Reviews with content warning for Suicidal thoughts - Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

I’ve been recommended Norwegian Wood more times than I can count, but I decided to read this as my first Murakami book. A saddening story about loosing friendships- taking time to heal, and eventually returning back home to seek out those past friends. An emotional, reflective story full of complex, colourful characters. Despite how sad the themes could get, Murakami’s writing style is beautiful and warm.

Content Warnings

yasaman's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

Content Warnings

vaguelyredhead's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

2.75

Content Warnings

maramalade__'s review against another edition

Go to review page

sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

predictable murakami if that’s your thing. What it has

sad young man who get way to hung up on old friendships
women that are nothing more than a pair of boobs
Trains

What it lacks

Any form of character development

I didn’t hate it it’s just more or less exactly what I expect every Murakami book to be

Content Warnings

clmoore's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective tense 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

5.0

Content Warnings

mrkeynyones's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

A lot of unanswered questions.

I liked the introspective elements a lot, quite frankly they were the most relatable parts, even if at times the main character can be wayyyy too morose. There are a few triggering subject matters, that I typically avoid in books and media, but other than that I don't know what to make of the book tbh. It was... I don't know. Not an immediate like or dislike, it just very much so exists.

Content Warnings

realsiderzz30's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional mysterious reflective medium-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

Haruki Murakami has created a brilliant and reflective coming-of-age story, focused on a close group of friends in Nagoya, Japan. Murakami encourages the reader to expand their own understanding into human nature throughout the course of the read.

Content Warnings

kaylamoran's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional reflective sad 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

3.75

This is such a hard book to rate, as there were things I loved and things I hated.

I hated the way the story centered on a fake rape accusation. I really don't think that's a helpful narrative, and it wasn't necessary for the story. Tsukuru could have been shunned for any number of reasons. I also found it a bit frustrating how seemingly cheating wasn't a red flag? Why would Kuro tell Tsukuru to fight for a woman with another boyfriend?

Ultimately I related to Tsukuru in many ways, and I was really rooting for him. Usually slow paced books with a ton of descriptors bore me, but that didn't happen here. I do wish Murakami spent a bit less energy describing women's breasts though.

Content Warnings

More...