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klparmley's review against another edition
1.0
I've tried twice in 2 formats and I just can't get through this.
cafeconjams's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ameliatmoss's review against another edition
2.0
OKAY. This was my dive into Murakami books and I decided to choose the fuckin mack daddy big boi fatty book and now I'm done and I've got some feelings.
For about 48% I loved it. His writing is beautiful, the plot was interesting, I was, as they say, into it. Then we hit the halfway-ish mark and I started trying to figure out where it was going. It was getting repetitive, but he was referencing famous literary giants (Chekhov and Proust and others) and I was like, okay, this will come together. Well kids, nah. There were FAR too many questions unanswered and references un-explained. Unless I am the thickest, daftest human on the planet and missed it. Some key questions that I would love answers to:
1. Who was the NHK collector who kept knocking on their doors?
2. Is Tengo just never gonna find out about his mom?
3. Why did they have to discuss boobs so much?
4. Was the making it okay to have sex with minors because they aren't ~actually real people~ fucked up or???
5. Literally why are they making an air chrysalis from that dead ogre's body?
6. Who are the little people?
7. What happens to Fuka Eri?
I am HERE for ambiguous endings. I love thought provoking, but why, why dear fuckin lord, after 800+ pages, did this man not answer my questions? What did I miss?
Okay, last little rant is about the love story. I honestly felt Aomame was a sociopath until she was in the world with two moons so when she finally admits she's in love and isn't just a robot with random feelings for her boobilicious friends I just...Didn't buy it. ALSO, What happened to Tengo's lover? I just. yeah. nope.
All in all, I kept thinking about a class I took in college called Large Novels, where we read and analyzed the largest novels written (War & Peace, Bleak House, Moby Dick) and WHY they were large. Why was this book so large? Anyone? Because time is long? To show how long they waited to be together? What purpose did it serve? Anyone?
For about 48% I loved it. His writing is beautiful, the plot was interesting, I was, as they say, into it. Then we hit the halfway-ish mark and I started trying to figure out where it was going. It was getting repetitive, but he was referencing famous literary giants (Chekhov and Proust and others) and I was like, okay, this will come together. Well kids, nah. There were FAR too many questions unanswered and references un-explained. Unless I am the thickest, daftest human on the planet and missed it. Some key questions that I would love answers to:
1. Who was the NHK collector who kept knocking on their doors?
2. Is Tengo just never gonna find out about his mom?
3. Why did they have to discuss boobs so much?
4. Was the making it okay to have sex with minors because they aren't ~actually real people~ fucked up or???
5. Literally why are they making an air chrysalis from that dead ogre's body?
6. Who are the little people?
7. What happens to Fuka Eri?
I am HERE for ambiguous endings. I love thought provoking, but why, why dear fuckin lord, after 800+ pages, did this man not answer my questions? What did I miss?
Okay, last little rant is about the love story. I honestly felt Aomame was a sociopath until she was in the world with two moons so when she finally admits she's in love and isn't just a robot with random feelings for her boobilicious friends I just...Didn't buy it. ALSO, What happened to Tengo's lover? I just. yeah. nope.
All in all, I kept thinking about a class I took in college called Large Novels, where we read and analyzed the largest novels written (War & Peace, Bleak House, Moby Dick) and WHY they were large. Why was this book so large? Anyone? Because time is long? To show how long they waited to be together? What purpose did it serve? Anyone?
bemiller74's review against another edition
I’ve liked most everything I’ve read by Murakami so I’m ultimately not surprised that I like this though I know the reputation is mixed. What I find rude though is reaching the end of this massive novel only to have to accept that the first one thousand one hundred paperback bound pages were about the main characters coming to terms with the early stages of growing old(er) even though these characters are straight up younger than me. Sucks man.
Every character is a knot of mysteries that will never be resolved, threats of suspense and promised violence hang over the story which are (almost) never fulfilled. And when the promise of violence is fulfilled in a single act it is not andrenline fueled or entertaining or character-defining, it is matter of fact and very gruesome however bloodless it may be, it is business. I can see how such a long book with so many dangling threads could be unsatisfying, but well, that’s life and someday you’ll change jobs or move or something maybe better or much worse will happen and you’ll leave all your threads dangling and a hole of some size for some time in the lives of the people who knew you for however long they knew you. And the unanswered threads that are left dangling that carry you through much of the length of the book are themselves classic form Murakami for the folks who have come to love it - magical, violent, horny, depressing, and depressing-horny.
I am glad I took a bit of a break before continuing on to Book 3 after reading the first two at a decent pace, the third book drastically slows the action for the main characters and essentially closes each of them in a room alone to reflect for a not insignificant period. Fruitful pages I think ultimately but if I’d continued straight on after reading the first two volumes that might have really worn me down quickly.
Every character is a knot of mysteries that will never be resolved, threats of suspense and promised violence hang over the story which are (almost) never fulfilled. And when the promise of violence is fulfilled in a single act it is not andrenline fueled or entertaining or character-defining, it is matter of fact and very gruesome however bloodless it may be, it is business. I can see how such a long book with so many dangling threads could be unsatisfying, but well, that’s life and someday you’ll change jobs or move or something maybe better or much worse will happen and you’ll leave all your threads dangling and a hole of some size for some time in the lives of the people who knew you for however long they knew you. And the unanswered threads that are left dangling that carry you through much of the length of the book are themselves classic form Murakami for the folks who have come to love it - magical, violent, horny, depressing, and depressing-horny.
I am glad I took a bit of a break before continuing on to Book 3 after reading the first two at a decent pace, the third book drastically slows the action for the main characters and essentially closes each of them in a room alone to reflect for a not insignificant period. Fruitful pages I think ultimately but if I’d continued straight on after reading the first two volumes that might have really worn me down quickly.
k_pelowk's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
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? No
5.0
I can’t wait to reread this story. I love the characters; I have real affection for them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Violence, Suicide, Sexual content, and Torture
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Death of parent
christineponkey's review against another edition
5.0
Honestly, probably one of his best books. It incorporates all of his fantasy realism but in a subtle way. The story is fascinating, and even though it's so long (well, it is worth 3 books), I found that I couldn't stop reading and would look forward to reading the next chapter each time.
afalkner's review against another edition
I’m coming back for you I promise. I loved the first few pages just had to put it down to focus on some library books.
mermaidread's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25