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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Okay, so, Murakami is my favourite author of all time and I just HAD to buy and read this book as soon as I possibly could. However, I kept putting it off as I had read a lot of mixed reviews and because of this I was scared I wouldn't enjoy this book as much as his other novels/ stories. Something else that was putting me off was the fact that my concentration had been a little poorer than usual so I was worried I wouldn't fully grasp the concepts at that particular time. But, 5 days ago I finally decided that I could not wait any longer and the time had come for me to read this heavy (both metaphorically and physically) book.
The first 250 pages or so I was bored shitless and was so close to putting it down and picking something else up. I spoke to my dad (who is also an avid reader) and he persuaded me to continue with this book and try and push through. He said that as he is my favourite author that I need to stick with it because there must be a reason why it is so boring. Haruki is too clever to just write a bad book, he is too conceptual, there is always meaning. I decided to give it another 50-100 pages and I was sure that after that if it had not grabbed my attention I would put it down and read it at a later date. THANK FUCK FOR MY DAD. He was so right.
Thinking about it now I truly believe that Murakami was trying to make the reader realise how mundane this guy's life truly was so we could then see how much of a huge change occurred.
This book was classic Haruki Murakami's style. Surreal, conceptual and you have to suspend belief throughout. I was hooked for the last 400 pages. When I was reading it I simply couldn't put it down and when I was not all I could think about was the book and when I could next sit down to read it. To be perfectly honest if the first 250 pages were better this would 100% get five stars from me. Definitely.
The characters were well rounded and the description was second to none. His writing style is incredible. I have no idea to describe it, the only way i can is thus; it flowed effortlessly like a fine wine and I honestly felt that I was peering into the Main Character's life through the window and just watching these surreal events unfold. It almost felt like I wasn't even reading; I was watching him, I was a bystander. And for me that is when you KNOW that it is a good book.
This book has rekindled my love of Murakami. I find myself pining to read his other works (in particular 1Q84 and Norwegian Wood).
I am in awe of him.
If you haven't read any Haruki Murakami yet I HIGHLY recommend him. I would, personally, start with Norwegian Wood and then make your way through his backlog. 1Q84 is my favourite book of his but it is a mammoth book so be prepared.
Happy reading!
Hannah xoxo
Okay, so, Murakami is my favourite author of all time and I just HAD to buy and read this book as soon as I possibly could. However, I kept putting it off as I had read a lot of mixed reviews and because of this I was scared I wouldn't enjoy this book as much as his other novels/ stories. Something else that was putting me off was the fact that my concentration had been a little poorer than usual so I was worried I wouldn't fully grasp the concepts at that particular time. But, 5 days ago I finally decided that I could not wait any longer and the time had come for me to read this heavy (both metaphorically and physically) book.
The first 250 pages or so I was bored shitless and was so close to putting it down and picking something else up. I spoke to my dad (who is also an avid reader) and he persuaded me to continue with this book and try and push through. He said that as he is my favourite author that I need to stick with it because there must be a reason why it is so boring. Haruki is too clever to just write a bad book, he is too conceptual, there is always meaning. I decided to give it another 50-100 pages and I was sure that after that if it had not grabbed my attention I would put it down and read it at a later date. THANK FUCK FOR MY DAD. He was so right.
Thinking about it now I truly believe that Murakami was trying to make the reader realise how mundane this guy's life truly was so we could then see how much of a huge change occurred.
This book was classic Haruki Murakami's style. Surreal, conceptual and you have to suspend belief throughout. I was hooked for the last 400 pages. When I was reading it I simply couldn't put it down and when I was not all I could think about was the book and when I could next sit down to read it. To be perfectly honest if the first 250 pages were better this would 100% get five stars from me. Definitely.
The characters were well rounded and the description was second to none. His writing style is incredible. I have no idea to describe it, the only way i can is thus; it flowed effortlessly like a fine wine and I honestly felt that I was peering into the Main Character's life through the window and just watching these surreal events unfold. It almost felt like I wasn't even reading; I was watching him, I was a bystander. And for me that is when you KNOW that it is a good book.
This book has rekindled my love of Murakami. I find myself pining to read his other works (in particular 1Q84 and Norwegian Wood).
I am in awe of him.
If you haven't read any Haruki Murakami yet I HIGHLY recommend him. I would, personally, start with Norwegian Wood and then make your way through his backlog. 1Q84 is my favourite book of his but it is a mammoth book so be prepared.
Happy reading!
Hannah xoxo
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Good book, long meandering tale about a portrait artist
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i literally loved this book but it was just unnecessarily long at some points. also the way women were written was just a no. absolutely hated the way the relationship between the protagonist and his little sister was described. im obsessed with murakami's writing style and the story in itself, therefore the high rating.
Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami is definitely an intimidating book--it's nearly 700 pages and took me about 6 weeks to read--but I can never resist a new Murakami (though I still have quite a lot of his previous work to get to!) This novel is the story of a newly divorced painter in his 30s who escapes to a mountain home of a famous Japanese artist only to find a hidden painting. Of course, there's a strong element of magical realism and strange things start to happen. There's a ringing bell in a deep pit. There's a wealthy recluse who wants to hire the painter to do a portrait. And there's so much more.
This is definitely the kind of book you have to read to really understand and even then, I'm not quite sure I did. It's strange and mystical and while I didn't have an emotional connection to the story, I always enjoyed reading it. There are definitely many thought-provoking moments and my major complaint is the fixation on her chest that a 13-year old character has--it's almost like it's supposed to be funny, but it's not. Overall, I loved the way that Killing Commendatore floated between the real and the surreal. I swear, someday I'll finally read all of Murakami's books.
This is definitely the kind of book you have to read to really understand and even then, I'm not quite sure I did. It's strange and mystical and while I didn't have an emotional connection to the story, I always enjoyed reading it. There are definitely many thought-provoking moments and my major complaint is the fixation on her chest that a 13-year old character has--it's almost like it's supposed to be funny, but it's not. Overall, I loved the way that Killing Commendatore floated between the real and the surreal. I swear, someday I'll finally read all of Murakami's books.