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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I first encountered Murakami in a New Yorker short story in which I was left utterly confused yet extremely intrigued. This book is no different. Though I'm pretty sure I missed most of the story through some kind of callow understanding for life and literature, I enjoyed the parts of the book that I did understand. It wasn't until halfway through the book when I read the blurb on the back on the book that I realized that Murakami was making a point to reveal some aspects of the war in Manchuria during WWII...I suppose I assumed the parts of the story pertaining to the war were just there. Again, I feel no (okay, maybe some) shame in admitting that I had an extremely limited understanding of this book, yet I do know enough to have enjoyed the writing and whatever introspective pieces I was able to glean from this work. Can't say that I was always enthralled by the story-I feel like I was waiting for a climax that bypassed my too-shallow mind but nevertheless another interesting work by Murakami.
Honestly just didn’t care enough to finish it and there are other things I want to read
Not a book that I wouldve picked up myself but im glad i read it, it was so bizzare but interesting throughout
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
FIRST OF ALL: If you picked up this book thinking you were in for a Japanese Neverwhere, boy have I got news for you. Here it is. This book is nothing like what you're expecting, so forget that right now.
As for the rest, I slept on it and this is the conclusion I came to.
This book is like a vivid daydream — either so gripping that you forsake reality for it or so tedious that you have to already be bored to get into it. Really, I was invested in any character who was not named Toru Okada. He was a difficult main character to get behind.
It was unexpectedly violent. Yes, I expected a little, but the clarity of the descriptions and the unrelenting brutality of the violent scenes were overwhelming. I cringed and had to put the book down for a few parts (especially around page 520; HOLY SHIT).
On the other hand, I also had to put the book down because I was so bored. There's a reason it took me several months to finish this one.
At the heart of the book, I feel like Murakami is trying to say something, but the whole point of him message is that everything gets convoluted anyway. We don't truly talk to each other — we just tell stories in the hopes that our real meaning gets across.
My final review: 10/10 for style, minus 5 points for overthinking.
I have a theory that helps me accept the ending more. It wasn't a let down, it was just ... empty. It didn't feel like a real ending, which I guess is okay.
I feel like I would understand the book more if I read it again, but I don't want to right now. I don't know if I ever will want to. And I guess that's okay.
As for the rest, I slept on it and this is the conclusion I came to.
This book is like a vivid daydream — either so gripping that you forsake reality for it or so tedious that you have to already be bored to get into it. Really, I was invested in any character who was not named Toru Okada. He was a difficult main character to get behind.
Spoiler
Honestly, when he was having his "final battle," I didn't feel like anything was at stake. It just was. If he lived or died, I really didn't care.It was unexpectedly violent. Yes, I expected a little, but the clarity of the descriptions and the unrelenting brutality of the violent scenes were overwhelming. I cringed and had to put the book down for a few parts (especially around page 520; HOLY SHIT).
On the other hand, I also had to put the book down because I was so bored. There's a reason it took me several months to finish this one.
At the heart of the book, I feel like Murakami is trying to say something, but the whole point of him message is that everything gets convoluted anyway. We don't truly talk to each other — we just tell stories in the hopes that our real meaning gets across.
My final review: 10/10 for style, minus 5 points for overthinking.
I have a theory that helps me accept the ending more. It wasn't a let down, it was just ... empty. It didn't feel like a real ending, which I guess is okay.
Spoiler
My theory is that Toru is not the one telling the story. Cinnamon is the author. After the revelation that May's letters went missing, I started thinking about how much the narrative relied on these intertwining stories. I'm pretty convinced the unreadable parts of the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle in the book are Cinnamon's own perceptions of the stories around them. They may be true or they may be untrue, they're just stories in the end.I feel like I would understand the book more if I read it again, but I don't want to right now. I don't know if I ever will want to. And I guess that's okay.
emotional
inspiring