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natty0011's review against another edition
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
an_erratic_reader's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
humblebee20's review against another edition
3.0
This collection of short stories was, alright. Ive heard people sing praises about Murakami, and wanted to give his fiction a try. I really enjoyed Underground, but this collection didn't quite scratch the itch I was hoping for. I enjoy his writing style and the ability to make the mundane more extraordinary, but the earthquake that joins these stories didn't hold the weight it could have and just felt like an excuse to put them in the same book. The stories and cute and quaint, but perhaps more enjoyable if they were just stories. Maybe the earthquake taking a backseat was the point, but some stories barely mention Kobe, much less the earthquake and its effects. Cute stories, but also maybe not the best Murakami fiction to start with.
anyajulchen's review against another edition
3.0
Se nota el origen japonés de los cuentos. Las escenas extrañas están a la vuelta de la esquina, pero son historias bien ejecutadas y, la mayoría, con finales sólidos.
No es lo mejor que he leído de Murakami, así que no puedo darle más puntaje.
No es lo mejor que he leído de Murakami, así que no puedo darle más puntaje.
miwqua's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
emna507's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dreamer626's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
magpie77's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bigliver's review against another edition
3.0
Just finished this book and each short story was wonderful. Although short and cut off soon, the stories are written brilliantly and Murakami yet again does not fail to impress with his magical realism as well a good mix of realistic fiction touching on his usual themes of love and self identity. Murakami vividly brings each separate character to life and creates a beautiful sense of empathy which really immersed me in each short story/chapter.
I highly recommend this book to anyone out there looking for a shorter but magical collection of short stories.
I highly recommend this book to anyone out there looking for a shorter but magical collection of short stories.
mrmysteryfox's review
4.0
Short stories all loosely connected to an earthquake in Kobe. As expected with Murakami a strange mix of topics and his common monikers (sadness, emptiness, jazz, the Beatles, whisky, talking animals, the subconscious). Enjoyed reading most of these stories only one that I wasn’t a fan of.
Like
#2 two run aways contemplating the emptiness they now feel in the warmth of a bonfire.
#3 weird story relating menopause to being closer to death and a women’s search for the meaning of existence
#4 Frog that saves Tokyo - perhaps a story of someone with PTSD from the Kobe quake
#5 bears, a love triangle and the earthquake man
Disliked
#1 a tale of loss - metaphored with a UFO abduction..
To remember
On living in the moment
“The trouble is, I don’t have a damn thing to do with anything 50,000 years ago – or 50,000 years from now, either. Nothing. Zero. What’s important is now. Who knows when the world is gonna end?”
A bad hangover
“A foul sludge was oozing from his rotting gums and eating away at his brain from the inside.”
Like
#2 two run aways contemplating the emptiness they now feel in the warmth of a bonfire.
#3 weird story relating menopause to being closer to death and a women’s search for the meaning of existence
#4 Frog that saves Tokyo - perhaps a story of someone with PTSD from the Kobe quake
#5 bears, a love triangle and the earthquake man
Disliked
#1 a tale of loss - metaphored with a UFO abduction..
To remember
On living in the moment
“The trouble is, I don’t have a damn thing to do with anything 50,000 years ago – or 50,000 years from now, either. Nothing. Zero. What’s important is now. Who knows when the world is gonna end?”
A bad hangover
“A foul sludge was oozing from his rotting gums and eating away at his brain from the inside.”