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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Overall a good collection of short stories on grief, rejection, and male loneliness. I enjoyed An Independent Organ, Kino, and Drive my Car. Others I did not like. Murakami try not to mention breasts challenge.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An enjoyable anthology text from Murakami, who's writing style I enjoy a lot. The stand out of the short stories would absolutely have to be the self-titled story, 'Men Without Women,' a rather touching, if not depressing story about the suicide of a young woman and the effect it has on a former lover, who wonders about the woman's grieving widower.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I received this hardback as a present. I have read the first two stories but am finding the whole premise of the book depressing.
I am certain that I enjoyed 4 out of the 7 stories. I can’t confirm how I feel about the first 3. At first, I read them as having almost misogynistic undertones as Murakami depicted lonely, sad men as if it were the fault of women that their lives were so drab — either by wronging them or not being around or both. But then I realized that that was probably definitely the point, to display the characters’ bitterness towards women as a lesson that life only gets worse when you’re stubborn, blamey and emotionally shut-off. But they still left me with a sour taste in my mouth — to be determined whether I am upset at Murakami for that or whether he just did a good job depicting how men can end up when they’re raised in our boys don’t cry society!
Anyway I definitely enjoyed the last 4 stories, they were a lot lighter in tone and had more imaginative elements that kept me hooked, and didn’t dwell as much on the shortcomings of women (and men). I really appreciated Murakami’s pleasant writing style and especially enjoyed “Samsa in love”.
Anyway I definitely enjoyed the last 4 stories, they were a lot lighter in tone and had more imaginative elements that kept me hooked, and didn’t dwell as much on the shortcomings of women (and men). I really appreciated Murakami’s pleasant writing style and especially enjoyed “Samsa in love”.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*insert that one image of Jo March from the Little Women movie with hands splayed saying “women—“*
This really,,, was Not It for me ;-; Definitely wanna try another Murakami but pretty much all of these stories did not feel meaningful to me and the mcs were kinda weird…
This really,,, was Not It for me ;-; Definitely wanna try another Murakami but pretty much all of these stories did not feel meaningful to me and the mcs were kinda weird…