Reviews

世界尽头与冷酷仙境 by Haruki Murakami

sokhiengtim's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious medium-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

5.0

The relationship of your consciousnesses — subconscious mind and conscious mind. The author used quite lots of symbolism. For instance, shadow, I think, it symbolises the past. The town symbolises the mind

als_adventures's review against another edition

4.5

Maybe my favourite Murakami. If you can overlook the way he writes women, this is a nice enough story.

offworldcolony's review against another edition

3.0

It could be Murakami, Japanese style or translation, but I didn't like the way the book was written. I didn't mind the confusing and diametrically different storylines and I enjoyed stings of characterisation or details. But the book held me at arms length and I couldn't get into it fully.

sageofthe6pack's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

i thought my dislike of kafka on the shore was a fluke, just a book of murakami’s i didn’t like. i assumed, based on the way i’ve seen him discussed by my peers, that surely i would like something he’s written. but i am now two for two on just being overwhelmingly disappointed by what i’ve read. 

once again, we have a plot i find interesting enough, however- unlike kafka- i did not find a compelling main character on either side of the story. i liked all of the supporting cast, but was entirely underwhelmed by the lead. 

also i believe murakami is either wholly unequipped to write women or is an outright misogynist. 

whatever though. i wouldn’t say i feel strongly enough to call it a “hate read”, but i will probably check out other books of his if i have nothing else on my plate. 

rickypitz's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.5

abbynordman's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted 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

3.75

elenats's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Read for a book club. I enjoyed the different pieces of the story falling into place, and the different worlds Murakami created. I’m not sure I like how he writes about women, however. 

linwin's review against another edition

4.0

Fascinating story with immersive imagery. Murakami is an amazing storyteller but the way he writes about female characters makes me want to puke.

knik's review against another edition

adventurous reflective slow-paced

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

2.5

venti's review against another edition

emotional 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? It's complicated

3.0

strange little story…