esensavk's review against another edition
3.0
A very neutral rating for a book I very much did not feel neutral about.
This was gifted to me by a friend and while I am very grateful that this book is the catalyzer of my relationship with Murakami (or should I say battle?) I felt as if this book either went over my head completely, or it is trying to emulate Catcher in the Rye so bad that it has just become cringey.
I finished this relatively quickly, perhaps I was angry at the book and wanted to see if I could last the whole of it (I did), but also the writing/translation was smooth and flowing well. The timeline does have some loops but for a university wide popular fiction book, I appreciated the writing. It is the characters and the themes I have a problem with.
Protagonist Watanabe is a university student, and while he does act, speak, think in the immature way a student does once moving away from home, the utmost seriousness everyone around him takes him in is just illogical to me. I do understand how women might perceive him that way, but his dorm mates?? the older people he interacts with?? Perhaps because we can see into the mind of Watanabe and the characters can't, but Watanabe is every bit of selfish and immature a 20 year old can be at that period in his life. Perhaps one of the only good characters (controversial opinion I know) is Nagasawa who, while morally corrupt, speaks the most truth to Watanabe. YES, they are the one and same, just because Nagasawa's corruption is systematized and Watanabe's is not does not change the fact that Nagasawa is RIGHT. Watanabe IS an asshole.
The manic pixie dream prototype Midori's purpose in the novel is clear. Emotional plot twist in the end and obviously be the most manic pixie dreamgirl she can be during the whole (well, a quarter of the part she is in) of the novel; made apparent with her boyish haircut and carefree tone (so carefree that it almost scares me). Absolutely no love or affection has been expressed towards her in the slightest up until a turning point with no significance happens and suddenly Watanabe is torn between these two women he has barely interacted with nor expressed any interset in.
Naoko and Watanabe story line was woven with the grievance of Kizuki, and I did enjoy it at the beginning and would like to explore more of the dynamics there, but it seemed as if Kizuki was also a victim of plot catalyzer and that relationship also lacked depth.
There is then obviously the two common denominators of the book: sex and suicide. I am not sure if this is to highlight the increasing rates of suicide in Japan at the time, or to emphasize the sexual liberation university students (especially women) are going through (perhaps Midori is a manifestation of that, which I do not find plausible much). It's not a book someone who is uncomfortable with either topics should read, while the mentions of it are nonchalant, it is so careless that it makes it seem as if someone has gone to the shops instead, I am aware that sex is a fundamental part of a 20 year old university student, but the lack of exploration in some of the sexual context makes no addition to the plot and seems as if it is only there for shock/disgust effect. Reiko and Watanabe's encounter is one of that. It must have been written as a way of "closure" for either of the parties (which I do not think was a successful attempt) and it destroys the only dynamic Watanabe has as a friend just for the sake of releasing sexual pressure he has had a for a year or so.
Some might perceive it as artistic choice, some might put it into the hypocritical way this novel is written, but I did not enjoy the intertwining of sex as part of grievance or emotional closure, If it was written in that way, it was not made clear and was portrayed as just page fillers with no emotions attached and no mental consequences afterwards (Except for Naoko's case, which is a character I found complexly and beautifully written but she lacked the spotligth).
Is the reason Watanabe and the tone of the book is like this because of the early news of a suicide in the first few pages? If so, then maybe I can give a quarter star more.
Overall, thank you Max for introducing me to Murakami. No thank you Murakami for showing me such an unlikeable character as the protagonist. Will I read Murakami again? Sure, but it better not have Watanabe in it.
This was gifted to me by a friend and while I am very grateful that this book is the catalyzer of my relationship with Murakami (or should I say battle?) I felt as if this book either went over my head completely, or it is trying to emulate Catcher in the Rye so bad that it has just become cringey.
I finished this relatively quickly, perhaps I was angry at the book and wanted to see if I could last the whole of it (I did), but also the writing/translation was smooth and flowing well. The timeline does have some loops but for a university wide popular fiction book, I appreciated the writing. It is the characters and the themes I have a problem with.
Protagonist Watanabe is a university student, and while he does act, speak, think in the immature way a student does once moving away from home, the utmost seriousness everyone around him takes him in is just illogical to me. I do understand how women might perceive him that way, but his dorm mates?? the older people he interacts with?? Perhaps because we can see into the mind of Watanabe and the characters can't, but Watanabe is every bit of selfish and immature a 20 year old can be at that period in his life. Perhaps one of the only good characters (controversial opinion I know) is Nagasawa who, while morally corrupt, speaks the most truth to Watanabe. YES, they are the one and same, just because Nagasawa's corruption is systematized and Watanabe's is not does not change the fact that Nagasawa is RIGHT. Watanabe IS an asshole.
The manic pixie dream prototype Midori's purpose in the novel is clear. Emotional plot twist in the end and obviously be the most manic pixie dreamgirl she can be during the whole (well, a quarter of the part she is in) of the novel; made apparent with her boyish haircut and carefree tone (so carefree that it almost scares me). Absolutely no love or affection has been expressed towards her in the slightest up until a turning point with no significance happens and suddenly Watanabe is torn between these two women he has barely interacted with nor expressed any interset in.
Naoko and Watanabe story line was woven with the grievance of Kizuki, and I did enjoy it at the beginning and would like to explore more of the dynamics there, but it seemed as if Kizuki was also a victim of plot catalyzer and that relationship also lacked depth.
There is then obviously the two common denominators of the book: sex and suicide. I am not sure if this is to highlight the increasing rates of suicide in Japan at the time, or to emphasize the sexual liberation university students (especially women) are going through (perhaps Midori is a manifestation of that, which I do not find plausible much). It's not a book someone who is uncomfortable with either topics should read, while the mentions of it are nonchalant, it is so careless that it makes it seem as if someone has gone to the shops instead, I am aware that sex is a fundamental part of a 20 year old university student, but the lack of exploration in some of the sexual context makes no addition to the plot and seems as if it is only there for shock/disgust effect. Reiko and Watanabe's encounter is one of that. It must have been written as a way of "closure" for either of the parties (which I do not think was a successful attempt) and it destroys the only dynamic Watanabe has as a friend just for the sake of releasing sexual pressure he has had a for a year or so.
Some might perceive it as artistic choice, some might put it into the hypocritical way this novel is written, but I did not enjoy the intertwining of sex as part of grievance or emotional closure, If it was written in that way, it was not made clear and was portrayed as just page fillers with no emotions attached and no mental consequences afterwards (Except for Naoko's case, which is a character I found complexly and beautifully written but she lacked the spotligth).
Is the reason Watanabe and the tone of the book is like this because of the early news of a suicide in the first few pages? If so, then maybe I can give a quarter star more.
Overall, thank you Max for introducing me to Murakami. No thank you Murakami for showing me such an unlikeable character as the protagonist. Will I read Murakami again? Sure, but it better not have Watanabe in it.
momocaaa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.75
niceyslib's review against another edition
4.0
I can honestly say that I've never read a book like this. It was a really interesting read and reading other peoples reviews and analyses of the book and the ending really opened my eyes to what the book was really about as it definitely was not a love story. The only reason I'm not giving it five stars is because some parts really bored me. I think murakami meant it to be like that but I just didn't enjoy it that much. Apart from that, I am so glad I read this book and it was something new and fresh and I'm really glad I picked this particular book as my first murakami book.
gunstreet's review
5.0
A poignant, lovely book, filled with life's poetry: its mundanity and absurdity, its grief and love. The characters are enveloping in their human-ness and easy humour, truly beautiful to read.
fergascod's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Un llibre amb una atmòsfera molt trista. Tots els personatges estan atravessats per la desgràcia. Segurament no l’hauria d’haver llegit tenint en compte com estic últimament, tot i que potser sí.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Death, Mental illness, and Adult/minor relationship
cobre's review
2.0
I don’t see what all the hype around this book is, like yeah I guess it’s kinda sad and explores loss and sexuality but like I wasn’t really into all that. It was ok and picked up around the end but not by much. Overall I feel like there are better books out there that I wouldn’t really recommend reading this one, but also I haven’t read much of the authors other works.
jux5's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
booonbooon's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Adult/minor relationship
brionymifsud's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0