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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
“It has been found again! – What? – Eternity. It is the sea mingled with the sun.”
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Set against the backdrop of Japan's heavy Westernization in 1969, due to the presence of US army postwar, Ryu Murakami's "69" captures the zeitgeist of a society increasingly influenced by Western culture in music, literature, and movies.
At its core, "69" is a rebellious coming-of-age tale centered on protagonist Ken, whose singular focus is winning the heart of his dream girl, Lady Jane. Ken's bold attempts, from barricading the school to orchestrating a cross-school festival, underscore his determination, yet not without costs.
Ken emerges as a rebellious figure, unapologetically embracing radical ideas and shunning societal norms—a stark contrast to modern Japan's emphasis on conformity. In a culture where blending in is prized, Ken's boldness stands out, challenging readers to ponder the price of collectivity vs individuality.
3.75⭐️
At its core, "69" is a rebellious coming-of-age tale centered on protagonist Ken, whose singular focus is winning the heart of his dream girl, Lady Jane. Ken's bold attempts, from barricading the school to orchestrating a cross-school festival, underscore his determination, yet not without costs.
Ken emerges as a rebellious figure, unapologetically embracing radical ideas and shunning societal norms—a stark contrast to modern Japan's emphasis on conformity. In a culture where blending in is prized, Ken's boldness stands out, challenging readers to ponder the price of collectivity vs individuality.
3.75⭐️
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this one felt like a long short story. i liked the second half best, but maybe it just took a while to get into his groove. i guess my favorite part of it all is that the 17 year old main character is an uncharacteristically unpretentious teenager. he knows from the get go that all of his talk about art and culture isn't about art and culture, it's just to get chicks. no one's pulling the wool over this guy's eyes.
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It - could be worse? Good on Adama. Difficult to finish.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Having lived in Japan and being familiar with Japanese culture, and having worked with Japanese teenagers, I found this portrayal of teenage life in in Japan, in 1969, very interesting indeed.
Murakami, with great humour and vivacity, colours a character - clearly based on himself - as rebellious, honest and witty, a character who revels in his individuality and a wish to stand out, all of which are contrary to the image of Japan I have after a year of living there in 2006 - it would have surprised me to find a teenager revelled in his differences to others.
Murakami clearly was on the edge of a new wave of Japanese literature at the time it was published - indeed, I believe this book may still seem quite shocking even now.
Murakami, with great humour and vivacity, colours a character - clearly based on himself - as rebellious, honest and witty, a character who revels in his individuality and a wish to stand out, all of which are contrary to the image of Japan I have after a year of living there in 2006 - it would have surprised me to find a teenager revelled in his differences to others.
Murakami clearly was on the edge of a new wave of Japanese literature at the time it was published - indeed, I believe this book may still seem quite shocking even now.