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lauraborkpower's review against another edition
4.0
I recently re-read this book because I'm teaching it in one of my composition classes. My students reacted so well to it and gave me a lot of new things to think about. They also all agreed that Part 2 interviewing the cult members not directly involved with the attack was unnecessary and not as compelling or well structured as Part 1 (with the victims). I agree with their assessment in part, though I think it's a necessary part of the story. Just be aware of the two different parts and decide for yourself!
Update February 15: Read it again and it got better. Murakami's prefaces and afterword for part 1 are brilliant, humble, and just plain beautiful.
Update February 15: Read it again and it got better. Murakami's prefaces and afterword for part 1 are brilliant, humble, and just plain beautiful.
trin's review against another edition
4.0
Incredibly powerful account of the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. Murakami tells the story very simply, using mostly Studs Terkel-style first person accounts. It’s fascinating to see different people’s versions of the same events, especially since many of the survivors interviewed were in close proximity to each other (such as, on a tiny subway car) when the attacks took place, and yet their perspectives will often deviate from one another in interesting ways.
In the second half of the book, Murakami interviews former members of Aum Shinrikyo, the cult that perpetrated the attacks. This section is likewise compelling, and horrifying, though in different ways. I find the cult mentality somewhat difficult to grasp, so my reaction to the second section contained an element of bafflement to it as well, but that sort of works, as in a way the book is about trying to make sense of the insensible. It’s a wonderful work as a piece of history, and as an introspective look at everyday human action in the face of tragedy.
In the second half of the book, Murakami interviews former members of Aum Shinrikyo, the cult that perpetrated the attacks. This section is likewise compelling, and horrifying, though in different ways. I find the cult mentality somewhat difficult to grasp, so my reaction to the second section contained an element of bafflement to it as well, but that sort of works, as in a way the book is about trying to make sense of the insensible. It’s a wonderful work as a piece of history, and as an introspective look at everyday human action in the face of tragedy.
hawkes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Murder, and Religious bigotry
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
4.0
Through interviews with those involved and back stories about key individuals, this book revolves around not only the gas attack but the reasoning within individuals who get caught up in a cult and are thereafter convinced to commit murder. Murakami speaks with some participants in the murders and some of those who were injured during the attack. Digs at questions of religious fanaticism and how and why a person could be convinced to murder someone else based on religious beliefs. Disturbing and extremely informative.
irxren's review against another edition
4.0
In this non-fiction literary collection, Murakami delves into the real-life stories of individuals profoundly affected by the Tokyo Gas Attack, a chilling act of terrorism that shook Japan. From a random train passenger to a dedicated officer and even an Irish Jockey, each person's experience during the deadliest incident since World War II unfolds in raw detail.
The book captures the diverse perspectives of those caught in the chaos: 13 lives lost, 50 severely injured, and thousands rushed to hospitals. Murakami skillfully avoids his usual magical realism, opting for a straightforward narrative that reflects the unadorned reality of the event. What sets this book apart is its sincere exploration of why such horrors occur and the lessons humanity can glean from them.
The book captures the diverse perspectives of those caught in the chaos: 13 lives lost, 50 severely injured, and thousands rushed to hospitals. Murakami skillfully avoids his usual magical realism, opting for a straightforward narrative that reflects the unadorned reality of the event. What sets this book apart is its sincere exploration of why such horrors occur and the lessons humanity can glean from them.
lostintranslatedbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This is a well-balanced book about the Tokyo gas bombings in the early 1990s. My friend recommended this book to me and I can’t put it down. Without any spoilers, I think it definitely changed my views, and even gave me, a new and different perspective to Murakami’s fictional works like Wind-up bird chronicles and Killing Commendatore.