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Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'
ノルウェイの森 Vol. 1 by Haruki Murakami, Haruki Murakami, Haruki Murakami
405 reviews
whoischels's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Good bits: This book is beautifully written. I always hear people complaining that Murakami writes women terribly and I actually disagree with that in this case. The women in this book feel like people, and are like-able people, even filtered through the eyes of the narrator Watanabe and through the romanticized distance of the memories he is recounting. The story really beautifully demonstrates how a young person can focus on fixing the suffering of others in order to avoid thinking about their own grief. It shows how a typically male-leaning stoic handling emotions can fail. It has incredibly vivid imagery and the aesthetic of Murakami's stories is always really engrossing.
Bad bits: Unfortunately, all of this is overshadowed by the
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, and Pedophilia
stoneofexile's review against another edition
- 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
2.0
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Minor: Rape and Death of parent
balinmoreno's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Suicide and Mental illness
zachport06's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, Rape, and Self harm
Minor: Pedophilia
sam_smith101's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, Pedophilia, and Sexual content
sinfell's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I have read several of Murakami’s stories, but I feel his more realistic works have their own sort of surrealism to it that any fantastical plot points feels completely unnecessary.
Plus Midori is in this book, so that should be reason enough to give it 5 stars.
Graphic: Death, Grief, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Suicidal thoughts
bella613's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
I didn't love this book the way I loved Killing Commendatore. It was not quite what I expected, especially after hearing it was this book that exploded Murakami into fame. But I did connect with it. As it is with Murakami, there are some uncomfortable sections of the book. But there are some uncomfortable moments in life, so... it's sort of beautiful that he captures it so intensely?
I found myself most drawn to Naoko in this story. Midori as a character is someone I would probably not enjoy spending time with in real life, but added to the story in a mostly positive way. I didn't like Toru much in the same way that one might not like oneself. Listening from his pov felt like looking back on one's own life and seeing all the flaws and mistakes and self-centered choices that were made. But he was very real. That's one thing I also love about Murakami: all of his characters feel undeniably real.
My favorite part of the book was probably the long letter describing the sanatorium and the following visit to the sanatorium.
Graphic: Grief, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Death of parent
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
giulidrago's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, and Suicide
esv_'s review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Terminal illness, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Cancer, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Infidelity, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Rape, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Car accident, Chronic illness, and Sexism
ceh517's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Child death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Miscarriage