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jdreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Incest
irisyu's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
very abstract and creative, one of the first books i read very quickly after trying many times. i think i would have to read it again in like 5 years to get it tho.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest and Pedophilia
Moderate: Murder and Violence
phcrn__18's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Rape, Murder, and Sexual content
Moderate: Abandonment
avocados_from_mexico's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was certainly a book.
There are so many things that I dislike about this book, namely the (spoilers)very prominent adult/minor relationship... or whatever the fuck that was, the incest, and somewhat personal gripes with how Murakami writes the women in this book and the handling of Oshima's gender —yet for whatever reason, the writing compelled me, and I kept reading, and reading, and reading more. I haven't read Oedipus Rex in a while and I remember thoroughly hating it, in all honesty. But I read this, and I couldn't read anything more for a few days because I couldn't get this out of my mind.
I don't know what draws me to it. Perhaps it's the surrealism, the incredibly flawed cast of characters, or several real-life coincidences I experienced (is that the right word?) regarding the book. Minor things, but considering how much of a role coincidence plays in this book, it was kind of creepy to me in the moment. It's probably a mix of these things that kept me reading to the end.
I left this book not knowing what to take from it. I spent a long, long time thinking about what made this book so enjoyable to me. I think the writing is flat and dated, the characters aren't very compelling, and the plot was strange, to say the least. But the experience of reading this book left me with such a strange and surreal feeling afterwards that I can't help but enjoy it.
I think a lot of people who have read this book have had similar experiences. This isn't the kind of book I particularly recommend for the plot or the writing, but rather, how I felt reading it. And for that, it gets a 4.25 stars for me, no matter how much I dislike about it.
There are so many things that I dislike about this book, namely the (spoilers)
I don't know what draws me to it. Perhaps it's the surrealism, the incredibly flawed cast of characters, or several real-life coincidences I experienced (is that the right word?) regarding the book. Minor things, but considering how much of a role coincidence plays in this book, it was kind of creepy to me in the moment. It's probably a mix of these things that kept me reading to the end.
I left this book not knowing what to take from it. I spent a long, long time thinking about what made this book so enjoyable to me. I think the writing is flat and dated, the characters aren't very compelling, and the plot was strange, to say the least. But the experience of reading this book left me with such a strange and surreal feeling afterwards that I can't help but enjoy it.
I think a lot of people who have read this book have had similar experiences. This isn't the kind of book I particularly recommend for the plot or the writing, but rather, how I felt reading it. And for that, it gets a 4.25 stars for me, no matter how much I dislike about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Incest
mollieking27's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Animal cruelty, and Animal death
Moderate: Incest
kayliee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, and Sexual content
lilaceous's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
characters - ⭐️
plot - ⭐️
engaging to read - ⭐️
would recommend - .5⭐️
would read again - ⭐️
i lovedd reading this book. it’s well written, unique, and good weird. the first half delighted and surprised me in so many ways. that being said, there are some upsetting sexual relationships in the second half that make this a hard book to recommend.
i lovedd reading this book. it’s well written, unique, and good weird. the first half delighted and surprised me in so many ways. that being said, there are some upsetting sexual relationships in the second half that make this a hard book to recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Gore, and Rape
achanelknockoff's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Rape
vitasf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Nothing new, nothing revolutionary. Murakami’s depiction of women proves to be incredibly one dimensional and this book certainly fails the Bechdel test. Nakata, the older protagonist, should have been the primary character and the novel would have benefited from losing its titular character, Kafka.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Incest
Moderate: War and Violence
reading_erika7's review against another edition
challenging
3.0
That sure was a book that I read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest