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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
sometimes Murakami lets me read him for hours, but sometimes I’m just bored with him
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
A charming collection, although not quite as consistently strong as The Elephant Vanishes. Especially enjoyed Murakami's whimsical take on the Metamorphosis. The short story form is both a blessing and a limitation here. While some are more finely tuned, there are intriguing concepts littered throughout which feel marginally underexplored. The 2020 Drive My Car movie, which prompted me to seek out Murakami's work in the first place, combines several elements from the collection into one cohesive whole in a way that, in my opinion, digs deeper into the heart of what makes his fiction so compelling.
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Murakami weaves his magic once again with this collection of short stories. You have everything you would expect from a regular Murakami book - existential angst, loneliness, poetic imagery and slightly misogynistic men. The last thing gets irksome in places, particularly Samsa in Love and a little bit in Drive My Car. The image on the front cover is telling - it's almost like Murakami views women as just a puzzle part that's missing in men and not as whole people themselves. At least that's the idea these stories convey.
Kino is perhaps most peak Murakami. The protagonist could have been the man from Wind/Pinball. I loved the imagery in it and this is perhaps one of the stories that gets an almost definitive conclusion with the character finally reconnecting to a part of himself he's been denying.
Scheherazade was my favourite in the collection. A lot of the story is left mysterious, but the story itself feels complete somehow. I loved the idea of the woman knowing that she was a lamprey in a previous life. The feeling she describes is so well done! I liked that there was a call back to this towards the end too. The story itself can get a little weird in places, but it was very riveting throughout.
Overall a nice collection. If you are a fan of Murakami's particular style, you would definitely be satisfied!
Kino is perhaps most peak Murakami. The protagonist could have been the man from Wind/Pinball. I loved the imagery in it and this is perhaps one of the stories that gets an almost definitive conclusion with the character finally reconnecting to a part of himself he's been denying.
Scheherazade was my favourite in the collection. A lot of the story is left mysterious, but the story itself feels complete somehow. I loved the idea of the woman knowing that she was a lamprey in a previous life. The feeling she describes is so well done! I liked that there was a call back to this towards the end too. The story itself can get a little weird in places, but it was very riveting throughout.
Overall a nice collection. If you are a fan of Murakami's particular style, you would definitely be satisfied!
This is my 2nd read FROM Murakami and it is a light read. If you like short and open ended stories, you might like it.
Haruki Murakamis, Men Without Women is a compilation of short stories of just that - stories about men without women. Men, who for one reason or another has lost that special someone and is dealing (or not dealing ) with that loss.
While I enjoy this writing, I felt as though the stories were much of the same thing, repetitive feelings on a somewhat problematic narrative.
While I enjoy this writing, I felt as though the stories were much of the same thing, repetitive feelings on a somewhat problematic narrative.
Really good collection of stories. In the beginning, it seems to be ordinary stories about relationships between men and women, but then it slowly becomes something unusual, with a hint of magic realism. Great book to end this reading year, indeed.
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes