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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
One of the most complex, strange, fascinating books I've read -- and also time consuming. It took me almost a month, which is ridiculous considering my reading rate. At times I wanted to stop because there were a few truly disturbing moments, but by the time I got to page 550 of 600, I was breathless waiting to see what would happen. I definitely recommend it if you think you can handle it! If you've read this book and have insight into "what it all means," please get in touch. It's so thought provoking and enigmatic, I'd love to discuss.
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Strange book. Some parts were really captivating but others were underwhelming. I wish the ending was a little different though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
challenging
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Too surreal for me
YIKES. I don't think I'll ever get over what a horrible read that was.
What an empty, overwrought book.
I was pulled in for the entire first half-the relationship between Kumiko and Toru is captivating. Mundane yet still interesting, and the tension lying beneath the surface is palpable yet still mysterious. Malta and Creta are weird characters that provide a bizarre contrast to Kumiko and Toru, and I was curious where their plot was going. I burned as I read Kumiko's letter. Things pulled me in and held me, and I was trying to piece together the weird, seemingly random characters and stories.
Somewhere after Kumiko's letter, the plot begins spinning out of control. It feels like NOTHING happens. Toru is told stories by multiple "weird" characters, all different in quirky ways. This sounds cool, but I started to feel as if none of these stories connected or had any meaning. Motifs and feelings are repeated again and again, but not expanded on in a thoughtful. Characters describe losing control, falling into madness, being paralyzed, etc. but there's nothing beyond a pure statement of their feelings. Characters and situations are mirrored, but again, there's nothing meaningful hiding behind the mirroring. It's just a device.
I feel so disappointed. I took such a ridiculous amount of time observing commonalities and patterns only to realize they lead nowhere. A bunch of unsolvable mysteries pop up that aren't deep, just random and one-dimensional.
~SPOILERS~
And let me tell you, deus ex machina is the WORST plot tool ever. Nutmeg and Cinnamon appear just as the narrator needs something (this happens twice in really improbable, unbelievable situations....). Also, the bad force here is the most flat, uncomplicated sort of evil there is. Noboryu Wataya is just evil? Always has been? Always will be? Exercises his evil in mysterious ways? Without explanation? I was expecting a complicated marital problem, but Murakami just uses "magical realism" to conveniently tie up the insane plot twists that he built up at the beginning.
A definition of literature I like to defer to is "a piece of art that teaches you something about being human." This book? I have no idea. It teaches me that you can slap a bunch of shit together and then call it "magical realism" instead of examining what it means to be human in a meaningful way.
What an empty, overwrought book.
I was pulled in for the entire first half-the relationship between Kumiko and Toru is captivating. Mundane yet still interesting, and the tension lying beneath the surface is palpable yet still mysterious. Malta and Creta are weird characters that provide a bizarre contrast to Kumiko and Toru, and I was curious where their plot was going. I burned as I read Kumiko's letter. Things pulled me in and held me, and I was trying to piece together the weird, seemingly random characters and stories.
Somewhere after Kumiko's letter, the plot begins spinning out of control. It feels like NOTHING happens. Toru is told stories by multiple "weird" characters, all different in quirky ways. This sounds cool, but I started to feel as if none of these stories connected or had any meaning. Motifs and feelings are repeated again and again, but not expanded on in a thoughtful. Characters describe losing control, falling into madness, being paralyzed, etc. but there's nothing beyond a pure statement of their feelings. Characters and situations are mirrored, but again, there's nothing meaningful hiding behind the mirroring. It's just a device.
I feel so disappointed. I took such a ridiculous amount of time observing commonalities and patterns only to realize they lead nowhere. A bunch of unsolvable mysteries pop up that aren't deep, just random and one-dimensional.
~SPOILERS~
And let me tell you, deus ex machina is the WORST plot tool ever. Nutmeg and Cinnamon appear just as the narrator needs something (this happens twice in really improbable, unbelievable situations....). Also, the bad force here is the most flat, uncomplicated sort of evil there is. Noboryu Wataya is just evil? Always has been? Always will be? Exercises his evil in mysterious ways? Without explanation? I was expecting a complicated marital problem, but Murakami just uses "magical realism" to conveniently tie up the insane plot twists that he built up at the beginning.
A definition of literature I like to defer to is "a piece of art that teaches you something about being human." This book? I have no idea. It teaches me that you can slap a bunch of shit together and then call it "magical realism" instead of examining what it means to be human in a meaningful way.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes