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bella613's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I didn't love this book the way I loved Killing Commendatore. It was not quite what I expected, especially after hearing it was this book that exploded Murakami into fame. But I did connect with it. As it is with Murakami, there are some uncomfortable sections of the book. But there are some uncomfortable moments in life, so... it's sort of beautiful that he captures it so intensely?
I found myself most drawn to Naoko in this story. Midori as a character is someone I would probably not enjoy spending time with in real life, but added to the story in a mostly positive way. I didn't like Toru much in the same way that one might not like oneself. Listening from his pov felt like looking back on one's own life and seeing all the flaws and mistakes and self-centered choices that were made. But he was very real. That's one thing I also love about Murakami: all of his characters feel undeniably real.
My favorite part of the book was probably the long letter describing the sanatorium and the following visit to the sanatorium.
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Mental illness, Rape, Alcohol, Sexual content, Suicide, Death, and Grief
abril6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Rape, and Death
fiona_sch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Misogyny, and Alcohol
Minor: Cancer
nesilla's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Mental illness, Alcohol, Death, Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Sexism, Suicide, Grief, Self harm, Cancer, and Misogyny
soyboysimon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
This one is much less bad. The misogyny is still there, but it feels more like its on purpose because of the nature of the main character. And its not like every woman he meets is just a pair of breasts with legs this time. Because I was expecting it, it was less of a problem for me.
It sure doesn't sound like I'm describing a good book, does it? Let me tell you what this book got right! Unlike his other works, there is no magic in this book. The writing is whats magical about it. It has that japanese way of storytelling, much like a Studio Ghibli movie, where you're following a character through their daily life, living the slow moments with them.
The main character grapples with the dilemma of loving more than one person at a time and having to choose and wondering if he's making the right choice. And you really feel his love for both women and get to see such tender but different moments between them and could see him being happy either way. And its told from the perspective of him looking back on his life and wondering if theres anything he could have done differently.
Its reflective, its charming, its mundane. This books makes me want to live.
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Alcohol, Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual content
beanewman's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol
squirrel66's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
Die Erzählung ist an einigen Stellen lyrisch und wenn ich es nicht als Hörbuch gehört hätte, hätte ich sie mir gerne markiert. Allerdings überwiegt das Maß an Szenen, in denen es um Sex gibt. Die Gedanken aller scheinen sich permanent um Sex zu drehen, denn die meisten Interaktionen enden in Sex und/oder Suizid. Das nutzt sich dann doch ab.
Ich bin generell kein großer Fan von expliziten Szenen in Büchern, muss aber zugeben dass ich die Szenen an sich nicht schlecht geschrieben fand. Es kam für mich durchaus auch das Gefühl einer innigen zärtlichen Verbindung rüber, was den zwischenmenschlichen Beziehungen in dem Fall auch Tiefe verleiht. Aber das wurde durch das schiere Übermaß der Sexszenen wieder genommen. Das ständige Reden über und Forcieren von Sex wurde irgendwann leider genau so nervig wie die unterwürfige und stets nach männlicher Bestätigung fragende Darstellung der Frauen.
Man könnte das noch der Zeit der Handlung oder dem Alter der meisten Personen zuschreiben, wenn Murakami nicht dafür bekannt wäre. Ich hätte die poetischen Stellen im Buch definitiv gerne mehr genießen können, aber bei der Erzählung hatte ich mit der Zeit einfach einen ziemlich sexfixierten älteren Autor vor Augen.
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcohol
warmrats's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Suicide
Minor: Alcohol
prlprl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Suicide, and Mental illness
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
nastyreefer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide and Alcohol