Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

55 reviews

2hermione4's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I really enjoyed the symbolism that was used, especially regarding the 4 basic elements of nature, but the sexism and the uncomfortable sex scenes made me consider not finishing the book.
*Check trigger warnings*

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Suicide, Pedophilia, and Mental illness

Moderate: Sexism, Terminal illness, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Misogyny, and Death of parent

Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Fire/Fire injury

almostblue's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

It was hard to attribute a rating to this book as reading it quite literally led me into a depressive episode. I think it's because the different themes were really heavy, and the way human relationships were depicted felt particularly bleak at times. Without forgetting the misogyny.
 
Yet, this novel is so memorable. Naoko's character especially is very haunting. My heart still breaks for her. It was definitely not the most pleasing reading experience, but I'm glad I finished it. In fact, I stopped reading halfway through the first time because one scene made me way too uncomfortable (

I'm referring to that one scene about rape between a minor and an adult, during which the narration also felt really lesbophobic to me

), and I only managed to read it all the way through a year later. Maybe I'm too sensitive, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone without at least some content warnings. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Rape

Moderate: Suicide and Terminal illness

Minor: Lesbophobia

bcooper21's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Abandonment, and Alcohol

Moderate: Blood, Gaslighting, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, and Forced institutionalization

jeremie's review against another edition

adventurous sad 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Mental illness, Suicide, Misogyny, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Cancer

lavxna's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, Suicide, and Sexual assault

jessiejessj's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.0

I am undecided on how I feel about this book for a variety of reasons. The main character is one that I enjoyed and I found his view and his takes on life to be refreshing. He was a flawed human, but he acknowledged that fully, and there was something inherently likeable in his own measure of himself that I connected to. But I hated the women and I think that was likely a measure of my own shortcomings and my own experiences with men that made me want to shake my fist at them going “What are you doing!!! Can’t you see how depraved these men are making you? Don’t you know you deserve better?!” Maybe I am just not accustomed to Japanese literature and the themes inherent in them, but gah, this book mainly just made me mad, confused, or sad.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

lavender_lake's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-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

Poetic and full of beautiful sentiments.

Sadly, the female characters seem to be mostly vessels for the protagonist’s sexual / romantic self exploration.

Also: a LOT of suicide 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Terminal illness, Mental illness, Suicide, Cancer, Death of parent, Sexual content, Grief, and Sexual assault

whykay's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Self harm, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Death, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Misogyny, Death of parent, Cancer, and Adult/minor relationship

ahnminjim's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical trauma, Mental illness, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Infertility, and Sexual harassment

greatu's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Cancer, Emotional abuse, and Infidelity

Moderate: Police brutality

Minor: Fire/Fire injury