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trin's review against another edition
4.0
Incredibly powerful account of the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. Murakami tells the story very simply, using mostly Studs Terkel-style first person accounts. It’s fascinating to see different people’s versions of the same events, especially since many of the survivors interviewed were in close proximity to each other (such as, on a tiny subway car) when the attacks took place, and yet their perspectives will often deviate from one another in interesting ways.
In the second half of the book, Murakami interviews former members of Aum Shinrikyo, the cult that perpetrated the attacks. This section is likewise compelling, and horrifying, though in different ways. I find the cult mentality somewhat difficult to grasp, so my reaction to the second section contained an element of bafflement to it as well, but that sort of works, as in a way the book is about trying to make sense of the insensible. It’s a wonderful work as a piece of history, and as an introspective look at everyday human action in the face of tragedy.
In the second half of the book, Murakami interviews former members of Aum Shinrikyo, the cult that perpetrated the attacks. This section is likewise compelling, and horrifying, though in different ways. I find the cult mentality somewhat difficult to grasp, so my reaction to the second section contained an element of bafflement to it as well, but that sort of works, as in a way the book is about trying to make sense of the insensible. It’s a wonderful work as a piece of history, and as an introspective look at everyday human action in the face of tragedy.
hawkes's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Murder, and Religious bigotry
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
4.0
Through interviews with those involved and back stories about key individuals, this book revolves around not only the gas attack but the reasoning within individuals who get caught up in a cult and are thereafter convinced to commit murder. Murakami speaks with some participants in the murders and some of those who were injured during the attack. Digs at questions of religious fanaticism and how and why a person could be convinced to murder someone else based on religious beliefs. Disturbing and extremely informative.
irxren's review against another edition
4.0
In this non-fiction literary collection, Murakami delves into the real-life stories of individuals profoundly affected by the Tokyo Gas Attack, a chilling act of terrorism that shook Japan. From a random train passenger to a dedicated officer and even an Irish Jockey, each person's experience during the deadliest incident since World War II unfolds in raw detail.
The book captures the diverse perspectives of those caught in the chaos: 13 lives lost, 50 severely injured, and thousands rushed to hospitals. Murakami skillfully avoids his usual magical realism, opting for a straightforward narrative that reflects the unadorned reality of the event. What sets this book apart is its sincere exploration of why such horrors occur and the lessons humanity can glean from them.
The book captures the diverse perspectives of those caught in the chaos: 13 lives lost, 50 severely injured, and thousands rushed to hospitals. Murakami skillfully avoids his usual magical realism, opting for a straightforward narrative that reflects the unadorned reality of the event. What sets this book apart is its sincere exploration of why such horrors occur and the lessons humanity can glean from them.
lostintranslatedbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This is a well-balanced book about the Tokyo gas bombings in the early 1990s. My friend recommended this book to me and I can’t put it down. Without any spoilers, I think it definitely changed my views, and even gave me, a new and different perspective to Murakami’s fictional works like Wind-up bird chronicles and Killing Commendatore.
honnari_hannya's review against another edition
4.0
A great, chilling nonfiction read for those who are interested in history, sociology, memoir, or interviews. I loved the way Murakami and his editor structured this, with passages about the specific trains framing and providing context for each batch of interviews, so that readers get a bird's eye view of the magnitude of the disaster and then a closer inspection of its effect on the people who lived that day. The most heartbreaking interview were the ones with the siblings, Akashi Tatsuo and Shizuko.
I also liked the addition of the interviews with the Aum cult members who weren't involved in the attack—because Murakami wanted to center this narrative around the victims, it was only right to include them too as victims of Asahara Shoko's manipulation.
I also liked the addition of the interviews with the Aum cult members who weren't involved in the attack—because Murakami wanted to center this narrative around the victims, it was only right to include them too as victims of Asahara Shoko's manipulation.