Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

125 reviews

bella613's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

I like the way Murakami writes, as if he must tell a story that really happened and not as if he's creating one. 
I didn't love this book the way I loved Killing Commendatore. It was not quite what I expected, especially after hearing it was this book that exploded Murakami into fame. But I did connect with it. As it is with Murakami, there are some uncomfortable sections of the book. But there are some uncomfortable moments in life, so... it's sort of beautiful that he captures it so intensely? 
I found myself most drawn to Naoko in this story. Midori as a character is someone I would probably not enjoy spending time with in real life, but added to the story in a mostly positive way. I didn't like Toru much in the same way that one might not like oneself. Listening from his pov felt like looking back on one's own life and seeing all the flaws and mistakes and self-centered choices that were made. But he was very real. That's one thing I also love about Murakami: all of his characters feel undeniably real. 
My favorite part of the book was probably the long letter describing the sanatorium and the following visit to the sanatorium.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury

abril6's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Alcohol, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Rape, and Death

ceh517's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Sexual content, Child death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Suicide

Moderate: Alcoholism and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Miscarriage

soniaaaaaaaa's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

heartbreakingly good, the characters felt like real people and how murakami is able to explore grief and loss was really effective. 

i would also check the trigger warnings before reading, some stuff i read i didnt expect and it was quite disturbing

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Mental illness, and Suicide

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault

Minor: Lesbophobia, Death, Child death, and Death of parent

aimee_faithx's review against another edition

sad 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

There were good parts but overall it was pretty meh. None of the characters are particularly likeable or fully fleshed out. The way women are written about in basically only a sexual manner and often related to kids was icky. 
I finished the book but I do not understand why it’s so popular and couldn’t recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide, Death of parent, and Sexual content

bmnayr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense fast-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

5.0

Tremendously heavy subject matter for what is apparently considered "just a love story" from Murakami. I suspect this will be the first of several of his works I find myself stuck into. Relatively straightforward prose until it isn't anymore. Some of the imagery is striking in a way that's a little painful. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Mental illness

fiona_sch's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Suicide

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Misogyny, and Alcohol

Minor: Cancer

emmaanoble's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Suicide, Mental illness, and Misogyny

Moderate: Rape and Death of parent

Minor: Lesbophobia

letter_planet's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Death of parent

soyboysimon's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.5

I think Murakami might be my favorite author. I read Kafka on the Shore about a year ago and had conflicting emotions. The misogyny was shocking and horrifying, but I can't stop thinking about it. So i decided so give him another try.

This one is much less bad. The misogyny is still there, but it feels more like its on purpose because of the nature of the main character. And its not like every woman he meets is just a pair of breasts with legs this time. Because I was expecting it, it was less of a problem for me.

It sure doesn't sound like I'm describing a good book, does it? Let me tell you what this book got right! Unlike his other works, there is no magic in this book. The writing is whats magical about it. It has that japanese way of storytelling, much like a Studio Ghibli movie, where you're following a character through their daily life, living the slow moments with them.

The main character grapples with the dilemma of loving more than one person at a time and having to choose and wondering if he's making the right choice. And you really feel his love for both women and get to see such tender but different moments between them and could see him being happy either way. And its told from the perspective of him looking back on his life and wondering if theres anything he could have done differently.

Its reflective, its charming, its mundane. This books makes me want to live.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Suicide, Alcohol, Mental illness, Rape, and Sexual content