Reviews

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

althya's review against another edition

challenging mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

jithinjohn's review

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

annika_simpich's review

adventurous emotional funny mysterious reflective slow-paced

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

4.75

sionisioni's review

funny mysterious reflective sad

4.0

rat_guts's review

adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

I've lost count of how many Murakami novels I've read.

The Sci Fi parts were....fine. I wouldn't say this book was a great fit for that genre, however, the mix of genres did make the pace flow much smoother. 

Initially, I was drawn to the Odd numbered chapters, but towards the end the Even chapters captivated me more. 

Would I recommended this book? 
To those wanting to complete Murakami's works - absolutely. 
To a first time reader of Murakami - not a chance. 

talereads's review

adventurous tense

4.25

plattcraig's review against another edition

3.0

This was the first book I had read by Murakami. I probably read it in 2000, while living in New York City, and imagining some sort of bohemian literary movement stemming from conversations I was having with other artists I'd met in the city. I remember thinking this book was much better than THE WIND UP BIRD CHRONICLE and I still have an admiration for the way the story is told. But, I do not think it has stood the test of time for me. Maybe the translation isn't as good as it could've been. It needs to be revisited and modernized.

That all said, I think Murakami is a tremendously gifted writer with an extraordinary imagination.

toddjohnson1187's review

mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

3.0

joblo's review

inspiring mysterious reflective 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? Yes

4.75

Really enjoyed this one! Beautiful prose, interesting ideas, those good good Murakami motifs/themes. 

flightoftheearls's review

adventurous funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.25