Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

61 reviews

hannah_cogo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.25

Murakami keeps his unique and brilliant writing style in this book, with a totally unique plot that keeps you guessing. but his portrayal of women has not changed, and it is clear that he really only sees women as nothing more than sexual objects. a part of me feels like most of this book was just Murakami exploring his own messed-up fantasies, as there is not a single woman in this book who is not objectified, talked about or described sexually, or has nothing to do with sex at all. overall it is overly sexual and proves that Murakami still cannot write women. at all. the only reason it's not zero stars is for Mr Nakata and his talking cats.

there are scenes where the main character rapes his sister in their dream, and he also has sex with his mother more than once. also, the main character's genitals are talked about a lot considering he is 15</spoler> it's a lot to take in.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body horror, Sexual harassment, Animal cruelty, Incest, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, and Violence

Moderate: Abandonment, Suicidal thoughts, War, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Child abuse and Chronic illness

pabi's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The book grew claws and scratched me. The words have left scars, I still have questions, which is to say the ending didn't satisfy me.The descriptions of his c*ck will haunt me for days, there are too many trigger warnings I felt this book truly needed a disclaimer before certain chapters. I was intrigued, scared and disgusted, sometimes all at the same time. I truly get why some people say it's one of those stories you'll either love or absolutely despise ,in my opinion the inevitable end is that you'll be left traumatized.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death of parent, Incest, Misogyny, Rape, and Death

Moderate: War and Blood

jo_lzr's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gore, Murder, Rape, Violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Incest, Transphobia, Injury/Injury detail, Outing, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Blood, Sexual violence, Suicide, Misogyny, and Sexual content

zonboi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Murder, Blood, War, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Sexual assault, Body horror, Death of parent, Incest, Gore, Animal cruelty, and Rape

Minor: Outing, Homophobia, Transphobia, Dysphoria, and Misogyny

leanne_miron's review against another edition

challenging reflective medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Animal death, Incest, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Gore, Animal cruelty, Death, Pedophilia, and Rape

Moderate: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, and Transphobia

gromithorror's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Blood, Child abuse, Murder, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Death of parent, and Incest

Moderate: Grief, Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Mental illness, and War

aisclaradm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.75

This book is surreal, confusing, and beautiful. I absolutely adore the writing style, and much preferred it to Norwegian Wood, the other Murakami book I have read. The strangeness of the story is done so well, and the different characters and their perspectives all add such a different flavour to the overall narrative. 

Overall, an amazing book that would have deserved a full 5 stars, except that the way that women are written is absolutely vile — I have never seen a clearer example of rabid sexual objectification in such an unnecessary, uncomfortable, and graphic way. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Rape, Animal cruelty, Sexism, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, and Sexual content

Moderate: Ableism and Abandonment

Minor: Chronic illness

enoemo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The way Murakami writes women in this novel (although I heard this might be true for his other works as well) is... specific, so be prepared for that. The prose, however, is beautiful. I loved the style of writing apart from some really uncomfortable or clumsy moments regarding well, women, or their behaviour, or how they work according to the narrators. Nakata was my favourite character, I have so much love for him. This was, despite its flaws, unlike anything I have ever read and I would recommend it to anyone who has carefully considered all the trigger warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Torture, Animal death, Murder, and Sexual content

Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Incest, Medical trauma, Abandonment, Death, Gore, Grief, Misogyny, and Sexism

julswk's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Misogyny, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Transphobia

adibasultana's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

2.5

I am conflicted on how to feel about this book. It was very poetic, symbolic, and I loved the actual storyline. However every female is written disgustingly and I can’t overlook the sexual content - every sexual encounter is deeply disturbing, unethical and rapey. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Pedophilia, Torture, Murder, Sexism, Sexual content, War, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Gore, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, and Abandonment

Moderate: Blood and Colonisation