You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.

vincentblackshadow's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective relaxing sad fast-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

4.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

savtho's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I picked this book up as a wrapped mystery book. A bookshop worker wrote a note for the future reader; the note talked about everyday conversations, losing friendships and the color grey. At first I was very interested in this book but half way through it got boring. This book wasn’t as deep as I thought it would be. However the writing style and story telling are what kept me going. I think I would re-read this book and stop half way through because I liked the writing that much. Otherwise the book is lack luster, a part of me feels like that’s almost the point and if it is then I’d give it more stars for reaching its purpose. Especially because the descriptions in the book were boring. Maybe if I got more out of this book I’d be interested to find out if there was a purpose for this book. Before I finished the book I was hoping to read more from this author, however the dark themes of this book made it difficult to read at times and eventually I felt the voice of the writer was gone. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

sawshiwen's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0



essentially, this feels like a rape fantasy book...?

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

seraphimgt's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I liked it better than Kafka at least. My major issue with this book was how it handled violence against women.
My professor pointed out that many people believe that Murakami is commentating on how many violent and sexual crimes against women go unsolved in Japan, and the rate of these crimes are rising, but that didn't make what happened to Shiro/Yuzu any less uncomfortable to read. Plus, false accusations are incredibly rare so every time I see one portrayed, it kind of pisses me off because it perpetuates and inflates a dangerously inaccurate idea that many misogynists have. I'm not saying Murakami buys into the idea that many women lie about being raped, and the reveal that Shiro HAD in fact been raped by someone, just not Tsukuru I think gives him a little leeway, but it's just uncomfortable.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

distractible's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • 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? Yes

3.0

There is an off-screen murder, an off-screen rape and miscarriage, and the main character is falsely accused of rape.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

filletheblank's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ellagriffin_'s review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Brewed coffee & false allegations. Thinking all you are is grey. Tokyo skies & bullet trains. Chlorine & matching suits. The cold that comes after people abandon you. An unplanned strong first step into Murakami’s work, with sadly more relatable subject matter than I care to admit. A dark mirror into my mind for the past little while. 

I was hoping for a little more of the magical realism he is known for, and found the pace slower than necessary in parts. But at it’s core is beautiful prose, clear human observations & an infectious sense of place. Looking forward to rest of his collection. 🤍

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

rebekahelis's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

I despise false rape/ SA claims as a plot line</spolier> I also hated how women were written in this book.

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

ccs's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No

3.75


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

aindrila's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings