Scan barcode
ygmrdlr's review against another edition
2.0
I believe this author has some serious issues surrounding sex and young women.
So much of this book made me question what on Earth I was reading. The main character seemed to have no strengths, completely unlikeable and tragic. All women were sexualised in some way, fitting into the manic pixie dream girl trope. We did not get to know their characters. Instead they were randomly naked. Not to mention the explicit nature of his writing with regards to women. You’d think Murakami was either sex obsessed or a nonce.
Storyline was weak. Normally with books with weak storylines there’s something to ponder. Sometimes something behind certain plots or storylines. Nothing of the sort was present here. Almost none of the characters were likeable. There was nothing to ‘learn’ from the lives of these people. Just an utterly unlikeable book.
Ending was completely abysmal - again, every woman here was sexualised in some twisted way. Murakami should seek therapy - particularly for the blatant sexualisation and comparison of CHILDREN in this book.
So much of this book made me question what on Earth I was reading. The main character seemed to have no strengths, completely unlikeable and tragic. All women were sexualised in some way, fitting into the manic pixie dream girl trope. We did not get to know their characters. Instead they were randomly naked. Not to mention the explicit nature of his writing with regards to women. You’d think Murakami was either sex obsessed or a nonce.
Storyline was weak. Normally with books with weak storylines there’s something to ponder. Sometimes something behind certain plots or storylines. Nothing of the sort was present here. Almost none of the characters were likeable. There was nothing to ‘learn’ from the lives of these people. Just an utterly unlikeable book.
Ending was completely abysmal - again, every woman here was sexualised in some twisted way. Murakami should seek therapy - particularly for the blatant sexualisation and comparison of CHILDREN in this book.
_aj_h_'s review against another edition
dark
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
wiktoriapiet's review against another edition
Cannot understand the main character or his choices. He does little other than sleep with vulnerable girls because "there's nothing else he can do" and just seems a creep. Naoko was compelling until she left but Midori is an oversharer not well executed.
laurenfrancoise's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
seybolda's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
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
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual assault
max_s_books's review
dark
sad
slow-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
emmalemonnz's review against another edition
5.0
I've been struggling to read anything new for a while now, trying a bunch of different books. This is the first one that I picked up and couldn't put back down again.
It's a simple yet complex tale of a young man and his experiences of. The Beatles' Norwegian Wood is the perfect soundtrack for the reading of it, along with any of the other songs mentioned in the text.
I've heard that it's quite different from Murakami's other books, which makes me not sure if I really want to read his others. I love his writing in this one, and although I enjoy many styles of writing, I think I'll put off reading anything else by him for a couple of years, just so I can savour Norwegian Wood for a while.
It's a simple yet complex tale of a young man and his experiences of
Spoiler
falling in love with two unusual women, while at the same time dealing with the suicides and mental illnesses of those close to himI've heard that it's quite different from Murakami's other books, which makes me not sure if I really want to read his others. I love his writing in this one, and although I enjoy many styles of writing, I think I'll put off reading anything else by him for a couple of years, just so I can savour Norwegian Wood for a while.
lindsayaunderwood's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed reading this, but some of it made zero sense.
dikshya's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5