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llyan's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Japanese men named murakami who writes women terribly and absurdly might be my soulmate. I'm sorry to say queens but internalised misogyny might've won
Overall a great fun and easy read, this book was chosen for me when my local book guy did a "blind date with a book" and i have to say it's perfect!
Absolutely hilarious how aoyama was so delusional and how yamasaki was so insane! Good for her!
Personally, aoyama was only good for his commentary on Japanese culture and food and a lil on how he treats his woman to really nice meals not so much the lying part. We do not stan him
The only good people in this book are rie-san, shige-kun, and yamasaki-san I'm afraid
My only few problems i had with this book was the dog gore, that was not very nice :( also that it felt like
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Gore, and Animal death
Moderate: Physical abuse and Child abuse
frogggyyyyy's review
2.0
skip this if animal death/abuse is at all a trigger for you. it’s intense
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
misssleepy's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I watched Audition (the 1999 film) last year but had no idea it was a book. I came across the book on tik tok and decided to give it a read.
This book was so dark. The majority of the book reads like a psychological thriller but the last 25% of the book (especially the last 2 chapters) are pure horror.
Unfortunately there is violence toward animals (the pet dog, Gangsta) that was especially disturbing. I did not like this and I don’t believe this was a part of the film. I actually think that the violence toward Gangsta will give me nightmares. (Coming back after researching, Gangsta does die in the film hit his death isn’t shown, just a brief shot of the after math. Maybe my eyes were covered or I blocked it from my memory.)
The ending does have similarities to the movie but there are some key differences. Shige does save his dad in both versions which I did like.
The book does delve into the background of Yamasaki more than the movie and provides more context into why she commits the acts of violence that she does. It’s discussed in the movie but the book dives deeper into her psyche, which I enjoy.
I also think that Aoyama is more complex in the book. He’s definitely misogynistic and treats women as objects but there are times where I felt sympathy for him and believed his feelings towards Yamasaki. I had to remind myself often of their age gap and how gross it was to help shake some of the sympathy.
I think that the detailed sexism made me “root” for Yamasaki at times but I do think the extreme violence was more than what was warranted. So in the end the feelings are just very conflicting.
Regardless, what happened to Gangsta was just uncalled for!! So I was glad that bitch got stabbed in the neck in the end.
I keep lowering my rating because why the fuck did the dog have to die!!!
I haven’t stopped thinking of gangsta. I lowered my star rating because of this.
My biggest conclusion is that this story would be 4.0+ stars if they would t have done Gangsta like that !
This book was so dark. The majority of the book reads like a psychological thriller but the last 25% of the book (especially the last 2 chapters) are pure horror.
Unfortunately there is violence toward animals (the pet dog, Gangsta) that was especially disturbing. I did not like this and I don’t believe this was a part of the film. I actually think that the violence toward Gangsta will give me nightmares. (Coming back after researching, Gangsta does die in the film hit his death isn’t shown, just a brief shot of the after math. Maybe my eyes were covered or I blocked it from my memory.)
The ending does have similarities to the movie but there are some key differences. Shige does save his dad in both versions which I did like.
The book does delve into the background of Yamasaki more than the movie and provides more context into why she commits the acts of violence that she does. It’s discussed in the movie but the book dives deeper into her psyche, which I enjoy.
I also think that Aoyama is more complex in the book. He’s definitely misogynistic and treats women as objects but there are times where I felt sympathy for him and believed his feelings towards Yamasaki. I had to remind myself often of their age gap and how gross it was to help shake some of the sympathy.
I think that the detailed sexism made me “root” for Yamasaki at times but I do think the extreme violence was more than what was warranted. So in the end the feelings are just very conflicting.
Regardless, what happened to Gangsta was just uncalled for!! So I was glad that bitch got stabbed in the neck in the end.
I keep lowering my rating because why the fuck did the dog have to die!!!
I haven’t stopped thinking of gangsta. I lowered my star rating because of this.
My biggest conclusion is that this story would be 4.0+ stars if they would t have done Gangsta like that !
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Body horror
mymeloxie's review
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Animal death, and Stalking
f18's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-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
3.5
I can't be the only person who finds Ryu Murakami hilarious. Cmon fix your votes for tone/mood!
I saw the movie Audition years ago, and found it underwhelming. In part, because I had been overhyped on how gory it would be but reading the book reminded me of other issues I had with the story.
After watching Love & Pop, Audition, and both reading and watching Piercing I think that what I really wanted from this book isn't what Murakami is interested in exploring in his work. I did enjoy this more than Piercing. Aoyama wasn't exactly likeable but he was far less grating than Kawashima who made me constantly want to throw the book across the room until around the halfway point when the comedy of errors plot kicked in. Piercing I found funny straight away which made it a much more entertaining read. Murakami's works are ultimately focused on internal psychology though, and in a way I always seem to have mixed feelings about.Having forgotten the plot since watching the film (other than the most basic outline) I was really expecting Asami to be lying to Kawashima about her past trauma and have been setting him up from the very beginning to fall for her in order to get him close enough to torture. Being reminded that no, actually her trauma had just made her a yandere was a disappointment. Aoyama assumed the homeless child would be capable of murder and I would have loved for him to assume that Asami had turned on him because of her past only for her to reveal it had all been a lie. While people's lives inform their actions of course (cycles of violence exist) its frustrating to see the idea over and over again that its a given that a tough past will turn someone into a monster.
Regardless, the ending was brilliant.
I saw the movie Audition years ago, and found it underwhelming. In part, because I had been overhyped on how gory it would be but reading the book reminded me of other issues I had with the story.
After watching Love & Pop, Audition, and both reading and watching Piercing I think that what I really wanted from this book isn't what Murakami is interested in exploring in his work. I did enjoy this more than Piercing. Aoyama wasn't exactly likeable but he was far less grating than Kawashima who made me constantly want to throw the book across the room until around the halfway point when the comedy of errors plot kicked in. Piercing I found funny straight away which made it a much more entertaining read. Murakami's works are ultimately focused on internal psychology though, and in a way I always seem to have mixed feelings about.
Regardless, the ending was brilliant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, Blood, Drug abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Torture, and Gore
Minor: Infidelity, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Cancer, Grief, Pedophilia, Death, Incest, Child abuse, and Alcohol
drug abuse specifically in the form of giving someone drugs without their consentmelosamatic's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, Child abuse, Body horror, Pedophilia, and Injury/Injury detail
koneko01's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-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
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
lindetiel's review against another edition
fast-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty and Animal death
mayankaris's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, and Animal death
mossroot's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
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
4.75
Audition is the second book by Ryu Murakami that I have read. Having started with Piercing, Audition was a bit slower paced. However, once it gets into the horror, it is so visceral and well described that it feels like a hot iron down your throat.
I've seen some complaints about the ending, but personally I believe it fits so well with the characters and is a really good example of the characterization that Murakami uses.
I really think the ending shows Aoyama finally being broken from his delusional point of view. The spell has truly broken and he sees in her what everyone else has seen the entire time.
Audition took me about two hours to finish.
I've seen some complaints about the ending, but personally I believe it fits so well with the characters and is a really good example of the characterization that Murakami uses.
Audition took me about two hours to finish.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Torture, Gore, Animal death, Alcohol, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Murder, Terminal illness, Blood, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Death, Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death of parent and Gaslighting