Reviews

Baila, baila, baila by Haruki Murakami, Gabriel Álvarez Martínez

books2233's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

apostolov's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

2.75

toastedbread's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad

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

4.0

daeus's review against another edition

3.0

Solid Murakami writing (calming for some reason), but not my favorite overall. From what I've heard the first Murakami book you read blows your mind and then they start to blend together over time and I tend to agree.

Quote:
- "What we seek is some kind of compensation for what we put up with."

iirisalma's review against another edition

funny lighthearted mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

d34nn3_29's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

stolee's review against another edition

4.0

A sequel to "Wild Sheep Chase," we pick up four years later. The events of the previous book which were left open now haunt the narrator and lead him to tie off loose strings. This motivates him to investigate the mystery, but in his own way at his own pace, making connections with unexpected people.

I found the book to be most interesting as a precursor to Murakami's later works (similar to how I enjoyed Vonnegut's "Player Piano"). It hints towards some concepts that he investigates more fully in other books, such as hidden worlds in "Wind Up Bird Chronicle", parallel worlds in "1Q84", and darkness controlling a person in "Norwegian Wood."

So, not his best, but definitely worth reading if you are a fan of his other work. I really need to pick up the unofficial translations of "Pinball, 1973" and "Hear the Wind Sing" so find out where he got his start.

charmingminx's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

vicdonalds02's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.25

flightoftheearls's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

2.75