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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
There is no way i have ever been able to explain murakaim's books. other than i love them. and am kind of jealous of the characters and what they get to experience. I am still always confounded at the amount o specific detail regarding basic function like cooking, bathing and going to the store. the book would have been at least 200 pgs less without those details. and YET- that is what makes it one of his books. do all japanese authors write this way?
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
I absolutely love Murakami’s writing. This is absolutely beautiful. It’s fascinating in a strange way.
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Murakami’s characters are always in the grip of something, he will do the same to you .
I started this book really enjoying it and ended it feeling "eh".
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is Murakami painting by numbers, enjoyable enough if you already like the Murakami thing.
The main character paints portraits to order to live with minimal stress, but his creative spark still shows through, they are still special. After being dumped by his wife, he meets some interesting characters and an interesting painting, goes on a metaphorical/not so metaphorical journey,tries to produce some real art but leaves it unfinished, is reborn, gets back with his wife, happily continuing to support his family (he now also has a metaphorical/not so metaphorical child) painting portraits with minimal stress
It is all metaphorical, possibly doubly metaphorical, we are told over and over. What can squeezing through a dark narrow passage into a dark pit possibly signify? Despite that, I still kept turning the pages.
The main character paints portraits to order to live with minimal stress, but his creative spark still shows through, they are still special. After being dumped by his wife, he meets some interesting characters and an interesting painting, goes on a metaphorical/not so metaphorical journey,
It is all metaphorical, possibly doubly metaphorical, we are told over and over. What can squeezing through a dark narrow passage into a dark pit possibly signify? Despite that, I still kept turning the pages.
Happy to read Murakami's work. Reading this makes me felt like I visit the Murakami's world again. Story about a lonely man, saddened husband left by the wive, cars, and arts all of these are just so good. The paintings in the book; killing commendatore, man with subaru forester, menshiki, and the black pit and arikawa these just seems to very real and vivid in mind. The jazz music that usually Murakami mentioned in his previous works are replaced by the classical operas in this book adds a nice touch. Also love how Murakami mentioned about Vienna the city that I loved, and also Van Gough's works such as the potrait of postman family.
However, there were a couple of elements that I didn't quite appreciate, such as the dream about rape, strange conversation somehow reflects incest, and the non stop talk about breasts by a 13 year old girl with the narrator. I get that it's Murakami's style, but it felt a bit too much and disturbing.
Despite that, the book has been good company, sparking my imagination in this very hard times lol.
However, there were a couple of elements that I didn't quite appreciate, such as the dream about rape, strange conversation somehow reflects incest, and the non stop talk about breasts by a 13 year old girl with the narrator. I get that it's Murakami's style, but it felt a bit too much and disturbing.
Despite that, the book has been good company, sparking my imagination in this very hard times lol.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Probably my favorite Murakami book. Although it isn't as gripping as Kafka on the Shore, or profound as Norwegian Wood, it definitely has my favorite world building. The history of the titular painting, the supernatural characters-- as well as the worldly ones-- incredibly interesting and intruiging. The fact that it's set in the mountainous country side of Japan also creates a wonderful imagery, and the lack of resolution in the end leaves you thinking about it for a long time to come. I wish I could express more deeply why I love this book, but it's hard to put into words.