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amyableamy's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
felixsivac's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really loved this book, so much that i read it in one afternoon. I have read 3 Murakami books by now and i think this might be one of my favourites. I think im in that point in life where i really felt that fast even pointless passing of time in this book, especially hajimes time in high school and collage. I think that many emotions in this book are so amazingly pictured. And as always i think its a classic for murakami to leave a mysterious ending
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Cancer, Child death, and Suicide attempt
lemonzest's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
ilsabelle's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
koberreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A great read for those who love great prose and are married (I am not married yet but I do feel the story is set up for the married man or woman. Don't worry, I didn't spoil it because it is in the book description already.)
It is one of his best raw prose of Murakami regarding human nature and the unexpected desires that come out of oneself. It is also largely a love story of infidelity that would be more relatable to a married man or woman which at the same can be a tale of warning of what to do or not to do. but poetic and reflective enough for any reader. But I guess if you are married while reading this or longing for your childhood love to emerge into your adult life then this would most likely be a masterpiece for you because the poetry and feelings of each word would be tenfold an experience for you.
But for a guy who doesn't have those things. Another reflective novel for me. I have an odd preference “to reflect” so forgive me for liking the book because of that.
Also, read well the part about insider trading. Know what is and do it
Also goddamn, let it go, and don't cheat man.
If you are questioning who you are because of this book, I have a proposition from Rupert Spira:
The awareness that is aware of the depression, loneliness, or sense of lack that you have, is the same awareness that also feels excitement or a positive thought
That's who you are, the awareness. The ever-present, complete, and in always pristine condition no matter what you felt before, whatever you are feeling right now, and whatever you will be feeling in the future, you will always be aware, no matter what in its pristine condition. It is also the happiness we all seek. But sadly we seek it in things or other people, in this case, Hajime looks for it in his mysterious unstable childhood love
If you feel like the feeling right now is not to your liking or feel you are weighed down by it. It's just a thought. There are no bad or good thoughts/feelings. Just helpful and unhelpful ones, you can always choose which thought or feeling to feed.
Go pick-up Rupert Spira book "Being aware of being aware" book if you want a deep dive on this or want some clarification after feeling lonely and lost in a book that makes you such in the end.
It is one of his best raw prose of Murakami regarding human nature and the unexpected desires that come out of oneself. It is also largely a love story of infidelity that would be more relatable to a married man or woman which at the same can be a tale of warning of what to do or not to do. but poetic and reflective enough for any reader. But I guess if you are married while reading this or longing for your childhood love to emerge into your adult life then this would most likely be a masterpiece for you because the poetry and feelings of each word would be tenfold an experience for you.
But for a guy who doesn't have those things. Another reflective novel for me. I have an odd preference “to reflect” so forgive me for liking the book because of that.
Also, read well the part about insider trading. Know what is and do it
Also goddamn, let it go, and don't cheat man.
If you are questioning who you are because of this book, I have a proposition from Rupert Spira:
The awareness that is aware of the depression, loneliness, or sense of lack that you have, is the same awareness that also feels excitement or a positive thought
That's who you are, the awareness. The ever-present, complete, and in always pristine condition no matter what you felt before, whatever you are feeling right now, and whatever you will be feeling in the future, you will always be aware, no matter what in its pristine condition. It is also the happiness we all seek. But sadly we seek it in things or other people, in this case, Hajime looks for it in his mysterious unstable childhood love
If you feel like the feeling right now is not to your liking or feel you are weighed down by it. It's just a thought. There are no bad or good thoughts/feelings. Just helpful and unhelpful ones, you can always choose which thought or feeling to feed.
Go pick-up Rupert Spira book "Being aware of being aware" book if you want a deep dive on this or want some clarification after feeling lonely and lost in a book that makes you such in the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, and Sexual content
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
risemini's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Suicide attempt
minzzi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Hajime is a selfpitting, sex obsessed asshole who is incapable of seeing the women he says he loves as full human beings and because of that he ends up treating all of then like shit ( just look at what he did to Izumi and Yukiko. And Shimamoto was so obviously depressed and all he could think about was how much he wanted to have sex with her. What an idiot). However, I fell like that was the point of his character, you are not supposed to like him.
Shimamoto, on the other hand, was so interesting to me (again, finding her interesting is probably the point of the book). All though most of her character is just "beautiful mysterious lady", I think you can extract much more from her. She is a ghost (metaphorically or literally, depends on your opinion), a omen of the past, here to hunt Hajime and remind him what his life could have been while at the same time trying to give her life some sense of normalcy.
Sadly, a don't know anything about Japan's internal politics and economy, so a lot of the political criticism and references to historical events went over my head.
Shimamoto, on the other hand, was so interesting to me (again, finding her interesting is probably the point of the book). All though most of her character is just "beautiful mysterious lady", I think you can extract much more from her. She is a ghost (metaphorically or literally, depends on your opinion), a omen of the past, here to hunt Hajime and remind him what his life could have been while at the same time trying to give her life some sense of normalcy.
Sadly, a don't know anything about Japan's internal politics and economy, so a lot of the political criticism and references to historical events went over my head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Stalking
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
h_motionless's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
4.25
South of the Border, West of the Sun is one of those short Murakami books which doesn’t overstay its welcome. The story is told beautifully but with minimal detail in terms of explanation of events. It feels hazy, almost like a dream, and a large amount of it is left to the reader for interpretation. As always with Murakami, you’re left with more questions than answers by the time the book ends, but this is absolutely not a negative thing. It’s more pleasant than frustrating; only Murakami can leave me with ambiguity and a simultaneous satisfaction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Infidelity
Moderate: Suicide attempt
issy888's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Suicide attempt
robinks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Compared to Murakami’s other works, I feel as though the characters in this one had more depth and agency. The language and descriptions are very characteristic of Murakami.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content
Moderate: Ableism and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Child death, Car accident, and Suicide attempt