Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

121 reviews

soniaaaaaaaa's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-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

4.0

heartbreakingly good, the characters felt like real people and how murakami is able to explore grief and loss was really effective. 

i would also check the trigger warnings before reading, some stuff i read i didnt expect and it was quite disturbing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, and Suicide

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault

Minor: Lesbophobia, Death, Child death, and Death of parent

aimee_faithx's review

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

2.5

There were good parts but overall it was pretty meh. None of the characters are particularly likeable or fully fleshed out. The way women are written about in basically only a sexual manner and often related to kids was icky. 
I finished the book but I do not understand why it’s so popular and couldn’t recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, and Sexual content

bmnayr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

Tremendously heavy subject matter for what is apparently considered "just a love story" from Murakami. I suspect this will be the first of several of his works I find myself stuck into. Relatively straightforward prose until it isn't anymore. Some of the imagery is striking in a way that's a little painful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Mental illness

fiona_sch's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Misogyny, and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer

emmaanoble's review

reflective sad medium-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Rape and Death of parent

Minor: Lesbophobia

letter_planet's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent

soyboysimon's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

I think Murakami might be my favorite author. I read Kafka on the Shore about a year ago and had conflicting emotions. The misogyny was shocking and horrifying, but I can't stop thinking about it. So i decided so give him another try.

This one is much less bad. The misogyny is still there, but it feels more like its on purpose because of the nature of the main character. And its not like every woman he meets is just a pair of breasts with legs this time. Because I was expecting it, it was less of a problem for me.

It sure doesn't sound like I'm describing a good book, does it? Let me tell you what this book got right! Unlike his other works, there is no magic in this book. The writing is whats magical about it. It has that japanese way of storytelling, much like a Studio Ghibli movie, where you're following a character through their daily life, living the slow moments with them.

The main character grapples with the dilemma of loving more than one person at a time and having to choose and wondering if he's making the right choice. And you really feel his love for both women and get to see such tender but different moments between them and could see him being happy either way. And its told from the perspective of him looking back on his life and wondering if theres anything he could have done differently.

Its reflective, its charming, its mundane. This books makes me want to live.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Alcohol, Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual content

boofaboo's review

emotional funny reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, Grief, and Suicide

mmari's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Minor: Death of parent and Toxic relationship

sammm_888's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt