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kimgutt82's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ifollowedthatrabbit's review against another edition
3.0
This book contains 17 short stories. The first one is called "The Wind-Up Bird and Tuesday's Women", which is a bit different from the fisrt chapter of the book "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle", which I read years ago and really liked. Sadly, I can't say the same about the next stories. I didn't like them. I never thought I wouldn't like a story by Murakami, but here I am. Then, I started to enjoy the story called "Sleep", but I felt kind of disappointed by the ending.
Nevertheless, I really liked "A Slow Boat To China", "The Dancing Dwarf", and "The Elephant Vanishes".
Nevertheless, I really liked "A Slow Boat To China", "The Dancing Dwarf", and "The Elephant Vanishes".
corneliabull's review
koste meg veldig! Likte selvfølgelig noen fortellinger bedre enn andre, men alt i alt veldig fornøyd:) elsker også bøker med short stories<3
jenny_hedberg's review against another edition
4.0
Ten things I have learnt from this book:
1. Don't trust dancing dwarves, they're probably plotting to possess your body.
2. Hold on to those close to you if you ever meet a person who burns barns.
3. Not robbing bakeries when you were young can become a problem later in life.
4. Noboru Watanabe is everywhere.
5. Never ask your wife to buy you lederhosen, unless you don't like her.
6. Be cautious when there's something missing in your life; weird things may happen.
7. Murakami's Japanese men seem to have severe problems with self-confidence.
8. Silence is a terrible thing.
9. Don't bring up your Sherlockian obsessions when flirting - it will become really awkward.
10. Finally, people are prepared to do horrible things to feel superior, especially when they are afraid.
1. Don't trust dancing dwarves, they're probably plotting to possess your body.
2. Hold on to those close to you if you ever meet a person who burns barns.
3. Not robbing bakeries when you were young can become a problem later in life.
4. Noboru Watanabe is everywhere.
5. Never ask your wife to buy you lederhosen, unless you don't like her.
6. Be cautious when there's something missing in your life; weird things may happen.
7. Murakami's Japanese men seem to have severe problems with self-confidence.
8. Silence is a terrible thing.
9. Don't bring up your Sherlockian obsessions when flirting - it will become really awkward.
10. Finally, people are prepared to do horrible things to feel superior, especially when they are afraid.
dilaraguney's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
em8297's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
suvata's review against another edition
5.0
I was on a mission to read read all of Haruki Murakami’s works. This is the last one I had to read to fulfill my commitment. I connect to his writing in a profound way. I can’t wait for him to publish another novel but, alas, I am forced to.
alan_santos's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
astrodish's review against another edition
2.0
It was fine. A mix of short stories that told me the same thing over and over.
Maybe don't read all at once break it up between other books so you don't get bored.
Now I'm going to have a small mini rant that feel free to ignore
Ok
Ready?
I have such a love/annoyance with this author.
Let me start by saying I think he's great at what he does. He does have a way of making the mundane seem somewhat magical and effortless. I love his background owning a club and just deciding to write. And that he's seen as a writing rock star in Japan. That he's so successful that it's been translated to so many different languages. And he's talked about in writing courses in college for what he's doing right. That's great.
You will know your reading Murakami because it will have Jazz, Spaghetti, a mysterious woman and seen through the eyes of someone jaded enough to deal with it all and it will still seem bittersweet. That's not an insult or me hating it but it's all there in every book I can think of on the top of my head.
I think the problems come in when people decide to put him on a pedestal (and they do) for writing the same themes over and over. I could (and have) argued that he's just like that "blockbuster/top40" authors you see everywhere.
That he can do no wrong and "omg have you even read Murakami ?" Or "isn't he a genius?" and I swear I've been judged by having him on my bookshelf. People think I must have great taste because he's such a "smart" author. I'm not smarter or more enlightened (snort) because 1Q84 is sitting there.
I never got some profound knowledge from reading his work and I don't think your suppose to. I think that he wrote a book with things he liked and it did come out beautiful. So he did it again. And again.
That's ok and if any of his books changed your life that's great but can we step away from being book snobs and just read it to enjoy it and to not throw your literary tastes in other people's faces? Im not better or worse for reading Murakami vs J.R. Ward. You should read what makes you happy because at the end of the day your not waisting anyone's time but your own. Well that's my ted talk
Thanks for reading
SJ
Maybe don't read all at once break it up between other books so you don't get bored.
Now I'm going to have a small mini rant that feel free to ignore
Ok
Ready?
I have such a love/annoyance with this author.
Let me start by saying I think he's great at what he does. He does have a way of making the mundane seem somewhat magical and effortless. I love his background owning a club and just deciding to write. And that he's seen as a writing rock star in Japan. That he's so successful that it's been translated to so many different languages. And he's talked about in writing courses in college for what he's doing right. That's great.
You will know your reading Murakami because it will have Jazz, Spaghetti, a mysterious woman and seen through the eyes of someone jaded enough to deal with it all and it will still seem bittersweet. That's not an insult or me hating it but it's all there in every book I can think of on the top of my head.
I think the problems come in when people decide to put him on a pedestal (and they do) for writing the same themes over and over. I could (and have) argued that he's just like that "blockbuster/top40" authors you see everywhere.
That he can do no wrong and "omg have you even read Murakami ?" Or "isn't he a genius?" and I swear I've been judged by having him on my bookshelf. People think I must have great taste because he's such a "smart" author. I'm not smarter or more enlightened (snort) because 1Q84 is sitting there.
I never got some profound knowledge from reading his work and I don't think your suppose to. I think that he wrote a book with things he liked and it did come out beautiful. So he did it again. And again.
That's ok and if any of his books changed your life that's great but can we step away from being book snobs and just read it to enjoy it and to not throw your literary tastes in other people's faces? Im not better or worse for reading Murakami vs J.R. Ward. You should read what makes you happy because at the end of the day your not waisting anyone's time but your own. Well that's my ted talk
Thanks for reading
SJ
grace_k_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Recommended if you like: obscurity, an extremely complicated home stereo system, being a little quirky, memories, recounting your life story to a stranger, an overactive imagination, being unlikeable.