Reviews tagging 'Violence'

In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami

101 reviews

mnstr_qn's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

I don't know where to start with this book. It was like watching a car crash. This is not my first Murakami novel, and their writing is intense, their stories extreme. I'm sure it's even more terrifying in it's original language. I wouldn't recommend it unless you can stomach some seriously dark stuff or you have a therapist you meet with regularly or both. 
What is it about? A seedy underside of Japan, mental illness, and murder, played out under a cat and mouse game between the two main players.
Real talk, spoilers -

I don't think Frank was a man. I think "he" was a woman in a fat suit. It's never addressed in the book, but there are some weird hints.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, and Murder

graceehobbss's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

this was more than just a thriller and that’s always how it should be

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Torture, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

epeolatrist's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.5

Incredibly gory and gruesome—I was drawn in by the bone-chilling suspense of part one and the stomach churning gore of part two, but felt part three dragged and ultimately bored me a bit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Self harm

perpetually_isolated_being's review against another edition

dark mysterious 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

calamitydane's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

3.0

I liked the first two sections but I really didn't like section 3. The descriptions were disturbing, but I like that. The last part and especially the ending, didn't seem to mesh with the rest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Fatphobia, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cannibalism

snuffbby's review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

had my heart racing, thought provoking, unpredictable and tangible. i really enjoyed this and at no point did i know what would happen next. this is my second of Murakami's books and i find his writing refreshing and visceral. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Vomit

gnothiseauton's review against another edition

dark reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

What American Psycho wishes it could be 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Murder

joy_ong's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

icebearg's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.75

The story's mystery and suspense were good until halfway into the story where it just becomes a heavy-handed metaphor for the parallels and differences between American and Japanese society and culture--though, I will admit that Murakami gives fascinating insights from a japan-centric perspective. The author also delves into the subject of the nature and origin of evil on the level of individual and then societal, however that's all the story is concerned about as the characters do nothing but become talking pieces for the author until the end of the book.

I can see that this was done because Kenji developed an understanding for Frank and his ideology, but it took away from the psychological thriller aspect that made me initially interested in this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Self harm and Vomit

smallspoonbigfork's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Murder

Moderate: Vomit