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chelsm123's review against another edition
Some of the stories were good, others not so much. Didn’t grab me enough to finish the book.
sonnetson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Murakami is such a fantastic writer, and though I've been a longtime fan of his stuff, on this read through of The Elephant Vanishes his technical brilliance really clicked for me. I always thought of Murakami as a sort of imaginative concepts guy, but unlike some of the other authors he draws influence from (Kafka, for example, though not in a way that is detrimental to Kafka's work) he is able to really evoke with his imagery the world they're experiencing. Murakami sets up strange worlds without making them the point; you see it and understand it, but the characters and concepts aren't secondary to to the landscape.
trin's review
4.0
Short stories, among which are definitely the most surreal examples of Murakami’s work I’ve read so far. I love the sly humor of a lot of these (“The Second Bakery Attack”) and some (“Sleep,” “The Dancing Dwarf”) are creepy enough to rival the [author: Koji Suzuki] I’ve read. Overall, I like Murakami’s long-form work better—a novel gives him more time to build atmosphere and create a world—but then, the same could be said for almost any author I enjoy. Oooh, I think I’m throwing down! Novels > Short Stories — discuss!
jeanbigurra's review
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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? No
4.0
hanzy's review against another edition
3.0
It’s hard giving a rating for the collection as each story made me feel differently.
I sort of hated the first few short stories but going on forth with the rest, I started feeling differently and quite enjoyed some of the tales. These stories are bizarre… more of psychological explorations, experiences and feelings that we can’t really put to words but Murakami does just that. I’d say if you’re to read this collection, go with a bit of an open approach, not expecting any plot or satisfactory endings. The characters aren’t the most likable and there’s some apathy, some undistinguished personality trait that seems to be shared by almost all of them. You can’t attach yourself to the storyline or the characters, but you see the shades of human nature and at times it may even resonate with you. I wholly dislike his explicitness though and strongly believe the stories could do well without them.
Also, each of these tales seems to have some connection between them which was another point of interest for me personally.
I sort of hated the first few short stories but going on forth with the rest, I started feeling differently and quite enjoyed some of the tales. These stories are bizarre… more of psychological explorations, experiences and feelings that we can’t really put to words but Murakami does just that. I’d say if you’re to read this collection, go with a bit of an open approach, not expecting any plot or satisfactory endings. The characters aren’t the most likable and there’s some apathy, some undistinguished personality trait that seems to be shared by almost all of them. You can’t attach yourself to the storyline or the characters, but you see the shades of human nature and at times it may even resonate with you. I wholly dislike his explicitness though and strongly believe the stories could do well without them.
Also, each of these tales seems to have some connection between them which was another point of interest for me personally.
savaging's review against another edition
3.0
Bits of something sublime mixed in the morass of boredom boredom boredom -- typically the boredom of blank-faced men who are somehow pursued by interesting women. There's something spectacular here, but I'm not certain I can sit still long enough for it.
irxren's review against another edition
3.0
The Elephant Vanishes is this quirky compilation of 17 short stories that took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I couldn't help but notice how the book shines a light on the themes of loneliness and the struggle to break free from the chains of conformity in modern Japanese culture. Some stories resonated with me, while others left me scratching my head, but all in all, it was a pretty enjoyable ride.
Picking a favorite story was like trying to choose a favorite flavor of ice cream—impossible! The writing was solid across the board, leaving me with that lingering aftertaste that makes you pause and ponder. And speaking of nuances, oh boy, Murakami throws in these strange details that practically beg you to read between the lines.
It's a peculiar book indeed.
Picking a favorite story was like trying to choose a favorite flavor of ice cream—impossible! The writing was solid across the board, leaving me with that lingering aftertaste that makes you pause and ponder. And speaking of nuances, oh boy, Murakami throws in these strange details that practically beg you to read between the lines.
It's a peculiar book indeed.
tristan_lince's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0