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ambrose_7's review
5.0
I think a suspense novel's goal is to read like a rollercoaster. You tick yourself slowly up the hill getting closer and closer to the top and then BAM you go over the top and zooming down the backside. That's what this book felt like, and it was WONDERFUL. Murakami writes suspense the best that I've ever read. He also writes about trends in society very well, and groups of people. All of the conversations between characters are fascinating.
Page turning takes on a whole new meaning when reading this novel. I couldn't put it down and ended up staying up way later than I should have. He writes outstanding properly f'd characters. I have to wonder if he'd met a few to write such creepy ones. I liked this one more than "In the Miso Soup" it checked all the boxes for me. When I finished it, the one word that popped out of my mouth was "f***". And I think that about sums it up.
Ya'll should give 'er a shot.
Page turning takes on a whole new meaning when reading this novel. I couldn't put it down and ended up staying up way later than I should have. He writes outstanding properly f'd characters. I have to wonder if he'd met a few to write such creepy ones. I liked this one more than "In the Miso Soup" it checked all the boxes for me. When I finished it, the one word that popped out of my mouth was "f***". And I think that about sums it up.
Ya'll should give 'er a shot.
ghostface's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-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? No
4.25
jroberts3456's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Torture
littlespookysmut's review
4.0
I wanted to read this cause my boyfriend told me the movie was really gross and I ended up enjoying this more then I thought I would.
It’s a fast paced thriller that keeps you guessing
Tw: animal death, gore
It’s a fast paced thriller that keeps you guessing
Tw: animal death, gore
emilywest21'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
3.5
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