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zawkawski's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mondyyreads's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
ummmm what…
No sé. Tenía potencial. Había momentos en los que pensé: this is it! the turning point!! ya me va a empezar a gustar. Pero no. La verdad es que en términos estrictamente literarios, la prosa vaya hahaha, tiene partes escritas muy bonito. Y sí trata temas muy poderosos: duelo y amor y muerte y coming of age. Pero not in a good way??
La verdad había visto muchas críticas sobre la forma en que Murakami escribe a las mujeres y, si, ya, makes sense. Vi un review que decía “Why does female trauma always have to be sexualized?” Y es que literal así se siente. Te presenta a varios personajes mujeres súper complejos, con un buen de trauma y dolor y profundidad, pero al final logra siempre reducirlas a ese plan de im all about sex!! Siento que la historia es como una fantasía de un vato fetichista raro, porque literal es como oohhh look at me 🥺 I’m a poor little girlie who’s experienced enough suffering for two lifetimes and I kinda want to kill myself but also all I can think about is sex and specifically having sex with youu because you are so cool and smart and different 🥺🥺. ayyyyyyyyy GIVE ME A BREAK BROTHERRRRR. No sé, me pareció increíblemente inverosímil. Me sentí overall hasta incómoda leyéndolo. I don’t get the masterpiece aspect.
No sé. Tenía potencial. Había momentos en los que pensé: this is it! the turning point!! ya me va a empezar a gustar. Pero no. La verdad es que en términos estrictamente literarios, la prosa vaya hahaha, tiene partes escritas muy bonito. Y sí trata temas muy poderosos: duelo y amor y muerte y coming of age. Pero not in a good way??
La verdad había visto muchas críticas sobre la forma en que Murakami escribe a las mujeres y, si, ya, makes sense. Vi un review que decía “Why does female trauma always have to be sexualized?” Y es que literal así se siente. Te presenta a varios personajes mujeres súper complejos, con un buen de trauma y dolor y profundidad, pero al final logra siempre reducirlas a ese plan de im all about sex!! Siento que la historia es como una fantasía de un vato fetichista raro, porque literal es como oohhh look at me 🥺 I’m a poor little girlie who’s experienced enough suffering for two lifetimes and I kinda want to kill myself but also all I can think about is sex and specifically having sex with youu because you are so cool and smart and different 🥺🥺. ayyyyyyyyy GIVE ME A BREAK BROTHERRRRR. No sé, me pareció increíblemente inverosímil. Me sentí overall hasta incómoda leyéndolo. I don’t get the masterpiece aspect.
r0b3rta's review against another edition
4.0
*spoilers*
This is the 2nd Murakami book I have read. I was expecting magical realism, but this book didn't include any of that. Norwegian Wood is very much about the main character, Toru, and the people in his life. The book felt autobiographical, even though it is fiction. Murakami did an excellent job making you feel like you were there in that moment in time with each character. Most of the main characters are college students, but they are dealing with death, grief, mental health, and love.
I was gifted the book via a goodreads giveaway.
This is the 2nd Murakami book I have read. I was expecting magical realism, but this book didn't include any of that. Norwegian Wood is very much about the main character, Toru, and the people in his life. The book felt autobiographical, even though it is fiction. Murakami did an excellent job making you feel like you were there in that moment in time with each character. Most of the main characters are college students, but they are dealing with death, grief, mental health, and love.
I was gifted the book via a goodreads giveaway.
marthmallow's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
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
1.0
I’m not really sure how people can focus on the ‘depiction of grief’ with all the misogynistic writing, tones of pedophilia, and the disturbing portrayal of sex. I understand it was written in the 80s so maybe it hasn’t aged well but I will not be recommending this unless someone wants a hate read. I really don’t understand how Reiko was almost portrayed as the wise hero of the novel when she was ‘seduced’ by a thirteen years old girl and had a mental breakdown… then proceeded to have sex with her dead roommates boyfriend? . The whole novel was riddled with concepts I could not support and I deeply disagreed with the portrayal of sensitive topics.
anpne's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ygmrdlr's review against another edition
2.0
I believe this author has some serious issues surrounding sex and young women.
So much of this book made me question what on Earth I was reading. The main character seemed to have no strengths, completely unlikeable and tragic. All women were sexualised in some way, fitting into the manic pixie dream girl trope. We did not get to know their characters. Instead they were randomly naked. Not to mention the explicit nature of his writing with regards to women. You’d think Murakami was either sex obsessed or a nonce.
Storyline was weak. Normally with books with weak storylines there’s something to ponder. Sometimes something behind certain plots or storylines. Nothing of the sort was present here. Almost none of the characters were likeable. There was nothing to ‘learn’ from the lives of these people. Just an utterly unlikeable book.
Ending was completely abysmal - again, every woman here was sexualised in some twisted way. Murakami should seek therapy - particularly for the blatant sexualisation and comparison of CHILDREN in this book.
So much of this book made me question what on Earth I was reading. The main character seemed to have no strengths, completely unlikeable and tragic. All women were sexualised in some way, fitting into the manic pixie dream girl trope. We did not get to know their characters. Instead they were randomly naked. Not to mention the explicit nature of his writing with regards to women. You’d think Murakami was either sex obsessed or a nonce.
Storyline was weak. Normally with books with weak storylines there’s something to ponder. Sometimes something behind certain plots or storylines. Nothing of the sort was present here. Almost none of the characters were likeable. There was nothing to ‘learn’ from the lives of these people. Just an utterly unlikeable book.
Ending was completely abysmal - again, every woman here was sexualised in some twisted way. Murakami should seek therapy - particularly for the blatant sexualisation and comparison of CHILDREN in this book.
_aj_h_'s review against another edition
dark
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
wiktoriapiet's review against another edition
Cannot understand the main character or his choices. He does little other than sleep with vulnerable girls because "there's nothing else he can do" and just seems a creep. Naoko was compelling until she left but Midori is an oversharer not well executed.