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3.76 AVERAGE


I read it all and was disappointed. It started strong but... This book made me drop reading for a year!!
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I don't know what to think about this book. I very much enjoyed parts of it, but I felt like it had wayy too much sex that was described in detail and unnecesary for the plot. It's somewhat odd that the character in this book is similar to the one in Wild Ship Chase series, and all women want to sleep with him. Also, he describes breasts of all women. I was about to say this book was awful, and women functioned there only as objects of sexual desire of damsels in distress, but then at the end it turns out that a girl has got some level of agency. So I cannot make my mind up. I'll probably read a little more Murakami and see.
lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated

This was my first experience with this author. Descriptive minimalist is what comes to mind when I describe the author’s style. Unique perspective and a bit of a style that reminds me of reading P.K.Dick stories.
slow-paced
Loveable characters: Yes

Trigger Warning: Sexual Assault / Rape / Pedophilia /Incest

To begin with, I am generally a big fan of Murakami so at first I was excited after reading the synopsis of this novel. This book did not have a trigger warning, and it definitely, without a doubt, should have, and this is a quick warning for anyone who is sensitive to the topics I listed above. I will be discussing those topics in this review.

Firstly, this novel could have been half its length if the useless, often uncomfortably graphic, unnecessary to the plot sex scenes would have been edited out. I obviously did not go through the book and count the endless sex scenes, but if I did, I promise it would have been over 20 scenes. They did nothing to contribute to the plot, progress the story, or aid in character development. As a matter of fact, the entire foundation of this story is the idea of isolation, and sex scenes were the easiest, cheapest way to have the main character come into contact with a woman from the outside world. Because you know... it wasn't believable enough for a man to be friends with a woman without having a sexual relationship with her. Plus, this relationship (spoiler alert) randomly ends and disappears from the story towards the middle/end of the book. Speaking of sex and women....

There was constant (trigger warning) sexualization of women, including underaged females, in this story. Every time a female came into contact with the main character, he would completely sexualize her in the most vile of ways. Constant mentioning of breast size, what they would look like naked, how they would be during sex, etc. This included two female children, one of which, was the main character's deceased younger sister. Even worse than these overly graphic judgements of female attractiveness and sexualization was how natural it came to the main character. He was not an evil character. He was a very stable, emotionally mature, intelligent, and kind person, which, when mixed with these predatory thoughts and descriptions, implies that it is "normal" for these thoughts and behaviors to exist, which couldn't be further from the truth. It's very damaging and triggering. Now, I am fully aware that Murakami's views of women are questionable and this theme can be found throughout some of his most popular novels, but never has it been so prevalent and bothersome as it is in this particular book. It serves no purpose and it is truly inexcusable in my opinion. Not to mention a very graphic rape scene that the character justifies and is actually aroused by in the story.

Now we can move on to plot and story issues. The book begins very slowly, which isn't really an issue for me. I enjoy minutia and so I don't mind slow parts in stories. This pace doesn't really pick up throughout the story until maybe the final 15 chapters. The main character rarely advances or evolves throughout this book, and very quickly it becomes repetitive. He shares the same ideas, thoughts, and grievances over and over and over again. His issues, complaints, and opinions never change throughout this 700 page book.

The most interesting character was Amada, who (spoiler alert) isn't even an active character. We meet him once (technically twice), and both times he is silent and unmoving. I would have enjoyed some flashbacks of his life intermixed with the chapters instead of the long, repetitive dialogue where he is brought up rather randomly and conveniently as a way to progress the story. His history and backstory had such potential and were of such importance to the actual story and it felt like he was dismissed. The main character was constantly putting words and beliefs in Amada's mouth but it would have been better if we had heard and witnessed these words/beliefs directly from the source in flashbacks. I mean - there is seriously (spoiler alert) a character that doesn't even exist! He is a physical idea. There is an entire "other" world that exists, and yet Amada couldn't communicate with the main character at all?

Throughout the story, there were numerous occasions where sinister intentions and events were alluded to or foreshadowed and literally nothing came of it. Menshiki (spoiler alert) was constantly painted in a dark light - there's something wrong with him, he has bad intentions, an ulterior motive, etc. - but again, nothing came of it. The end of the story is lackluster and anticlimactic, a very unsatisfying end to an overall interesting story.

I would not recommend this book unless you have free time and don't mind wasting your energy and concentration on a novel that is slow, repetitive, and oftentimes sexist and gross. The story was promising and Murakami wrote a fantastic little girl in this story. A strong headed, non compromising, intelligent, and observant little girl that truly added so much enjoyment to the book. If you are a fan of Murakami, I'd avoid this one. It's definitely not a necessary read. Hopefully you don't mind reading this 700 page review for this 700 page novel!!!
adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character

7/10

I found this book strange, hard to follow, hard to relate to, bizarre. I couldn’t suspend disbelief and enter this world. I found the sex scenes graphic, jarring and for the most part not necessary to the story. This book was overlong and convoluted. Ugh.

More like 3.5 stars, a very great Gatsby ish way of writing. The characters are a tad 2 dimensional at times.