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A review by tasto777
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
i've listened to this as an audio book and it was my first novel by Murakami. i am a bit unsure hwat to think about it because i really enjoyed the writing in general. the relfective thoughts on life and emotions and relationships were really interesting and memorable. good potential for nice quotes too.
but jeez this guy can't write women. the way every woman in this book had to be reduced to nipples and soft skin and whatever at some point bothered me beause i don't think the story needed those parts really. and it felt weirdly voyeristic and objectifying. i don't think the book needed all the detailed nsfw scenes either. it focused so much on sex and the characters relationships with it instead of on the characters themselves. and please don't get me wrong i do read erotic writing sometimes but the way it was done in this book just didn't feel right to me. it didn't feel natural and all the talk of potential r*pe or taking advantage of girls just put me off. maybe i'm just used to nsfw writing by other not cis male writers who focus on different aspects of the act.
would i recommend this book?
yes it is nice. but you have to distance yourself a bit from his way of seeing womin to enjoy it if you identify as female yourself.
but jeez this guy can't write women. the way every woman in this book had to be reduced to nipples and soft skin and whatever at some point bothered me beause i don't think the story needed those parts really. and it felt weirdly voyeristic and objectifying. i don't think the book needed all the detailed nsfw scenes either. it focused so much on sex and the characters relationships with it instead of on the characters themselves. and please don't get me wrong i do read erotic writing sometimes but the way it was done in this book just didn't feel right to me. it didn't feel natural and all the talk of potential r*pe or taking advantage of girls just put me off. maybe i'm just used to nsfw writing by other not cis male writers who focus on different aspects of the act.
would i recommend this book?
yes it is nice. but you have to distance yourself a bit from his way of seeing womin to enjoy it if you identify as female yourself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexism and Sexual assault