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thecactusprincess's review against another edition
dark
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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Death of parent, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Self harm, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
ficteon's review against another edition
2.5
This book is a rollercoaster and I have very mixed opinions of it. I'll try to keep it spoiler free.
This book would've been amazing! If Murakami kept his weird fetishes, opinions about women and periods and weird view points to himself.
I went from crying to cringing and thats very bizar. I've given other books by Murakami such great ratings (as there he kept his dumb outdated ideas to himself.) Very ironic is that one sentence in the book is on how another book is outdated... which made me laugh, as look at yourself
One thing I loved about this book is how Murakami writes death. He made me sob about characters I've only known for 1 or two sentences. He is a great writer! Just this book has pages after pages with just misinformation and cringeworthy sex.
Can this man stop talking about periods and talk to his wife about them to learn how they work???? Its just embarrassing.
'Im not like other girls'? plenty
Rape fetish? included.
Victim blaming? Yup.
Unconsentual sex? Yesss
No we women don't scream at strangers or friends and become uncontrollable monsters on our periods. Thanks murakami for seeing your wife this way.
The last pages I went from absolutely sad and loving the words to cringing as the mc cums in a women without consent. Not that the women minded ofc, they never do as women are sexdolls in this book.
Some quotes to show the problematic writing:
"Know what I did the other day?" Midori asked. "I got all naked in front of my father's picture. Took off every stitch of clothing and let him have a good long look. Kind of in a yoga position. Like, "here, daddy, these are my tits, and this is my cunt."
"Ok, I'll wear a hat for a couple of days after my period starts. A red one. That should work," she said with a laugh. "If you see me on the street and I'm wearing a red hat, don't talk to me, just run away."
"Great. I wish all girls would do that."
The mc and a girl are going to a porn movie in an adult cinema (its the 70s) and they are watching a s&m rape kidnap fantasy movie where two sisters get kidnapped and raped and ofc like it as porn.
"If I were the younger sister, I wouldn't get worked up so easily" said midori. "I'd keep watching"
Oh people are looking up my skirt??? Mmmmmh I love to be seen as a sex object anyway so idc. Well one thing is right though! The women in this book are not like other girls!! As no real women would react like the women do in this book.
I think from page 100 to 200 it was only bad page after bad page. And then after it kept returning as well again and again but those 100 pages were cruel.
And don't get me started on the pedophilia!!! As the age of consent was (since recently was) 13 Its not seen as pedophilia to mr Murakami that one character had sex with a 13 year old. Yes!! The character was raped by this child. Thats bad! But if you read that part the woman thats raped by the girl is not upset about it being a child, she was actually into it!!! She only rejected having sex WITH A CHILD because it was cheating on her husband. Was she raped - yes! Was she attracted to this 13 year old - Also yes!!! It was absolutely gross.
Again the writing is absolutely stunnningggg. He is just an outdated male writer which is a flaw. It's not all his books and ill keep reading them as they do have a lot to them. Just this one wasn't it at allll. Still it has amazing moments it in it as well so I'm not completely hating it either. See complex relationships with the book.
The emotional writing is stunning. Murakami can make you feel big emotions (even if he ruins that with cringe shit after but ok) His words and way of writing is amazing and in his other two books I read he really does it soooo well.
When it wasn't about the cringeworthy stuff the mc really had some good things to say. It just always got ruined by him saying something bad a second after.
Tw for suicide.. as lots of people kill themselves in this book. You could say its almost the whole plot.
I look forward to reading his other work. But again.. this was not it for me. Even if there is a reason for the grossness (which I don't think so. He is just an old guy born in a conservative society.) The reading experience really got ruined.
This book would've been amazing! If Murakami kept his weird fetishes, opinions about women and periods and weird view points to himself.
I went from crying to cringing and thats very bizar. I've given other books by Murakami such great ratings (as there he kept his dumb outdated ideas to himself.) Very ironic is that one sentence in the book is on how another book is outdated... which made me laugh, as look at yourself
One thing I loved about this book is how Murakami writes death. He made me sob about characters I've only known for 1 or two sentences. He is a great writer! Just this book has pages after pages with just misinformation and cringeworthy sex.
Can this man stop talking about periods and talk to his wife about them to learn how they work???? Its just embarrassing.
'Im not like other girls'? plenty
Rape fetish? included.
Victim blaming? Yup.
Unconsentual sex? Yesss
No we women don't scream at strangers or friends and become uncontrollable monsters on our periods. Thanks murakami for seeing your wife this way.
The last pages I went from absolutely sad and loving the words to cringing as the mc cums in a women without consent. Not that the women minded ofc, they never do as women are sexdolls in this book.
Some quotes to show the problematic writing:
"Know what I did the other day?" Midori asked. "I got all naked in front of my father's picture. Took off every stitch of clothing and let him have a good long look. Kind of in a yoga position. Like, "here, daddy, these are my tits, and this is my cunt."
"Ok, I'll wear a hat for a couple of days after my period starts. A red one. That should work," she said with a laugh. "If you see me on the street and I'm wearing a red hat, don't talk to me, just run away."
"Great. I wish all girls would do that."
The mc and a girl are going to a porn movie in an adult cinema (its the 70s) and they are watching a s&m rape kidnap fantasy movie where two sisters get kidnapped and raped and ofc like it as porn.
"If I were the younger sister, I wouldn't get worked up so easily" said midori. "I'd keep watching"
Oh people are looking up my skirt??? Mmmmmh I love to be seen as a sex object anyway so idc. Well one thing is right though! The women in this book are not like other girls!! As no real women would react like the women do in this book.
