Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami

64 reviews

icebearg's review

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

The story's mystery and suspense were good until halfway into the story where it just becomes a heavy-handed metaphor for the parallels and differences between American and Japanese society and culture--though, I will admit that Murakami gives fascinating insights from a japan-centric perspective. The author also delves into the subject of the nature and origin of evil on the level of individual and then societal, however that's all the story is concerned about as the characters do nothing but become talking pieces for the author until the end of the book.

I can see that this was done because Kenji developed an understanding for Frank and his ideology, but it took away from the psychological thriller aspect that made me initially interested in this book.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit and Self harm

booksthoughtsandtea's review

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Oddly terrifying and fascinating. I am unsure if I think the mental illness representation further harms the mental health community (I'm in that community) or not. In some ways it shows the harm of forces institution, and how it does not help if the patient doesn't want to change. This book was very fatphobic. The only fat person in this whole story is an American... and it doesn't sit right with me. I think this book is a meditation on the fasination people have with foreigners, how classism is so prevalent in wealthy and less wealthy countries, lonliness,  and how we are all fascinated by death. Either way, this book had me empathize for the bad guy... That's a hard feat when murder is involved.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Fatphobia, Stalking, Alcohol, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Body horror, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Animal death, Gore, Murder, Sexual violence, Torture, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Kidnapping, Rape, and Drug abuse

Please take care of yourself and read the content warnings.

whitemaleego_andablunt's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Body horror

Moderate: Self harm and Panic attacks/disorders

kimberlyswalters's review

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Vomit, Death, Gore, Self harm, Violence, Blood, Animal death, Body horror, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape

ashpociadlo's review

dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Vomit, Violence, Sexual violence, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Gore, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Death, Body horror, Torture, Physical abuse, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Blood

larseneiii's review

dark tense 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

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Body horror, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Suicide attempt, Torture, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Self harm, Stalking, Animal cruelty, and Gore

Moderate: Sexual violence, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, and Rape

lucifersbabymomma's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Blood, Body horror, Death, Self harm, Animal death, Mental illness, Cannibalism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, and Gore

p1ttoresque's review

dark tense slow-paced

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

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Murder, Gore, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Sexual violence, and Blood

Moderate: Self harm

nikkkimarrry's review

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Mental illness, Murder, and Torture

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Self harm

niaiscrying's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Self harm, Death, Gore, Murder, Cannibalism, Injury/Injury detail, and Terminal illness