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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
What an odd book. To be honest, that sentence would probably be relevant in most reviews of a work by this author. I’m not going to describe the plot, because it’s bonkers, but as a book it’s enormously engaging and easy to read. I realised when I was about half way through that not an awful lot had happened but still needed to see how it ended.
You do spend your time as you read theorising about what is going to happen in the end and how everything ties together. I got all of it wrong, in fact some things are clearly just there to try and encourage you to draw the wrong conclusions. And not everything is explained, but I loved reading it and there is a side of me that would like to know what (if anything) happened next, especially with those dangling threads.
I did notice a tiny annoying error repeated often in the text though. The main character (who is never named) regularly drinks Scotch Whisky, however throughout the book it is spelt Whiskey, which would be accurate it is were Irish Whiskey or Bourbon, but Scotch definitely has no “e” and for some reason I found this highly annoying.
The translation was brilliant, it stylistically felt like every other Murakami I have read. This book was published in Japan in two volumes, and over here the hardback as just one. Strangely though each half was translated by a different translator, and I was a little concerned that the first half would feel stylistically different from the second, but it didn’t thankfully.
Another Murakami great, I still have loads of his to read so I think I will have to select another soon.
You do spend your time as you read theorising about what is going to happen in the end and how everything ties together. I got all of it wrong, in fact some things are clearly just there to try and encourage you to draw the wrong conclusions. And not everything is explained, but I loved reading it and there is a side of me that would like to know what (if anything) happened next, especially with those dangling threads.
I did notice a tiny annoying error repeated often in the text though. The main character (who is never named) regularly drinks Scotch Whisky, however throughout the book it is spelt Whiskey, which would be accurate it is were Irish Whiskey or Bourbon, but Scotch definitely has no “e” and for some reason I found this highly annoying.
The translation was brilliant, it stylistically felt like every other Murakami I have read. This book was published in Japan in two volumes, and over here the hardback as just one. Strangely though each half was translated by a different translator, and I was a little concerned that the first half would feel stylistically different from the second, but it didn’t thankfully.
Another Murakami great, I still have loads of his to read so I think I will have to select another soon.
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Well this one really made me want to drink coffee! I was actually a bit apprehensive about reading this one at first due to the mixed reviews. I was also a bit worried this would be one of Murakami’s more perverted stories. Yes there was a bit of an obsession with the main characters sisters breasts, but it didn’t manage to take anything away from the story. Yes it does feel weird saying that!
Killing Commendatore revolves around a small time painter who has just divorced his wife. He moves into a secluded house away from his usual life. Here he is offered a lucrative job to paint a portrait for wealthy man. This opens up a case full of weird as he discovers a painting, a bell that rings only at night and other unexplainable things that lead him onto a journey of self discovery.
This book focuses heavily on human interaction and relationships which I absolutely loved. However there is also a focus on the protagonists character and his self and also on the mundane aspects of life that the character enjoys.
The surrealism in this novel was very prevalent and it almost felt like Murakami had puked a bunch of ideas onto a page...in a good way of course. His beautifully vivid writing while slow and very detailed, bolstered the surrealism in the story and made me hungry for more.
Overall this is probably my second favourite Murakami book after 1Q84. My initial expectations were not high, but Murakami managed to enthrall me in his usual way.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This wasn’t really a review for this book specifically sorry but i needed to say all that so it’s going here.
Even tho this is one of my favorite books it only gets 4 stars for the sexism
Even tho this is one of my favorite books it only gets 4 stars for the sexism
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of the weaker Murakami works. Usually with his other works, I feel the fog lifting towards the end of the book. This I felt like I'm still being stuck in this surrealism world (may be this is the intention?)
An interesting way to divide this book is to follow the narrator's artistic journey. He goes from viewing portraits as an easy, quick commission art form to something that should reflect the model's inner perspective. The narrator also moves from painting for money to painting for his own self.
Of the paintings, I couldn't understand the whole point of the man in the white Subaru. And the fact that this man was recollected for so many time left me feeling very stupid.
Murakami also went overboard with the sexual references in this one. There are so many jibes to clits and boobs which serve no purpose. And most are made by a 13 year old; the female's perspective here is so wrong.
An interesting way to divide this book is to follow the narrator's artistic journey. He goes from viewing portraits as an easy, quick commission art form to something that should reflect the model's inner perspective. The narrator also moves from painting for money to painting for his own self.
Of the paintings, I couldn't understand the whole point of the man in the white Subaru. And the fact that this man was recollected for so many time left me feeling very stupid.
Murakami also went overboard with the sexual references in this one. There are so many jibes to clits and boobs which serve no purpose. And most are made by a 13 year old; the female's perspective here is so wrong.