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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
i’m a huge murakmai fan, okay? but this one just did not do it for me. definitely some interesting characters and plot points, but overall left me feeling like ??
Another Murakami novel with an unnamed main character experiencing a period of intense change. I enjoyed the first 500 pages where we follow the narrator, an unassuming artist with unrealized potential for greatness, through a painful post-divorce experience. He encounters interesting people and takes a hands-off approach to life after escaping Tokyo for the countryside, offering a relaxed point of view to today's crazed city dweller. After months spent wandering, the narrator settles into a mountain cottage owned by a senile Picasso-type artist. We meet fascinating characters and the story meanders along.
That's the first 500 pages. Good, not great. I encountered a whirlwind in the remaining 180 pages that left me unsure about the entire novel. Murakami always incorporates some strangeness into his stories but the mystery lost all sense at the end. Perhaps that's the point. But, I lost track of the story and missed the typical bow-tie Murakami typically brings to his novels.
4/5 for the first 500 pages, 3/5 for the remainder.
That's the first 500 pages. Good, not great. I encountered a whirlwind in the remaining 180 pages that left me unsure about the entire novel. Murakami always incorporates some strangeness into his stories but the mystery lost all sense at the end. Perhaps that's the point. But, I lost track of the story and missed the typical bow-tie Murakami typically brings to his novels.
4/5 for the first 500 pages, 3/5 for the remainder.
Hm. This book is tricky. It was 29 hours read as an audio book, I also listened to it alongside my boyfriend. If it were not read to me and I didn’t have someone reading with me, I don’t know if I would’ve finished. But Murakami’s writing is very enticing!! So I might’ve. I think I’m just disappointed with the last quarter of the book. There were definitely deeper themes, reflections, juxtapositions, and other stuff I just was not picking up on. It got very alice in wonderland and I didn’t love that part. But just personal preference! Also.. how neatly everything wrapped up at the end felt like a game of thrones disappointment. Sure it could make sense but it just happened as an after thought. Regardless - this is the most I’ve written for a review and I’ll miss the voice of the audiobook in my car :)
I reread the prologue after finishing the final page. This book moved me deeply. It was, perhaps, better than IQ84. Hard to say. Very satisfying.
I have some genuine mixed reactions about this one. Murakami has managed to weave the humdrum routines of a generic life along with the surreal and haunting aspect of the unknown. There are multiples callbacks to certain events from his other works and precise nods to some well known characters of famous works (Menshiki is Murakami's Jay Gatsby). This book is not perfect, neither is the pacing, yet somehow it goes a layer deeper than some of his other works. It's not meant for everyone but those who can connect with that deeper layer might end up choosing "Killing Commendatore" as the best of Murakami.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
This is the best Murakami book I've read thus far. There was an actual plot in this one! That said, the true plot didn't really come in until the last 200-300 pages. As always, the book could've been far shorter than it is, and there was a lot of pointless narration. I also found many similarities to his other books which was a bit frustrating because his ideas are becoming very repetitive and tired. Finally, as always, I have a lot of issues with his constant mention of breasts, especially when talking to underage girls. I guess you can argue that because the age of consent is 13 in Japan, Murakami may not find these descriptions odd, but regardless of that fact, it's really gross and I wish he would stop doing it. I liked the characters in this book, particularly the Commendatore. I also thought the plot was rather unique and interesting. 4 stars.
Murakami, Murakami, Murakami. Mate, I love your work, I really do. But sometimes you ramble on for far too long. This story was a perfect example of that, and didn’t need to be spread out over 700 or so pages. I admire your intention to capture the process of making art, and I thank you for your interesting characters, who, paradoxically, are quite strictly archetypal at first but are then shown to have more insight and depth to them. Your verbose writing (in Killing Commendatore, that is) staggered the already stretched out plot, so I wish you had written more succinctly. I can’t believe I actually managed to finish this book of yours after giving up on The Wild Sheep Chase. Yet, it’s quality is unparalleled to that of your brilliant, witty short stories.