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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
slow-paced
I have read most of Murakami's works. So of course I picked up his most recent book. I felt like I had met with an old friend, that is how Murakami's books make me feel. They unfold slowly, with such great detail that you feel like you are by the main character's side. Yes, again, one of his characters is sitting at the bottom of a dry well, contemplating life.
All I am going to say is if you enjoyed The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, or 1Q84, you will enjoy this book.
All I am going to say is if you enjoyed The Wind-up Bird Chronicle, or 1Q84, you will enjoy this book.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I would like to give this something like 3.75 stars, although this will do with the current rating system.
The begining was very slow. I waited a long time, patiently, for something to emerge. At last it did and became more interesting. There were some themes and ideas here that have appeared in or developed from previous Murakami works, that much is clear. This work feels almost like an experimentation. Getting certain ideas out of his system, or trying them out in some way. It feels less finished than some of his other works. But given the theme of unfinished paintings, maybe this was deliberate. In the end I enjoyed it, if not quite as much as titles like Kafka on the Shore or Norwegian Wood.
The begining was very slow. I waited a long time, patiently, for something to emerge. At last it did and became more interesting. There were some themes and ideas here that have appeared in or developed from previous Murakami works, that much is clear. This work feels almost like an experimentation. Getting certain ideas out of his system, or trying them out in some way. It feels less finished than some of his other works. But given the theme of unfinished paintings, maybe this was deliberate. In the end I enjoyed it, if not quite as much as titles like Kafka on the Shore or Norwegian Wood.
Had the feel of a Murakami book but it wasn't quite up to his usual standards so only 4 instead of 5 stars. Not sure what exactly the problem was but it just didn't draw me in as quickly as usual.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It's definitely up there in my Murakami ranking. What I thought would be a foggier tale was actually quite a nutty story about isolation, memory, and solipsism. Taught me a number of very important things and comforted me at a very hard time.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes