Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

155 reviews

jordannoelle's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

The way women are written in this book grosses me out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

oponyo's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Suicide

hoppyread'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? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicide and Rape

andrea_carroll123's review against another edition

dark emotional sad 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Rape

saara's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicide, and Sexism

kydnmthws's review against another edition

emotional sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I have this thing about Murakami. He's by no means a bad author, but his books really don't feel like they have any business being books.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Pedophilia, and Rape

Minor: Alcohol

lagaialettrice's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cancer, Suicide, Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness

claukv's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Stalking, Alcohol, Death of parent, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness

Minor: Lesbophobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Body shaming

sleepyriv's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Suicide, and Infidelity

sakurachiyou's review against another edition

sad medium-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

0.25

 

Whether you believe it or not, Murakami got me out of a 1.5-year-long reading slump, and not for the reasons one might expect. It's because I wholeheartedly detest his writing. If I am certain about two things regarding my relationship with literature, it's that I love hating on books and that I am dedicated to hating Murakami's books. Hating his books gives me life. That's it; that's who I am. Now that I have established myself and my views, let's talk about the book on a surface level. 

 

"Norwegian Wood," Murakami's undoubtedly most popular book. What a train wreck, what a mess! C'est un vrai gâchis! (Pardon my French; I wanted to swear, but I settled for a more civilized approach.) 

 

For lack of a better word, the main viewpoint of the book follows the male gaze; it's the male experience in a strictly male world. Every problem a woman is facing can be solved by a man, and that man can only be Toru. Every problem or insecurity is forgotten once they have sexual interactions with him, and boy oh boy, do the women in Murakami's world exist just to be sexual beings? 

 

I don't understand the appeal of Murakami's world or his characters. The melancholic and depressive state that looms around every page doesn't seem well executed in my perspective. Need I go through the reasons why I believe that mental illness matters are handled very immaturely and messily? Because they are, and it's very evident. 

 

I was under the impression that people like this book because of the atmosphere that the author creates, the vibes, the mood. There was no such thing as a melancholic atmosphere. I could not get in the mood because the writing style does nothing for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Death, Mental illness, Grief, and Rape