Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

101 reviews

nastyreefer's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

Good book for the feeling of contemplation for loss, attachment to others, and fulfillment. Has odd sexual themes here and there but is otherwise related to themes of young-adulthood and mental illness, painting a good picture a chaos that comes from that combination. Very enjoyable portrayal of the late 60s era.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide and Alcohol

jppineda's review against another edition

challenging dark 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? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide

Minor: Death and Alcohol

kydnmthws's review against another edition

emotional sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

I have this thing about Murakami. He's by no means a bad author, but his books really don't feel like they have any business being books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol

froggoz13's review against another edition

dark reflective

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

2.5

I am very conflicted due to the themes of pedophilia and homophobia and the misogynistic undertones that aren't adressed anywhere in the book. I don't like the characters and don't see myself being drawn to them or worried for them. I experienced the story as very strange and uncomfortable. 

The writing style is good and descriptive in a pleasant way but the dialogues are often quite direct. Overall I did want to continue reading the vook and find out what would happen next but I did not particularly enjoy reading it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Alcohol, Death, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Death of parent

Minor: Lesbophobia and Adult/minor relationship

claukv's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional slow-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: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Stalking, Alcohol, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

Minor: Lesbophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Body shaming

dqueen's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

Hated this book and the depiction of women. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that it was written in a different time, but the descriptions were awful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Chronic illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Misogyny, and Suicide

nelsonlala's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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

Wtf va detta. Triggering som fan.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Death of parent

Minor: Fire/Fire injury

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

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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

m4rtt4'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

4.25

Naoko❤️‍🩹 I truly loved her.
Actually I really liked all the female characters, though they all more or less were also used as vessels for fulfilling the author's sexual fantasies — especially Midori, her personality at times was so pick-me-girly for the sole purpose of getting Watanabe's sexual attention.

This one was a re-read, and I must say I felt it so much more now at 20 — the main characters' age — than when I first read it at 16 years old. I've read all Murakami's novels, and even though I kind of miss the magical realism that was almost nonexistent in this book, it didn't really need it either as it was deep enough just like this. I just wish the metaphor of the "well" Naoko talked about in the beginning had appeared later on in the story, it should have had a greater purpose. Overall a very melancholic yet great reading experience, but for your own good, do consider skipping this if things related to suicide trigger you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, Sexual content, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide

Moderate: Alcohol, Death of parent, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Violence, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Lesbophobia

redflyingbook's review against another edition

4.25

This was my first murakami novel - I did recognize some problematic aspects but altogether it was a stunning rendition of what might be some of the most formative years of a life. It beautifully depicts complex personalities and struggles that hit quite close to home, exploring topics like love, friendship and mental health in utterly poetic and emotional ways. I really did like the writing style.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicide, Grief, and Sexual content