I think from page 100 to 200 it was only bad page after bad page. And then after it kept returning as well again and again but those 100 pages were cruel.
And don't get me started on the pedophilia!!! As the age of consent was (since recently was) 13 Its not seen as pedophilia to mr Murakami that one character had sex with a 13 year old. Yes!! The character was raped by this child. Thats bad! But if you read that part the woman thats raped by the girl is not upset about it being a child, she was actually into it!!! She only rejected having sex WITH A CHILD because it was cheating on her husband. Was she raped - yes! Was she attracted to this 13 year old - Also yes!!! It was absolutely gross.
Again the writing is absolutely stunnningggg. He is just an outdated male writer which is a flaw. It's not all his books and ill keep reading them as they do have a lot to them. Just this one wasn't it at allll. Still it has amazing moments it in it as well so I'm not completely hating it either. See complex relationships with the book.
The emotional writing is stunning. Murakami can make you feel big emotions (even if he ruins that with cringe shit after but ok) His words and way of writing is amazing and in his other two books I read he really does it soooo well.
When it wasn't about the cringeworthy stuff the mc really had some good things to say. It just always got ruined by him saying something bad a second after.
Tw for suicide.. as lots of people kill themselves in this book. You could say its almost the whole plot.
I look forward to reading his other work. But again.. this was not it for me. Even if there is a reason for the grossness (which I don't think so. He is just an old guy born in a conservative society.) The reading experience really got ruined.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Child death, Suicide, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Mental illness, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Rape, Toxic friendship, Terminal illness, Suicide attempt, Self harm, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
sheabug's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide and Self harm
banannabel's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
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
3.25
i don’t get the beginning or end but i liked the book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Death, Grief, and Mental illness
scouto's review against another edition
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, and Terminal illness
kymberly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
i teared up at times reading this. i can't believe i waited so long to read this even after searching for this specific cover
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Self harm
miinmio's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
MURAKAMI LACED THIS BOOK WITH CRACK BCZ THIS????
all i have to say is a polyamorous relationship between the three main characters could've fixed EVERYONES problems, but you didn't hear it from me.
even though i've yet to feel what it means to fall in love, this book is a damn good substitute. if love is butter this book is marmalade for real. it was so soft and tender, and heart wretching and sad at the same time and it's just so DAMN GOOD!!! i will be put in the grave recommending this book, absolutely wonderful.
all i have to say is a polyamorous relationship between the three main characters could've fixed EVERYONES problems, but you didn't hear it from me.
even though i've yet to feel what it means to fall in love, this book is a damn good substitute. if love is butter this book is marmalade for real. it was so soft and tender, and heart wretching and sad at the same time and it's just so DAMN GOOD!!! i will be put in the grave recommending this book, absolutely wonderful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide
artsyfartsybooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was so deeply moving in the most exquisitely beautiful way. Murakami has an incredible talent for weaving the pain, grief and loss we face in our ordinary, everyday lives as humans into such a profound, lyrical story that it makes you reconsider the "banality" of normal life - there is so much depth to us, even when nothing seems to be happening (I don't know if this makes any sense, but it struck me quite deeply). There was a great sense of melancholy running throughout this book, which is to be expected given the subject matter (suicide and mental illness). What I found most striking, however, was the grief faced by the loved ones of those suffering from mental illness, and how they struggle to cope not only with the loss of those close to them but with confronting the "sickness" themselves. I really can't do this book justice in a short little review, I feel like there is just so much more to explore and uncover, but that could take me ages! This is the sort of book that really teaches you something about life and encourages you to reflect, pause and reconsider. Anyway, Murakami's writing is simply exquisite, it is beautifully descriptive and captures the emotional experiences of the characters with such profound subtlety. Also, I just love all the characters, especially Midori and Reiko, they were so much fun! I would really recommend this book to anyone and I know that I myself will be revisiting it for many years to come. '
NB the one criticism I had of this book was all the graphic sex scenes. It doesn't necessarily take away from the quality of the novel, but it is quite confronting and I believe it didn't add much to the story. I'm fine with authors discussing sex in their novels, but it doesn't need to be done in such detail every time (I think perhaps I understand it in the scene with Naoko, but none of the others, especially the one with Reiko at the end). Anyway, this isn't to dissuade anyone from reading the book because it's still brilliant, but just be on guard for graphic sex scenes if this is something you are sensitive to.
NB the one criticism I had of this book was all the graphic sex scenes. It doesn't necessarily take away from the quality of the novel, but it is quite confronting and I believe it didn't add much to the story. I'm fine with authors discussing sex in their novels, but it doesn't need to be done in such detail every time (I think perhaps I understand it in the scene with Naoko, but none of the others, especially the one with Reiko at the end). Anyway, this isn't to dissuade anyone from reading the book because it's still brilliant, but just be on guard for graphic sex scenes if this is something you are sensitive to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Self harm, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Death, Suicide, and Mental illness
morganraeh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It is easy to read the words. I love the development of the character and the perspective of the people in the main character, Torus, eyes.
Its not something I would normally go for genre wise and i almost didnt continue but something about the writing style kept me going and about half way i found the book to become very interesting!
Its not something I would normally go for genre wise and i almost didnt continue but something about the writing style kept me going and about half way i found the book to become very interesting!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
manel_'s review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Death, Self harm, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship