Reviews tagging 'Child death'

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

17 reviews

applescarlett's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Death, Grief, Pedophilia, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicide

Moderate: Rape and Sexual assault

ameliap_xo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

5.0

SADDEST BOOK EVER. I am thinking about it MONTHS later. Difficult read at points and tons of trigger warnings but is very reflective. Main character I found morally ambiguous but Murakami writes it so well that you still find yourself backing him at points.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Rape, Suicide, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, and Child death

flamesocks's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mental illness, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

paperandwax's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Grief, Infidelity, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

bweeb's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

As a first time reader of Murakami, I didn't know quite what to expect; whether the book would be emotional, light-hearted, disappointing. To say the least, this book was extremely emotional, for me at least, and left me feeling completely drained and empty. Murakami's matter of fact style writing was refreshing yet deeply touching; I felt myself moved to tears several times throughout the book. Sometimes, often rather, I would be too moved to continue reading and first had to process what I just read. 

As for the ending of the novel - at first I was left a bit puzzled, then I reached my own interpretation, whether or not it is what was intended I am unsure of. For me, I saw his delusion / slip out of reality as him inheriting the 'illness' from Naoko, that she inherited from Kizuki the night she 'moved on' from him (the night Toru and her slept together. As for Toru, he inherits the 'illness' when he 'moves on' by calling Midori; although this is a rather grim interpretation, I myself feel it is what suits my understanding of the novel as a whole the best. To add on however, of course he chooses not to commit, unlike Naoko and Kizuki, as the novel begins with him recalling these events. This isn't to say that he isn't 'ill', as were Naoko and Kizuki, but chose to continue living for whatever reason. Furthermore, I think Midori's and his relationship is important to note for the ending because when afflicted by depression/suicidality/etc., as is stated earlier, no amount of love from any person can help; meaning he had to choose to live, Midori did not pull him out of it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Sexual content, and Suicide

Moderate: Pedophilia

Minor: Pregnancy

deadmosquitoonmywall's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

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

5.0

It's romance based. Good if you don't mind s*x. I cried so hard.
Major trigger warning on this book for s**cide.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship

seven people die and only 2 of them didn't go by suicide

vv2iiyyl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

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

4.5

for the most part, i really enjoyed this book. it is so full of life and complexity. the dynamic between toru, midori, and naoko was fascinating. although, i thought toru was kind of the epitome of a ‘nice guy’. my only Real problem lies with the grotesque depiction of reiko’s sexual encounter with her student and, in general, the graphic sexual descriptions of various female characters (i.e., comparing reiko’s breasts to those of a “little girl”). however, i would definitely reread this book and recommend it to others.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Suicide attempt