Reviews

A sud del confine, a ovest del sole by Haruki Murakami

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francesca_dp's review against another edition

I just can't get to like Murakami's style. It feels cheap with the abundance of Western cultural references. Slăbuț stilul de scris, deloc artistic în vreun fel, personaje destul de neinteresante, atmosferă prea americanizată, nimic autentic japonez.

franklyfrank's review against another edition

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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

3.5

steveab's review against another edition

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4.0

A moody, intricate, engrossing, very human exploration of the thin line between what is and what might have been. Yes, another Murakami book. In this case, less surreal, and more the inner compulsions and tortures of lost love.

This is a shorter book, which is good in this case. While the explorations are real, you won't like the main character. Hajime makes you want to throw up your hands and shout at the guy. (Totally unrelated, but what just jumped into my head is Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Behar getting up and walking of The View set from Bill O'Reilly this week.)

Yet rereading the final sequences of the book, I found a poignancy and mutuality about life's paths and challenges that brought the book back together for me, and leaves me with warmer feelings toward it. That's all I'm gonna say until you read it.

And of course, the lovely language makes the reading like enjoying a leisurely home cooked meal of endless delights. Even in translation, the writing has the right blend of nuanced self-reflection and accessible colloquial conversation. Maybe this is particularly so for "my generation," growing up as Murakami did in the period of cultural and political ferment of the late 60s to early 80s--the wonderful mix of Murakami music, food, politics, clouds, birds, drinks...

salday76's review against another edition

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5.0

Murakami is a genius, pure and simple. He was put on Earth to write books. Loved it.

kelseysmelsey's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

waterstofbruggen's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Een ontzettend tragisch boek eigenlijk. Het leven van Hajime wordt opgeslokt door hemzelf. Het beschrijven is erg lastig, je kan het eigenlijk slechts lezen.