Reviews

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

marthmallow's review against another edition

dark sad tense 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

1.0

I’m not really sure how people can focus on the ‘depiction of grief’ with all the misogynistic writing, tones of pedophilia, and the disturbing portrayal of sex. I understand it was written in the 80s so maybe it hasn’t aged well but I will not be recommending this unless someone wants a hate read.

I really don’t understand how Reiko was almost portrayed as the wise hero of the novel when she was ‘seduced’ by a thirteen years old girl and had a mental breakdown… then proceeded to have sex with her dead roommates boyfriend?

. The whole novel was riddled with concepts I could not support and I deeply disagreed with the portrayal of sensitive topics. 

joiiseu's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

3.5

anpne's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.25

elmattcrews's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

3.75

ygmrdlr's review against another edition

2.0

I believe this author has some serious issues surrounding sex and young women. 

So much of this book made me question what on Earth I was reading. The main character seemed to have no strengths, completely unlikeable and tragic. All women were sexualised in some way, fitting into the manic pixie dream girl trope. We did not get to know their characters. Instead they were randomly naked. Not to mention the explicit nature of his writing with regards to women. You’d think Murakami was either sex obsessed or a nonce. 

Storyline was weak. Normally with books with weak storylines there’s something to  ponder. Sometimes something behind certain plots or storylines. Nothing of the sort was present here. Almost none of the characters were likeable. There was nothing to ‘learn’ from the lives of these people. Just an utterly unlikeable book. 

Ending was completely abysmal - again, every woman here was sexualised in some twisted way. Murakami should seek therapy - particularly for the blatant sexualisation and comparison of CHILDREN in this book. 

_aj_h_'s review against another edition

dark reflective relaxing medium-paced

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

3.0

wiktoriapiet's review against another edition

Cannot understand the main character or his choices. He does little other than sleep with vulnerable girls because "there's nothing else he can do" and just seems a creep. Naoko was compelling until she left but Midori is an oversharer not well executed. 

ches's review against another edition

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

1.75

laurenfrancoise's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

2.5

seybolda's review against another edition

funny lighthearted slow-paced

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

1.0

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Homophobia and Sexual assault