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kibiiiariii's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Acephobia/Arophobia, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Pedophilia, Biphobia, Cancer, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Ableism, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Abandonment, Blood, Death of parent, Infertility, Abortion, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Violence, and Toxic friendship
quixie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Violence, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Kidnapping, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Murder
lisa00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, Murder, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, and Incest
huunnybeee_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Incest
bellaa's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Background: I first bought this book in 2019 because I thought it looked intriguing. I then spent the next three years attempting over and over again to start and power through it, until I realized this is not really a book that you attempt to power through. This is a book you take chapter by chapter, line by line, with time in between. When I realized that, it became a lot easier to consume and enjoy because I knew I would be able to take time away from it eventually.
Overall thoughts: I thought it was a good book. It was alright. The world-building was spectacular, the writing itself was very detailed, I found myself enjoying it at a lot of parts. But then, Murakami would write something (and I'm blaming him for this) that took me completely out of it, often relating to the character's sexual preferences. This could be an incredible book had Murakami's editor taken a more liberal red pen. I also think this book was attempting to be a lot more thought-provoking than it was. The story was superfluous at times, probably around 600 pages to long. However, I do think it is a good book to be read by people willing to overlook some of the more out-there statements Murakami just throws in for the fun of it.
Likes: Again, I like the poetic writing, the world-building, and (at some points) the characters. These are all things Murakami excels at. He can make things intricate, detailed, and interesting. He also has shining moments in between the fluff. It is impossible to not see the appeal of this book when it comes to these things.
Critiques: But then we get to the critiques. Firstly, it's long. That much is obvious. It is long and while there is nothing necessarily wrong with it, I don't think it does Murakami himself much good. Does he write incredibly well, simplistic yet detailed? Yes, absolutely. Does the long form of the novel give way to much of Murakami's personal fetishes and sexual fantasies? Also yes (more on that later). The story becomes too much, lost in a way that I'm not sure Murakami intended.
Secondly, the characters' insecurity. I'm not hating on anyone for being insecure, but God, Murakami's characters are some of the most insecure, self-obsessed, and boring people I have ever met. The female main character's obsession with her small breasts, the male secondary character that is constantly reminding us how ugly and unlikable he is. Etc. Etc. Etc. I'm done with it. I'm tired. I don't need to be constantly reminded of how much these characters, and everyone around them, finds them ugly and unlikable and a million other adjectives boiling down to insecure. Murakami, make your characters confident 2022.
Thirdly, the sexual shit. Tengo does not need to keep reminding us of a) his mothers' sexual affair in front of him that he constantly has flashbacks to (that he then recreates with his girlfriend and it makes him nut immediately???), b) his lack of attraction (but possible, there's always a possibility) for the teenage girl he is in a very confusing friendship with, and c) his constant masturbation over a hand touch from a girl he knew once when he was ten. Aomame, for the first half of the book, reminds the audience of her fetish for balding older men every chapter, or even twice every chapter. Additionally, the constant mention of her forays into homosexuality without any tangible results just frustrated me. I firmly believe Murakami just finds lesbians sexually attractive but refuses to condone homosexuality (no tangible evidence, just opinion lol). That brings the list of Murakami's sexual shit that he included in this book up to five: Oedipus complexes (??), pre-pubescent hand-touching (/j), women's ears, women's breasts (constantly, fucking constantly), and lesbians.
[Massive TW for this paragraph: pedophilia, graphic descriptions of sex]
Miscellaneous: Fuka-Eri may essentially be a manic pixie dream girl, but I love her. She deserves the world. Wish this book had been about her and only her.
Conclusion: Murakami, get a fucking editor
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Death of parent, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Pregnancy
It does not necessarily condone pedophilia, but it essentially becomes written into the worldview like "Oops, has to be done!"shazzy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Pedophilia, and Suicidal thoughts
j_abby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
Graphic: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Dementia, Misogyny, and Stalking
Minor: Homophobia, Infertility, Kidnapping, Lesbophobia, and Torture
shelbytheduck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Pedophilia, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Torture, Child abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, Rape, Suicide attempt, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Sexual assault
tonyoswald's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Adult/minor relationship
maac's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Grief, Incest, Kidnapping, Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Stalking, and Suicidal thoughts
GODD THIS WAS SO EW i would rather put my finger in a mouse trap before i interact with this ok basically EVERY SINGLE WOMAN (which totaled to about 6) had a sexual relationship with the men. INCLUDING a 17 year old girl. which murakami attempts to justify?!??!??? the only reason i finished this was because i was so far in. all the women are over sexualized, the plot drags on but is still somewhat interesting to keep you reading (or bc u got like 500 pages in and figured u might as well finish it), all of it just makes you feel sick and while there’s some interesting parts none of the sickening parts needed to be added