even more magical and mysterious, melodramatic.. was to listen to Ludovico Einaudi piano albums while reading this. The two melted together and are inseparable now to me.
kathleenwong's review against another edition
4.0
4.5/5: reading this was like what you’d think an arthouse/international film would be if it was a novel
karenakorbin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
isaznz's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
ariane_289's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
navgarcha's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0