Reviews

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

cieldemayo's review against another edition

« […] la vérité n'est pas forcément dans la réalité, et la réalité n'est peut-être pas la seule vérité. » (p. 818)

nwold87's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective 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

4.75

discocactus's review against another edition

slow-paced

5.0

stinkyheronreads's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.75

A mysterious and dreamy adventure through time, space, and realities. I loved this book! 

isobel_laura's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

aggelikireb's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious relaxing slow-paced

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

3.25

amydarcy's review against another edition

challenging mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

was this a fever dream? 100% 
did i completely understand it? nope
did i enjoy it? strangely yes

murakami’s writing is simple but whimsical and quite witty at times. idk where i stand on the misogyny allegations - the way he writes women is unnecessarily sexualised (not sure how the 16yr old’s “girlish breasts” were relevant to the plot there haruki). on the other hand, i found the female characters way more interesting and complex than most of their male counterparts

indiarose's review against another edition

4.5

a journey and a half; spiralling but contained; visiting a well in three parts

melissa_cosgrove's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Animal death, Torture, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual violence, Incest, and Abortion

thechanelmuse's review against another edition

I really don't know how to rate this book. It's one of the weirdest novels I've ever read. There are so many layers to The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle that it's hard to truly describe what it's about. It primarily focuses on the protagonist's journey through self-discovery, and ties in metaphysics, the experiences of other characters, stories within stories, and much more. Some chapters are intriguing, some parts are disturbing, and others are mundane at times, which kind of made this book feel even longer than 600+ pages. In the end, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle leaves you with more questions to be asked rather than answers that are given. That's not a bad thing though.