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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is Murakami’s best book of the ones I have read. Unlike his other short stories, many of the stories are first person singular, and are explorations into how the main character feels about the unique circumstances they are in. The stories paint pictures of these circumstances that you could easily imagine yourself in, and think along with the protagonist about how you would feel and what you would do. Some of the stories are quirky or strange but still really make you think about how you might react to those circumstances. I loved it.
“There’s no other place to go back to, is there?”
Fan van Haruki, niet zo fan van kortverhalen in het algemeen. Wil ze altijd meteen uitlezen ook al heb ik er niet echt tijd voor waardoor ik er minder van geniet. Er zitten wel echt 2 goeie verhalen tussen, die van Samsa vond ik niet leuk :))
I tend to be quite critical of short stories, which is why I struggle sometimes to find 1 that I like, let alone an entire collection. As I have mentioned in other reviews, I honestly feel that a short story is almost more difficult as the reader goes into it with the same expectations that they have from a full length novel. It still has to have a great plot, well written characters, and it has to be engaging.
Hence why I am so impressed with this collection; not only did I thoroughly enjoy the stories themselves, Murakami has done an even more impressive job by linking them together under one banner. Without fail, every one of these stories held my attention. Some of them might have been slightly odd, and the characters interesting, but they were utterly enthralling.
This was my first Murakami book, and based on this I can only imagine how much I would enjoy a full novel.
Hence why I am so impressed with this collection; not only did I thoroughly enjoy the stories themselves, Murakami has done an even more impressive job by linking them together under one banner. Without fail, every one of these stories held my attention. Some of them might have been slightly odd, and the characters interesting, but they were utterly enthralling.
This was my first Murakami book, and based on this I can only imagine how much I would enjoy a full novel.
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Some stories were better than others. Overall, the roller-coaster of emotions is really just the amount of pain or sorrow felt by each man in the story. A part of me feels for the idea of Men Without Women. Another part of me celebrates the fact that the pain goes beyond what women feel. Sad? Maybe. A little bitter? Perhaps. Still, I like how different each story was. How different parts of my brain and heart were stroked. In typical Murakami fashion, you're left with enough for your imagination, while feeling you have the closure you need.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
My first by Murakami and I don't really know what to think. Each story was so far from what I would call normal experiences but they were an interesting insight into Japanese culture. Two stories I didn't understand at all, but they kept me reading, I wasn't bored.
funny
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The stories in this book are unlike anything I’ve read before. I had no expectations as I started, so it was interesting to see where each one led. The gentle sense of humor was appreciated, too.