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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 against another edition
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.”
empoi's review against another edition
3.25
A short story collection that has the familiar feel of Murakamis work but none of the stories stood out to me. I don't expect to remember many in 2 years time.
ireneac's review against another edition
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
3.0
olgasofia's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kiranaftab's review against another edition
i despise the author for how he writes women
theseventhl's review against another edition
5.0
An absolutely beautiful, enchanting collection of short stories. I love Murakami when he does magical realism and metafiction, and every story just hits the mark for both. I would definitely recommend this is a perfect primer for Murakami newbies.
PS: I got so hyped reading this, I already have Pinball/Wind on my library book shelf for me to read later! And now I want to re-read both 1Q84 and Norwegian Wood - why can't I have more time in the day for Murakami, tho?!
PS: I got so hyped reading this, I already have Pinball/Wind on my library book shelf for me to read later! And now I want to re-read both 1Q84 and Norwegian Wood - why can't I have more time in the day for Murakami, tho?!