Reviews tagging 'Sexual violence'

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami

33 reviews

nochnitsa's review

I chose this book to be my first proper Murakami because, as description said, it's a collection of all the typical Murakami elements, and of course the cover is absolutely stunning. The cover is also the only thing that could make me regret not finishing or liking this book. I'm over a 100 pages in, and so far, despite lots of things happening and many many words, it feels like the book lacks real substance. What really makes me uncomfortable though (and it is the main reason for me dnf-ing this book) is the way Murakami writes women or about women. Associating a teenager with a woman who propositioned him phone sex? Talking about violent rape and forced prostitution like it's a weather forecast and then having a wet dream about the sane woman woman? Sounds a tiny bit disturbing to me, no thank you very much. I doubt I'll ever give Murakami another try after this.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexism

Minor: Pedophilia

evamill's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective slow-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore

Moderate: Sexual violence

Minor: Abortion and Suicide

12caro9's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, Vomit, War, and Xenophobia

Moderate: Abandonment and Abortion

ksenianovikova's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide, Violence, and Sexual violence

mmatti300's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book was very good, and I am consistently blown away by the eloquence that can remain in translations. However, there are certain aspects of murakami that I am not sure I’ll ever be comfortable with. This novel wavered between being aggressively horrific, touching, charming, and utterly confusing. I found myself getting bored at parts, accidentally skipping whole paragraphs because I could not being myself to care. Yet in other parts, I was hooked constantly waiting for the next sucker punch of a line. While there is not the strange obsession with ejaculation common in some of his other works, there are elements in which “men writing women” shines through, particularly in discussing menstruation. I don’t know if I’ll be able to remember much of this book in 1 month but I am glad I picked this up and gave murakami another shot. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment

traciereads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, and War

Moderate: Abandonment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Car accident, Confinement, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Incest, Pregnancy, and Vomit

abbseggs's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Infidelity, and Torture

Moderate: Genocide, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, and War

Minor: Incest and Vomit

judoonplatoonmoon's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

2.0

I could not connect to this book. The story is so random, yet also predictable. The dialogues felt forced, and there are many loose ends. Maybe I'd like Murakami's other works, though? I'm keeping my mind open.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, and Rape

Moderate: Incest and Abortion

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Pregnancy

mudkipmillie's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Like many Murakami books, the ending feels a bit unresolved. Also there are some HEAVY themes in this book, so watch out.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Abortion, Incest, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Grief, and Death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Child death

merle98's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

An entirely average, nondescript man meets several extravagant, mysterious women who for some inexplicable reason take a liking to him and interfere in his life. Weird stuff happens. Classic Murakami, as my good friend Adam would say.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence

Minor: Rape and Sexual violence