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challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Incest, Rape, Sexual content, Murder
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i found this book genuinely insufferable
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Transphobia
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
What a load of crap.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Incest, Rape, Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder
challenging
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Rape, Violence
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Incest, Rape
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I do not see this mentioned in many reviews. It’s not a spoiler but totally what you should know if you’re going to read this. Sexual relationship between a 15 yo and 50 yo (i don’t even understand how people look past this and claim this book to be good), mention of rape, involving the minor.
This did not work for me. The writing was interesting, yes and the first few chapters are really good but it did not keep up and only spiralled down. I did feel like this book was a fever dream, what Murakami is known for. Absurd and absolutely insane shit happen in dreams but that does not mean it’s okay. You wake up and try to shake it off, you try to make your day better. That’s how it feels having read this book. It’s emotionally and mentally effective but there are so many many parts I wasn’t okay with reading. Kafka’s plot line based on Oedipus complex was just… ugh! Did not like the narration and depiction of any women in this story (words “sex-machine” used multiple times, idek why). I knew this was to be expected with Murakami but he outdid himself in this book, disgusting! One star for all the cats in the book and the other star, half each for Nakata and Oshima.
This did not work for me. The writing was interesting, yes and the first few chapters are really good but it did not keep up and only spiralled down. I did feel like this book was a fever dream, what Murakami is known for. Absurd and absolutely insane shit happen in dreams but that does not mean it’s okay. You wake up and try to shake it off, you try to make your day better. That’s how it feels having read this book. It’s emotionally and mentally effective but there are so many many parts I wasn’t okay with reading. Kafka’s plot line based on Oedipus complex was just… ugh! Did not like the narration and depiction of any women in this story (words “sex-machine” used multiple times, idek why). I knew this was to be expected with Murakami but he outdid himself in this book, disgusting! One star for all the cats in the book and the other star, half each for Nakata and Oshima.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Rape
Moderate: Sexual content
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Incest
Moderate: Rape, Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
This book left me with like 50 unanswered questions. I have no idea how Nakata and Kafka are related but I'm pretty sure they share some kind of spirit together or are the different embodiments of the same spirit in different physical and mental dimensions. Also it was kinda weird that Kafka gets with his mom but there's a point for that just like there's a point for everything in the book Even though I think the entire book was basically a fever dream, that's kinda the whole point. The book means everything but also nothing at the same time and Murakami does a great job of intertwining different timeline, stories, and characters while making a lot of sense and no sense. This book isn't supposed to have any clear meaning and thats why I loved it so much. It may not be for everyone, but for those who enjoy being thoroughly confused but interested, this book is a great one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent
Minor: War