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A review by soleilnigro
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
damn. i was really not expecting to feel the way i do about this book - i was eager to read "norwegian wood" because of all of the mass hype, and as a big harry styles fan i wanted to try reading one of his favorite books.
i did NOT enjoy this novel, and by halfway in, i couldn't get through it without skipping or skimming pages. i can agree that the writing is beautiful in some ways, and that the overall feel of murakami's writing can really immerse the reader, but what he writes ~about~ didn't pull me in at all. this book is filled with misogynistic and pedophilic undertones, and is so clearly made by a man, for men.
<(((SPOILER - basically all of the women in this book are sex objects, and then die.)))>
i didn't feel any emotion while reading this, which sucked as it's meant to be about death and grief. i was and still am disturbed by the abrupt and graphic descriptions of sex, i felt grossed out and uncomfortable because of sex scenes happening directly after tense/sad scenes. trigger warning for tense and upsetting sex scenes, and brief jokes about r*pe.
not much about this book was enjoyable and i don't understand the hype. being talented should never excuse being a misogynist.
if you're interested in a great book about death and grief, i recommend "everything i never told you" by celeste ng.
i did NOT enjoy this novel, and by halfway in, i couldn't get through it without skipping or skimming pages. i can agree that the writing is beautiful in some ways, and that the overall feel of murakami's writing can really immerse the reader, but what he writes ~about~ didn't pull me in at all. this book is filled with misogynistic and pedophilic undertones, and is so clearly made by a man, for men.
<(((SPOILER - basically all of the women in this book are sex objects, and then die.)))>
i didn't feel any emotion while reading this, which sucked as it's meant to be about death and grief. i was and still am disturbed by the abrupt and graphic descriptions of sex, i felt grossed out and uncomfortable because of sex scenes happening directly after tense/sad scenes. trigger warning for tense and upsetting sex scenes, and brief jokes about r*pe.
not much about this book was enjoyable and i don't understand the hype. being talented should never excuse being a misogynist.
if you're interested in a great book about death and grief, i recommend "everything i never told you" by celeste ng.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape