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annahollamby's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
boring and incredibly unlikeable. found myself wondering so many times if the author has ever actually met and interacted with a real woman before. like genuinely. the way he talks about women and sex is gross and pathetic. yet more complex female storiess and characters lost to the male gaze and the manic pixie dream girl trope. also sincerely What The Fuck (r.e. the supposed lesbian character realising she's a lesbian because of a 13 year old 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮 only for her lesbianism to be cured in the end by (you guessed it!) a penis... Fucking Gross.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Rape, Self harm, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Grief, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Body shaming, Lesbophobia, Suicide, Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, and Emotional abuse
theperfectblues's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Medical trauma, Ableism, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
leabharlady's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Ableism, and Sexism
dugfromthedirt's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol and Mental illness
Moderate: Ableism, Vomit, Death, Suicide, Fire/Fire injury, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, and Sexism
Minor: Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Outing, Cancer, and Abandonment
joshuahc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual content, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual assault, Drug use, and Rape
Minor: Lesbophobia and Ableism
nonorora01's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-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? No
3.0
Himla svårt! Tydligt att Murakami redan då hade en magisk kvalitet i sitt språk. Synd att han var mer sexistisk på den tiden...
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, and Suicide
madamdun's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Fatphobia, Pedophilia, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
jarshi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
I am always astounded by Murakami's ability to write these really compelling monologues about loneliness and suffering. And even though he uses his characters as glorified mouthpieces for his own ideas about society (which I find somewhat pretentious), I respect him as a writer and find his incorporation of magical realism to be entertaining and interesting.
As someone who reads a lot of Japanese literature, I feel like I can’t escape Murakami because he’s probably the most popular and accessible Japanese author out there. And whenever I read his books, I feel that I’m finally starting to understand Murakami as a writer and what he wants to convey…
…and then… he will write… the most insane unnecessary shit you have ever read in your entire life and I feel the rage of a thousand suns within me. Seriously, what is his deal?
As someone who reads a lot of Japanese literature, I feel like I can’t escape Murakami because he’s probably the most popular and accessible Japanese author out there. And whenever I read his books, I feel that I’m finally starting to understand Murakami as a writer and what he wants to convey…
…and then… he will write… the most insane unnecessary shit you have ever read in your entire life and I feel the rage of a thousand suns within me. Seriously, what is his deal?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Minor: Ableism and Bullying
marinarc's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
my all time favorite. if you need to reflect on yourself and those around you, you should definitely read this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Child abuse, Sexual content, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Ableism
n_asyikin_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
TW: sexual assaults; underage sex; sexual content; suicide; ableism
What a book. At the end of my read, I felt this tiny pressure just behind my chest, & I knew that these characters & their stories would linger.
It was the sort of story that you want to take your time with; I found myself as if I was a third person in between conversations, or the person privy to Watanabe's intimately complex humanly thoughts. Norwegian Wood was one of those reads for me that went beyond just storytelling; I don't know how to explain it, except the writing was so otherworldly yet it grounded you securely upon earth.
Murakami & Rubin infused an individual with their surroundings, marrying wisdom inspired by nature to be reflected upon one's conscious contemplation; it was a work which disintegrate any physical boundaries that led you to a cosmic discovery.
These characters were trying to work through the rhythm of life and death; trying to understand the physical & psychic interactions between people. The depictions of the manifestations on how people approached those (frankly) rhetorical conundrums were brilliantly depicted through the parallel & contrast between the characters. For example, Reiko & Naoko contrasting approaches to the relationships in their lives while managing their illnesses; Watanabe & Nagasawa's view on sex; Watanabe's relationship with Naoko & Midori's relationship with Watanabe.
And I have to say, of all the characters, I adored Midori the most. I loved how unfiltered & unforgiving she was. She was a bright soul inspite of her storms; most conversations involving Midori & Watanabe immediately put me at ease; those two together brought about lightness to being. I think, whereby Watanabe tend to get stuck in melancholic rumination, Midori forced him to live in the present. She was never fearful of her emotions, or needs; Watanabe caring for her was the tenderness that she needed in the chaos of her world. My heart broke for her; she deserved happiness - but then again, that's living. And I liked to believe that somehow, she did found them eventually. Though perhaps to Midori, Watanabe may well be her Naoko.
There was also Reiko. The wise Reiko reached out to me like a mentor she was to Watanabe. Her stoicism was a possible route Watanabe could take, providing pragmatism in Watanabe's tautology.
Sex was central to this story. It reflected a mean for human interaction. It was "used" to curb loneliness, or even reflect developmental apathy (e.g., Nagasawa's disregard, I suspected though not excusing, was influenced by his father's own disregard towards romantic relationship, & perhaps, neglect; even Watanabe's initial approach on sex); also, reflecting a connection between people, the consummation of an establishing/established bond. I guess it reflected a sort of exchange, whether for physical pleasure or a sort of promising assuarance. I think sex was Watanabe's escapism from the weight of the world.
Norwegian Wood will make you contemplate. It felt like having the stories of the universe contained within these casts of individuals. What more can I say except, this book is beauty in every shape & sense of the word.
What a book. At the end of my read, I felt this tiny pressure just behind my chest, & I knew that these characters & their stories would linger.
It was the sort of story that you want to take your time with; I found myself as if I was a third person in between conversations, or the person privy to Watanabe's intimately complex humanly thoughts. Norwegian Wood was one of those reads for me that went beyond just storytelling; I don't know how to explain it, except the writing was so otherworldly yet it grounded you securely upon earth.
Murakami & Rubin infused an individual with their surroundings, marrying wisdom inspired by nature to be reflected upon one's conscious contemplation; it was a work which disintegrate any physical boundaries that led you to a cosmic discovery.
These characters were trying to work through the rhythm of life and death; trying to understand the physical & psychic interactions between people. The depictions of the manifestations on how people approached those (frankly) rhetorical conundrums were brilliantly depicted through the parallel & contrast between the characters.
And I have to say, of all the characters, I adored Midori the most. I loved how unfiltered & unforgiving she was. She was a bright soul inspite of her storms; most conversations involving Midori & Watanabe immediately put me at ease; those two together brought about lightness to being. I think, whereby Watanabe tend to get stuck in melancholic rumination, Midori forced him to live in the present. She was never fearful of her emotions, or needs; Watanabe caring for her was the tenderness that she needed in the chaos of her world.
There was also Reiko. The wise Reiko reached out to me like a mentor she was to Watanabe. Her stoicism was a possible route Watanabe could take, providing pragmatism in Watanabe's tautology.
Sex was central to this story. It reflected a mean for human interaction.
Norwegian Wood will make you contemplate. It felt like having the stories of the universe contained within these casts of individuals. What more can I say except, this book is beauty in every shape & sense of the word.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Ableism, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent
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