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mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Odie a Kafka cada segundo. Honestamente, solo lo leí por la historia de Nakata, que me pareció incorporó mejor el realismo mágico y te da un personaje más querible. Pero por más que la historia en sí no es mala, no pude evitar notar las mujeres. Rara vez tenían nombre, y siempre se les describe de la manera más sexual posible. Todas las mujeres aquí (incluida la Sra Seiki) son la más alta expresión de la Manic Pixie Dream Girl.
Como ya dije, la historia no es mala, pero la narración de Kafka es hartante.
Como ya dije, la historia no es mala, pero la narración de Kafka es hartante.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexism, Transphobia
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Transphobia, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oof this one is a lot.
This is so well written, and so deep. But it's one that I find hard to connect with and uncomfortable to think about. Murakami is always exploring depressive/traumatic taboo in his novels but this one takes the cake of any I've read so far. It was extremely difficult to read chapters 16, 29, and 39. I would put a huge TW on those particular chapters. If you haven't read Murakami before, then go into it like you would a horror genre. He does not write horror, but he sure isn't afraid to get icky.
Also, after finishing, I'm still not really sure how some of the pieces connect or if they are even supposed to. The beginning was very five-star for me but it went in a different direction than it appeared to be headed at first.
I didn't love the experience of this book but it is still good, if that makes sense. It's hard to say I recommend it because of the content (incest, rape, murder, violence, and weird fixation on the main chatacters genitals. ) but if you can handle it and want to get into it, then it's one to take your time with. I would not suggest it as a first by the author. But if you like his other stuff then definitely read this!
My favorite bits include the idea of a lighter shadow, conversing with cats, and the less-human inner self taking the form of a crow.
My least favorite parts include the entirety of the three chapters mentioned above.
This is so well written, and so deep. But it's one that I find hard to connect with and uncomfortable to think about. Murakami is always exploring depressive/traumatic taboo in his novels but this one takes the cake of any I've read so far. It was extremely difficult to read chapters 16, 29, and 39. I would put a huge TW on those particular chapters. If you haven't read Murakami before, then go into it like you would a horror genre. He does not write horror, but he sure isn't afraid to get icky.
Also, after finishing, I'm still not really sure how some of the pieces connect or if they are even supposed to. The beginning was very five-star for me but it went in a different direction than it appeared to be headed at first.
I didn't love the experience of this book but it is still good, if that makes sense. It's hard to say I recommend it because of the content (
My favorite bits include the idea of a lighter shadow, conversing with cats, and the less-human inner self taking the form of a crow.
My least favorite parts include the entirety of the three chapters mentioned above.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Gore, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
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: Animal death, Sexual content
Moderate: Death, Pedophilia, Rape, Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The book starts fun but then really drifts into a territory I didn't gel that much with. Ultimately the story of Kafka hinges on a un-critical misogynist view of women and their use in narrative. I just think Murakami doesn't like women very much or think highly of them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Rape
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Moderate: Rape
mysterious
reflective
slow-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:
Yes
Was generally swept up by this book, though it lagged a bit in the middle. Liked the ending and felt like it alllmost coalesced for me. I loved the meditations on memory and time and the echoes to some of Murakami’s other books. Was pretty disturbed by the rape scene , and where did that even come from?? And the incest plot line was not my favorite. Murakami’s obsession with teen girls is also getting pretty old
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Rape
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-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 book had green mythology vibes but in a bad incest no real plot way. I guess this is the point but it just felt the storyline happened to the characters but wasn’t really related to them? It could have been any random character. I really only enjoyed Nakatas parts of the story and even then it was still not very plot driven. And all the incest and adults having sex with a minor was so weird and felt unnecessary. Although the whole book kind of felt unnecessary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, Rape
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is the second Murakami book I read, and I am enthralled by his language. His style of writing is entirely up my alley, mysterious yet somehow amazingly descriptive nonetheless. So much is left unexplained, yet I am fully satisfied in the end. It's an adventure from page one to the last page, yet it's written in a matter of fact way that leaves you feeling like the fantasy is just part of life.
The one thing that bothers me and keeps it from a 5* is Murakamis constant depiction of women as obsessed with sex. In Norwegian wood it kinda fit the theme until it didn't, but I can't help but feel like all his female characters are just the same person, there's no actual variety to them. They are all 100% supportive to the main character, all interested in the main character and all interested in sex. Even the minor female characters are very similar in the way they exist only to support the male main characters.
Also Sakura could be completely removed from this book and it would still have the exact same impact.
The one thing that bothers me and keeps it from a 5* is Murakamis constant depiction of women as obsessed with sex. In Norwegian wood it kinda fit the theme until it didn't, but I can't help but feel like all his female characters are just the same person, there's no actual variety to them. They are all 100% supportive to the main character, all interested in the main character and all interested in sex. Even the minor female characters are very similar in the way they exist only to support the male main characters.
Also Sakura could be completely removed from this book and it would still have the exact same impact.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Incest
Moderate: Rape