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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
I'm only giving this collection 3 stars because the first couple of stories didn't do it for me. The later pieces, though, were awesome; very well written and they had that signature Murakami zing — 'Samsa in Love' being my favorite of the whole lot.
The book depicted love, loss, sex, and attachments in a classic and true Murakami fashion. The Japanese author is known for his portrayal of women in his books–objects of extreme fantasy. This book is no different, as I found the women characters shallow and almost bland. Only the first short story, "Drive My Car," portrayed a woman with fair strength.
In the grand scheme of things, Murakami's "Men Without Women" highlighted the vulnerability of men when they lose their women. Not my favorite Murakami book, but it is quite intriguing.
In the grand scheme of things, Murakami's "Men Without Women" highlighted the vulnerability of men when they lose their women. Not my favorite Murakami book, but it is quite intriguing.
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
fast-paced
There are a few givens in every Murakami book: references to The Beatles and/or jazz music, an overly emo and introspective male protagonist yearning over a woman. Super predictable. This is the third or fourth book by him that I have read and it actually confirms another given in his books: he doesn't really like women and is quite sexist.
In previous books I've felt like women weren't really well written. The men would have these long, ultra descriptive references to what they look like and what they were thinking and women are more like "she had big boobs and asked him what the bulge was in my pocket".
This book almost had an incel vibe. I finished it only for the sake of completion and nothing more. I don't get why Murakami is so popular and I definitely don't think I'll be coming back for more any time soon.
In previous books I've felt like women weren't really well written. The men would have these long, ultra descriptive references to what they look like and what they were thinking and women are more like "she had big boobs and asked him what the bulge was in my pocket".
This book almost had an incel vibe. I finished it only for the sake of completion and nothing more. I don't get why Murakami is so popular and I definitely don't think I'll be coming back for more any time soon.
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
The only thing Murakami hates more than women is himself
Reading Murakami always feels like dreaming while you’re awake. This collection was no different.
this story intricately weaves tales of solitude and human connection. Through his mesmerizing prose, Murakami explores the depths of loneliness and the complexities of relationships. Each story is a poignant reflection on the enigmatic nature of human experience, leaving readers captivated by the subtle beauty of these narratives.
Solid set of stories. Drive My Car was okay. Yeserday was very good. Independent Organ was very good. Scheherazade very good. Kino was my favorite story. Felt like a prequel? or maybe a filling in? Felt like it had characters I should've known already and seemed to end on a cliffhanger. Samsa in Love is a Metamorphosis sequel.