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banannabel's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-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
3.25
i don’t get the beginning or end but i liked the book
Content Warnings
Moderate: Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Death, Grief, and Mental illness
scouto's review
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Death, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicide, and Terminal illness
kymberly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.5
i teared up at times reading this. i can't believe i waited so long to read this even after searching for this specific cover
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Grief, and Mental illness
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Self harm
miinmio's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
5.0
MURAKAMI LACED THIS BOOK WITH CRACK BCZ THIS????
all i have to say is a polyamorous relationship between the three main characters could've fixed EVERYONES problems, but you didn't hear it from me.
even though i've yet to feel what it means to fall in love, this book is a damn good substitute. if love is butter this book is marmalade for real. it was so soft and tender, and heart wretching and sad at the same time and it's just so DAMN GOOD!!! i will be put in the grave recommending this book, absolutely wonderful.
all i have to say is a polyamorous relationship between the three main characters could've fixed EVERYONES problems, but you didn't hear it from me.
even though i've yet to feel what it means to fall in love, this book is a damn good substitute. if love is butter this book is marmalade for real. it was so soft and tender, and heart wretching and sad at the same time and it's just so DAMN GOOD!!! i will be put in the grave recommending this book, absolutely wonderful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide
artsyfartsybooks'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
5.0
This book was so deeply moving in the most exquisitely beautiful way. Murakami has an incredible talent for weaving the pain, grief and loss we face in our ordinary, everyday lives as humans into such a profound, lyrical story that it makes you reconsider the "banality" of normal life - there is so much depth to us, even when nothing seems to be happening (I don't know if this makes any sense, but it struck me quite deeply). There was a great sense of melancholy running throughout this book, which is to be expected given the subject matter (suicide and mental illness). What I found most striking, however, was the grief faced by the loved ones of those suffering from mental illness, and how they struggle to cope not only with the loss of those close to them but with confronting the "sickness" themselves. I really can't do this book justice in a short little review, I feel like there is just so much more to explore and uncover, but that could take me ages! This is the sort of book that really teaches you something about life and encourages you to reflect, pause and reconsider. Anyway, Murakami's writing is simply exquisite, it is beautifully descriptive and captures the emotional experiences of the characters with such profound subtlety. Also, I just love all the characters, especially Midori and Reiko, they were so much fun! I would really recommend this book to anyone and I know that I myself will be revisiting it for many years to come. '
NB the one criticism I had of this book was all the graphic sex scenes. It doesn't necessarily take away from the quality of the novel, but it is quite confronting and I believe it didn't add much to the story. I'm fine with authors discussing sex in their novels, but it doesn't need to be done in such detail every time (I think perhaps I understand it in the scene with Naoko, but none of the others, especially the one with Reiko at the end). Anyway, this isn't to dissuade anyone from reading the book because it's still brilliant, but just be on guard for graphic sex scenes if this is something you are sensitive to.
NB the one criticism I had of this book was all the graphic sex scenes. It doesn't necessarily take away from the quality of the novel, but it is quite confronting and I believe it didn't add much to the story. I'm fine with authors discussing sex in their novels, but it doesn't need to be done in such detail every time (I think perhaps I understand it in the scene with Naoko, but none of the others, especially the one with Reiko at the end). Anyway, this isn't to dissuade anyone from reading the book because it's still brilliant, but just be on guard for graphic sex scenes if this is something you are sensitive to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Self harm, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Death, Suicide, and Mental illness
morganraeh's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It is easy to read the words. I love the development of the character and the perspective of the people in the main character, Torus, eyes.
Its not something I would normally go for genre wise and i almost didnt continue but something about the writing style kept me going and about half way i found the book to become very interesting!
Its not something I would normally go for genre wise and i almost didnt continue but something about the writing style kept me going and about half way i found the book to become very interesting!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Self harm
manel_'s review against another edition
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Alcoholism, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Death, Self harm, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Toxic relationship
bunitsu's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.75
oh lord was this a journey. i have never read a book so fast. without the time i took a break, it only took me 7 days to read. even though i had to take a break after a while due to the intensity of certain things in the book, before those things happened i couldn’t put the book down. beautifully written but as always it’s not murakami without misogyny. i hated a lot of moments in the books, some things i couldn’t comprehend why one would do some of the stuff he did. it just didn’t make sense but i will never stop reading murakami because of the beauty of his writing style.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Self harm, Grief, Misogyny, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Death, Abandonment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
sameen_haque's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, Death, Grief, and Self harm
cutepatzie's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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
I was positively suprise with that book. Such an amazing book to reflect on process of growing up, changes, grief, and more. Great show how Japan look like. How mental illness is hired and how finding yourself is hard. Specialty after so much tragic happening around you. Great book to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Death, Grief, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Gaslighting, Self harm, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts