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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
cool & creepy short story, the novel presents a lot of ethical dilemmas. hearing about the red light district of Tokyo was really interesting as well.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
what and i mean this sincerely. the fuck. so strange so odd i felt just like kenji in the last chapters like i was having an out of body experience reading this. That Scene was CRAZY absolutely crazy, not sure if i’ll ever reread bc there were elements to this i didn’t like but i was completely gripped
Kenji is a nightlife guide. He shows tourists around the red-light districts of Tokyo, introducing them to the various bars and pubs. One day, he is hired by Frank, a seemingly friendly and outgoing American. But as the night goes on, Kenji grows suspicious of him: something is horribly wrong.
If you’ve seen Takashi Miike's cult classic Audition, based on another novel by Ryu Murakami, you will know what to expect: what at first seems like a reasonably calm dive into Japan’s nightlife culture slowly takes a turn for the worse as the circumstances around Frank get darker, eventually culminating in a scene so twisted and macabre that you can only sit back in shock of what you have just read. Yet Murakami handles this revolting change of tone delicately; it does not feel out of place due to the well-crafted suspense.
The writing instantly transports you to the crowded streets and messy alleyways of Kabukicho, where nightclubs and soaplands are as common as convenience stores and college students sell their bodies in hopes of paying their tuition fees. Kenji is no stranger to this environment, having made many acquaintances through his work, and he will often comment on the strange and sometimes depraved things going down there. This leads to an interesting exploration of Japanese culture, particularly the loneliness felt by young people who live in constant pressure from society, and some insights into the workings of the nightlife. Meanwhile, Frank is often used as an example of how Japanese and American culture differs, and I thought this dynamic worked really well.
I do understand why some wouldn't enjoy this novel. In what may seem like a strange choice, the final third of the story drops the thriller aspect almost completely, focusing instead on the the characters and their motivations. However, I actually enjoyed this. It delves into the psyche of a serial killer in a way I found immensely fascinating, painting a believable picture of what could possibly make one human being kill another. Those expecting an orthodox thriller might be disappointed, but that aspect was never the point of In the Miso Soup; it functions as a spice for the other ingredients, something to maintain your interest while the important plot points are introduced. And in that regard, it does an amazing job.
In conclusion, Miso Soup is both a compelling thriller and an introspective look on Japanese culture. I was hooked from the moment I started reading, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in the topics it covers — provided you can handle the gore, of course.
If you’ve seen Takashi Miike's cult classic Audition, based on another novel by Ryu Murakami, you will know what to expect: what at first seems like a reasonably calm dive into Japan’s nightlife culture slowly takes a turn for the worse as the circumstances around Frank get darker, eventually culminating in a scene so twisted and macabre that you can only sit back in shock of what you have just read. Yet Murakami handles this revolting change of tone delicately; it does not feel out of place due to the well-crafted suspense.
The writing instantly transports you to the crowded streets and messy alleyways of Kabukicho, where nightclubs and soaplands are as common as convenience stores and college students sell their bodies in hopes of paying their tuition fees. Kenji is no stranger to this environment, having made many acquaintances through his work, and he will often comment on the strange and sometimes depraved things going down there. This leads to an interesting exploration of Japanese culture, particularly the loneliness felt by young people who live in constant pressure from society, and some insights into the workings of the nightlife. Meanwhile, Frank is often used as an example of how Japanese and American culture differs, and I thought this dynamic worked really well.
I do understand why some wouldn't enjoy this novel. In what may seem like a strange choice, the final third of the story drops the thriller aspect almost completely, focusing instead on the the characters and their motivations. However, I actually enjoyed this. It delves into the psyche of a serial killer in a way I found immensely fascinating, painting a believable picture of what could possibly make one human being kill another. Those expecting an orthodox thriller might be disappointed, but that aspect was never the point of In the Miso Soup; it functions as a spice for the other ingredients, something to maintain your interest while the important plot points are introduced. And in that regard, it does an amazing job.
In conclusion, Miso Soup is both a compelling thriller and an introspective look on Japanese culture. I was hooked from the moment I started reading, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in the topics it covers — provided you can handle the gore, of course.
Started it, liked it, have no clue where I put it
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Not Murakami’s best work. It was getting tedious to read towards the end