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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Murakami pulls together prose, imagery, and the power of belief into this storyline. Through the story of a artist's time during a marriage break, Murakami explores the importance of belief. The things and ideas we believe in (although not visible) play such a large role in our actions and life's outcomes. In the mountainous landscape we see an artist come to terms with his beliefs about himself as a man and artist. We also see how others' perceptions and beliefs about their lives influence their actions.
This was my third Murakami novel. A thicker novel, you know that you're reading a long novel but it doesn't feel like you're trudging through it. As always, it left me wanting more Murkami, just maybe not immediately after. I need some processing time.
This was my third Murakami novel. A thicker novel, you know that you're reading a long novel but it doesn't feel like you're trudging through it. As always, it left me wanting more Murkami, just maybe not immediately after. I need some processing time.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
mysterious
medium-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:
Complicated
This book took days and days to read. I can't help but wish I'd spent those days doing something different. Murakami is an incredible writer, however his books seem a bit predictable and as if he slots different details into the same structure each time.
I think I understand where the author was going with this, but I ended the book with a feeling that something was lacking. A lack of closure, probably. Like the circle hadn't been closed. It's like the author had all those ideas that he wove into the story but the threads never lead anywhere. So many loose ends. And I understand that it's probably the point, but it feels wrong.
I don't think I wasted my time reading this though. Once I'd really started (about a hundred pages or so), it was hard to put down. I can't really explain why because nothing really... happened, to be honest. I mean, things *did* happen, but they happened like waking up in the morning or eating breakfast does. They're things that happen, but they don't matter. Certainly not enough to warrant writing a book about them.
I think I'm too tired to write a coherent review of this book. I liked it, but I can't explain why. Let's leave it at that.
I don't think I wasted my time reading this though. Once I'd really started (about a hundred pages or so), it was hard to put down. I can't really explain why because nothing really... happened, to be honest. I mean, things *did* happen, but they happened like waking up in the morning or eating breakfast does. They're things that happen, but they don't matter. Certainly not enough to warrant writing a book about them.
I think I'm too tired to write a coherent review of this book. I liked it, but I can't explain why. Let's leave it at that.
It's very rare for me to not finish a book. When I don't, know that the book was truly bad. This long-winded, repetitive, unenjoyable novel tried me sorely. While claiming to be "absurdist" fiction, this novel made utterly no sense and had no underlying message. The WORST part, though, for me, was the MISOGYNY. There were 6 prominent female characters and basically the only thing I got to know about them was their breast size. The protagonist is an unlikable sociopath who spends several paragraphs reminiscing over the size of his dead little sister's breasts. This book discouraged me from reading any more of Murakami's novels, if this is how women are discussed in them.
I found the main character sooo annoying, the storylines of every other character would have been sooo much more interesting to me.
4.5 stars.
It's been a while since I read a Murakami book and now I remember how much I've enjoyed his work. This one also made me appreciate his unique, surreal way of writing even more.
For me, this is the kind of book that I want to savor and enjoy each sentence of. And that's from someone who adores plot-driven novels and would skim through pages just to find out what happens next. It took me 10 days to finish, but the prose is so soothing and atmospheric that I wanted to make it last as long as possible.
In terms of the plot and characters, Murakami manages to weave in the right amount of fantasy to make the world still feel very realistic. I must say the almost-full circle ending was not very satisfactory, and yet the slightly disappointing ending was not enough to nullify the enjoyment I've had throughout the novel.
What I'm trying to say is, there's no character development whatsoever, no page-turning twist, and no mind-blowing revelation, but STILL, somehow, I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience.
It's difficult to describe, but everything about Killing Commendatore is quintessentially Murakami. And that should be reason enough to read it.
It's been a while since I read a Murakami book and now I remember how much I've enjoyed his work. This one also made me appreciate his unique, surreal way of writing even more.
For me, this is the kind of book that I want to savor and enjoy each sentence of. And that's from someone who adores plot-driven novels and would skim through pages just to find out what happens next. It took me 10 days to finish, but the prose is so soothing and atmospheric that I wanted to make it last as long as possible.
In terms of the plot and characters, Murakami manages to weave in the right amount of fantasy to make the world still feel very realistic. I must say the almost-full circle ending was not very satisfactory, and yet the slightly disappointing ending was not enough to nullify the enjoyment I've had throughout the novel.
What I'm trying to say is, there's no character development whatsoever, no page-turning twist, and no mind-blowing revelation, but STILL, somehow, I thoroughly enjoyed the reading experience.
It's difficult to describe, but everything about Killing Commendatore is quintessentially Murakami. And that should be reason enough to read it.
I read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle when I was in high school and remember liking it. So when I saw this book in a little free library, I picked it up. The writing was good but I could not get past the gross, overly-sexual, misogynistic descriptions of women in this novel.
was mostly into it until the end (just got slow), also some uncomfy parts tho