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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
This was a pretty disappointing novel in my opinion. It felt very slow and dragged at multiple points. They incorporated history into the narrative but this was taken a little too far. It really took me out of the story. It did explore the concept of creating your own reality, and deals with the plurality of reality in general. This was quite interesting but not explored enough unfortunately. So not the best Murakami you could pick up if you ask me.
murakami at his most tedious. loved every second! does anyone have any recommendations for domestic wells in the country?
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"A frustrating novel with an unlikeable protagonist. The unemployed law clerk spends each day on his couch thinking about sex with women other than his wife, and perpetually makes poor decisions. I've decided to abandon this book after a healthy 280 pages. Mark Helprin does this kind of epic-of-the-everyday much better. "
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This is probably the best of Murakami that I read. Having said that, it contains the same issues that I found with Kafka on the Shore. Murakami paints a vivid picture and he writes an intense plotline but there are so many secondary characters and so many subplots that ultimately don't seem to tie together in the end, that it is hard to fully appreciate what he serves up. A lot of the graphic sex and violence scenes appear to be gratuitous - at least, I don't understand the significance to the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture
Moderate: Sexual content
This was a very weird, unique read. The stories on their own are beautifully crafted and captivating and intriguing but nothing is really resolved and tied together in the end. Wasted potential? Or dissatisfying surrealism?
Definitely a feelings-first type of narrative.
Definitely a feelings-first type of narrative.