A review by h_motionless
In the Miso Soup by Ryū Murakami

dark tense medium-paced

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

3.5

In The Miso Soup is a complex novel to discuss, as I enjoyed a large portion of it, and I’m more ambivalent about the rest. The first half is fantastic, but it starts to trail off after that point - after the mystery part of the novel is revealed, and the chaotic climax takes place, there’s not much to drive the plot forward. Ryu Murakami is an incredible writer and I would love to read more of his work, as the writing drew me in immediately, but this didn’t entirely work for me. Regardless, there’s a lot to enjoy here, such as the more psychological discussions raised, and the commentary on the Japanese sex industry.