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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My toxic trait is really liking Murakami books.
This was a lot more peaceful than Murakami's novels usually go. Extremely slow-paced, as well, which is partly why it took me literal weeks to get through. I wasn't bothered by it, however, since it felt very much like the right pace for the story. As always, the story is extremely cryptic and full of layers and metaphors, so that it becomes impossible to understand the whole thing; however, if you appreciate the presence of supernatural or just generally weird elements in a story that can be taken at face value without necessarily holding a deeper meaning, you will enjoy this book a lot.
However, and as always, I intensely dislike how Murakami keeps insisting on hypersexualizing every woman in his novels. The absolute insistence on having female characters exist either for sex or as proxies to push the male characters forward. The off-handed comments that they make - I can assure you no woman has ever spoken off-handedly about their breasts and/or bodies like this with men they hardly know. It gets especially horrid when he goes for the very young girls or even children. It's just a hard no and I often have to skim over parts of his books because of this shit, which just really sucks because I love the book otherwise, man. Stop doing this shit.
This was a lot more peaceful than Murakami's novels usually go. Extremely slow-paced, as well, which is partly why it took me literal weeks to get through. I wasn't bothered by it, however, since it felt very much like the right pace for the story. As always, the story is extremely cryptic and full of layers and metaphors, so that it becomes impossible to understand the whole thing; however, if you appreciate the presence of supernatural or just generally weird elements in a story that can be taken at face value without necessarily holding a deeper meaning, you will enjoy this book a lot.
However, and as always, I intensely dislike how Murakami keeps insisting on hypersexualizing every woman in his novels. The absolute insistence on having female characters exist either for sex or as proxies to push the male characters forward. The off-handed comments that they make - I can assure you no woman has ever spoken off-handedly about their breasts and/or bodies like this with men they hardly know. It gets especially horrid when he goes for the very young girls or even children. It's just a hard no and I often have to skim over parts of his books because of this shit, which just really sucks because I love the book otherwise, man. Stop doing this shit.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4 Stars
This was my first Murakami book, and it was fantastic. I loved Murakami's writing style. Although the book was slow paced and full of long, unnecessary descriptions, I actually adored the writing. I can see why people consider it tedious, however I think it created the perfect tone. Killing Commendatore was atmospheric, and moody and gripping. Part of this is because the plot was excellently crafted. I had no idea where the story was heading, and just when I thought I did have an idea, Murakami threw a curveball and something completely bizarre happens (which I've heard is often the case with Murakami). I loved the motif of art in this novel. Art plays a key role in the plot and in the lead character's life. I enjoyed viewing the world through an artist's eyes.
I will say, one thing I found weird was the constant mention of breasts? There are so many different ways to describe a woman, yet Murakami constantly was describing women by the size of their breasts, as if their breast size provided enough insight into the character? Someone tell Murakami that breast size doesn't equate to personality
I do still recommend. My first Murakami book was a success, and I can't wait to discover more of his work!
This was my first Murakami book, and it was fantastic. I loved Murakami's writing style. Although the book was slow paced and full of long, unnecessary descriptions, I actually adored the writing. I can see why people consider it tedious, however I think it created the perfect tone. Killing Commendatore was atmospheric, and moody and gripping. Part of this is because the plot was excellently crafted. I had no idea where the story was heading, and just when I thought I did have an idea, Murakami threw a curveball and something completely bizarre happens (which I've heard is often the case with Murakami). I loved the motif of art in this novel. Art plays a key role in the plot and in the lead character's life. I enjoyed viewing the world through an artist's eyes.
I will say, one thing I found weird was the constant mention of breasts? There are so many different ways to describe a woman, yet Murakami constantly was describing women by the size of their breasts, as if their breast size provided enough insight into the character? Someone tell Murakami that breast size doesn't equate to personality
I do still recommend. My first Murakami book was a success, and I can't wait to discover more of his work!
Sort of ridiculous and sort of amazing and perhaps the metaphors were a bit too obscure or contrived for me, or maybe too intelligent. A lot was set-up that remained unanswered and in parts the movement of the narrative was glacially slow and then seemed a bit pointless. However, I am a big fan of Murakami and very much enjoyed falling down this particular rabbit hole of a novel.
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disappointing. Sort of hits a climax then no resolution, just drops off. Similar to the end of 1Q84. It plugs along nicely and is interesting and then just nothing.
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Has all the Murakami staples:
- A middle aged guy
- A young girl
- A hole/pit
- Ennui
- A middle aged guy
- A young girl
- A hole/pit
- Ennui
I’ve you’ve never read Murakami before, this is a good introduction. But is it his best book? No. It’s collage of all his best tropes and ideas presented in as linear a format as he’s able. A nice round story with great characters touched with supernatural realities that end in philosophical questions. I can’t see myself ever reading this again. It’s not like other novels by Murakami where you question what you read and how everything relates and want to know what you missed the first time. If you have almost 800 pages to spare and don’t require too much of a challenge, it’s worth your time.