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afrizal_610's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nimmmmyyyy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.0
noahpech's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A great book with only a few points that keep me from giving it 5 stars.
The similes and imagery are amazing throughout and the craftsmanship of Murakami shines through the whole book.
It deals with themes of isolation, abandonment, close relationships and moving on. You will come to be invested in the mystery and hope for a good resolution as well as just enjoying some of the coolest concepts I've encountered in fiction. (i.e. Hieda's story)
The main reason I lowered the rating was because in a pivotal part of the story, Murakami kept making mention of a woman's breasts. That was the straw that broke the camels back. It was written in a poetic way, but, from my perspective, lacked any real reason or substance. I'm not a prude and maybe I missed something, but it just distracted from arguably the most moving part of the entire book and felt distasteful to include in that.
The explicit sexual scenes felt unnecessary, but I chalked it up to his vision. The constant focus on the physicality of the women felt uncomfortable, but I chalked it up as being Tsukuru's thoughts. Once I reached that part, again, arguably the most pivotal moment in the story, it just felt that Murakami was being gratuitous and changed my view of all the earlier points.
The similes and imagery are amazing throughout and the craftsmanship of Murakami shines through the whole book.
It deals with themes of isolation, abandonment, close relationships and moving on. You will come to be invested in the mystery and hope for a good resolution as well as just enjoying some of the coolest concepts I've encountered in fiction. (i.e. Hieda's story)
The main reason I lowered the rating was because in a pivotal part of the story, Murakami kept making mention of a woman's breasts. That was the straw that broke the camels back. It was written in a poetic way, but, from my perspective, lacked any real reason or substance. I'm not a prude and maybe I missed something, but it just distracted from arguably the most moving part of the entire book and felt distasteful to include in that.
The explicit sexual scenes felt unnecessary, but I chalked it up to his vision. The constant focus on the physicality of the women felt uncomfortable, but I chalked it up as being Tsukuru's thoughts. Once I reached that part, again, arguably the most pivotal moment in the story, it just felt that Murakami was being gratuitous and changed my view of all the earlier points.
urani_a's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
this was a really good book actually, i love how it’s kinda subdued idk. murakami’s writing style is always amazing and i especially enjoyed it here. its message is really nice too ig, how you don’t know why people may have done something until you ask them, and how when you think something about others , its ultimately an assumption and it’s up to you to confirm it or not. i really wanted to know what happens with tsukuru and sara though, but like all murakami books this one ended incompletely. overall amazing book, thanks to zena for lending it to me :))
livrawds's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely a good choice to jump into this back into Murakami again I needed to read him again and I loved it
anelonewolf's review against another edition
reflective
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
2.75
chelseatm's review against another edition
3.0
I love Haruki Murakami but I found that this book lacked his usual charm or surrealism. It seemed to brink on it at times but was just a very straightforward approach to a man who'd been holding on to past pain too much. While of course, with Murakami's writing style, he delivered the plot in a powerful way but he was weak I'm delivering the message. Perhaps because his stories don't usually have some theme or moral (that needs to be obviously delivered through a character's personal internal monologue).
It was a very quick read but truthfully, if you're reading this, it's because you're either seeing if someone shared your opinion or are considering embarking on reading him for the first time. If it's the latter, start with Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. If you're already a fan, then my words have no effect and you'll read him anyway.
It was a very quick read but truthfully, if you're reading this, it's because you're either seeing if someone shared your opinion or are considering embarking on reading him for the first time. If it's the latter, start with Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. If you're already a fan, then my words have no effect and you'll read him anyway.
emna507's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
28yoyo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0