3.82 AVERAGE

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense slow-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: Complicated

Feelings after the 47hrs audiobook: running on empty but overall rewarding - like a runner after an enduring marathon. Now I’m left noticing the small peculiarities of ‘this reality’ and questioning my place in it, along with the extent of my free will.

Where’s the plot? (Spoilers)

Very original story. However, it is way too long and a lot of the things (such as the “little people”, and the “voice”) are not only never explained but would not have made a difference if they never existed. These and so many other things amount for nothing in the plot.

I guess it’s all about a big metaphor but it wasn’t clear to me.

The writing is ok. I didn’t feel anything for the characters. Some things sound very clunky but probably has something to do with the translation (such as the continue use of the phrase “an increase in the number of moons” which sounds really weird).
Many times the writing is extremely redundant. For example, I get it that Tengo had a hard time with his dad, but the author has to constantly remind us that fact in such cliche and cringy ways which feels so forced. Many of these things were also repeated over and over again with no additional information.

Very original story. Probably could’ve been done, in my opinion, in less than 200 pages as opposed to 900+. Bland characters, clunky writing, and massive plot holes. The fantasy elements make absolutely no sense, are never explained and seem completely unnecessary.
slow-paced

This was quite literally one of the worst books i've ever read.

It could easily have been less than 1200 pages long if the same scene wasn't repeated from like at least three different characters' perspectives and then subsequently paraphrased another ten times throughout the book. And Murakami probably made it that way because the book is so arduous and debilitatingly frustrating to read in one sitting that the readers have to split it into pieces and have therefore forgotten about that those previous parts of the book exist. I wish I could be lucky enough to forget that this book exists.

There are so many more elements of the book that are ripe for criticism but I refuse to spend any more time in my life on this book.
adventurous mysterious slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
emotional relaxing slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Probably wouldn't recommend for first time Murakami readers as it's so long, but I adore this book
mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I was very disappointed with this book. While it was mildly interesting as far as the plot was concerned, the book dragged on and on and I eventually found myself rushing to finish it just so I could end my misery. The characters were unrealistic to the point where I was rolling my eyes at their antics at least once per chapter. If this book were closer to the 400 page mark it would have been a much more pleasant read than suffering through this giant tome.
dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated