Lauren O. (LoMel) - , reviewed on + 134 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I keep trying Murakami, y'all. I keep trying.
So I'm not really sure how to rate this book. This is one where I do feel like I recognize the quality of the writing so I'm inclined to give it a higher rating, but I didn't really enjoy reading it at all. It was kind of a chore to finish. I don't think it needed to be as long as it was, I think a lot of parts were extraneous, and while this wasn't the MOST annoying Murakami protagonist I've read he still grated on me. There was lots of what I guess I would define as magical realism? Which I don't really like anywhere, so I'm already starting with a negative opinion in terms of that.
I guess in the end where I'm coming down on Murakami is that most of his novels are the same protagonist having the same conflicts about the same broad concepts. Can we really connect with other people or are we fundamentally alone? I guess if you want to use your life's work to try to sort out one particular question that's your prerogative, but I don't know that it's a concept I personally am invested in reading about time and again.
As to recommendations, it seems like kind of a cop-out but: if you like Murakami, I'm sure you'll like this. If you don't, probably not. I know that's not a ton of help for new readers but I feel like there's enough about Murakami and his style out there that you can probably judge for yourself if you're interested.
IN SUMMARY: I'm giving this novel a 3 based on the quality of the writing and the fact that I think this is honestly probably a better book than I'm giving it credit for. BUT IT'S A RELUCTANT THREE.
So I'm not really sure how to rate this book. This is one where I do feel like I recognize the quality of the writing so I'm inclined to give it a higher rating, but I didn't really enjoy reading it at all. It was kind of a chore to finish. I don't think it needed to be as long as it was, I think a lot of parts were extraneous, and while this wasn't the MOST annoying Murakami protagonist I've read he still grated on me. There was lots of what I guess I would define as magical realism? Which I don't really like anywhere, so I'm already starting with a negative opinion in terms of that.
I guess in the end where I'm coming down on Murakami is that most of his novels are the same protagonist having the same conflicts about the same broad concepts. Can we really connect with other people or are we fundamentally alone? I guess if you want to use your life's work to try to sort out one particular question that's your prerogative, but I don't know that it's a concept I personally am invested in reading about time and again.
As to recommendations, it seems like kind of a cop-out but: if you like Murakami, I'm sure you'll like this. If you don't, probably not. I know that's not a ton of help for new readers but I feel like there's enough about Murakami and his style out there that you can probably judge for yourself if you're interested.
IN SUMMARY: I'm giving this novel a 3 based on the quality of the writing and the fact that I think this is honestly probably a better book than I'm giving it credit for. BUT IT'S A RELUCTANT THREE.
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