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challenging
dark
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, War
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault
mysterious
medium-paced
I was so invested in this story, so captivating.
However, some parts were dark and unnecessary. I still don’t fully understand what happened
However, some parts were dark and unnecessary. I still don’t fully understand what happened
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
Moderate: Rape
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I did enjoy this book, the premise at first really pulled me in. A boy running away from home and his supposed fate and an old man who can speak to cats both end up trying to find who they are. I did find myself enjoying the storyline of Nakata (the old man) more as the book went on and because the chapters flip between the two sometimes I found it slow getting through Kafka's chapters. I have read 'Hard Boiled Wonderland and The End of The World' and really enjoyed it so I loved the references back to that with the shadows and the forest. Overall a good book but not one of my favourites by Murakami.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Rape, Murder
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Moderate: Rape
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The ending was boring but pages 0-400 were really good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Rape, Murder
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Abandonment
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. It was an experience because I was hooked, expecting an explanation at the end, but ended up with nothing. I feel mostly annoyed. I felt that I was promised answers, only to be left with a pretentious open ending with a bullshit explanation of "it's what you take away" or whatever. I feel robbed of an actual answer. The book was quite an experience but I trusted it, then I feel like I was slapped in the face by the ending. I feel the coming of age stuff, and it definitely sticks, but I wish I had some solid answers with the time shit. Entrance stone or whatever. Just so I don't feel like I wasted my time.
Edit: On my second reading of the end, I retract my previous statements. I think my questions were answered and it was clearer on my second read. I wrote my true final feelings on the book at the back of my copy. I think where I was at the point of when I actually finished, I wanted stable and clear answers and well, I suppose like everything, nothing is really black and white. Anyway, changed my rating from 3 to 4 :)
Edit: On my second reading of the end, I retract my previous statements. I think my questions were answered and it was clearer on my second read. I wrote my true final feelings on the book at the back of my copy. I think where I was at the point of when I actually finished, I wanted stable and clear answers and well, I suppose like everything, nothing is really black and white. Anyway, changed my rating from 3 to 4 :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Rape, Sexism, Blood
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Rape