Reviews with content warning for Rape - Kafka on the Shore

Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami

556 reviews

mysticmeat's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Twórczość Murakamiego porwałaby mnie (może) w gimnazjum. Teraz już nie jest mi potrzebna. Tobie prawdopodobnie też nie. Więc komu?

Content Warnings

allitabit's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

katsa6's review against another edition

1.5

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Murakami is one of the most bizarre writers. On one hand he has some of the most poignant and beautiful prose then on the other he says some of the most disturbing and disgusting stuff that seems to make absolutely no sense in context to the story. Seems being the operative word. I'm sure there is a reason for it all but I'm not gunna study in depth for it. Nakata was a very unique character and without him I would have DNF'd this book as I absolutely hated Kafka.

he was so obsessed with his penis and sex. I get that its all some bizarre curse obscure stuff but did he really think that "dream" raping his sister and mother was supposed to be done with no consequences because it was "fated/cursed" to happen. I will probably give Murakami one more shot but really dont see what the hype is about.....

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zorab's review against another edition

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thenoboshow's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Prose felt like stumbling through a dream.

Content Warnings

bunniisenpai's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 29%

Don't fuck with cats.

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vinicoelho's review against another edition

3.5

mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Definitely will need to re-read. I liked how Murakami explored themes of fate/destiny and taking charge of one's life. The magical realism element was captivating and added a lot of depth, especially centering around the quote from Yeats and responsibility beginning in dreams. This is my first Murakami but the consensus seems to be that he writes women poorly and this is no exception. The women in this book are one dimensional and are always immediately described in sexual terms. They are less characters and more means to self-actualization for the protagonist. Lots of weird stuff surrounding sex including

a passage in which Kafka rapes his 'sister' in a dream sequence. This is touched on later by Kafka saying the equivalent of 'man that was wrong huh' and using the experience to further his introspective journey.

I understand the unreliable narrator and we are deep in the mind of a 15 year old who is on his own for the first time but I feel like such a heavy topic could've been treated with more tact. All in all, I do think there is a lot here and Murakami's dreamy writing style is nothing short of beautiful. I definitely need to re-read to catch some themes and symbols I missed the first time around

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