Rebecca answers “Did anyone else cringe at the Reiko's...”

Jana asked this question about Norwegian Wood:

Did anyone else cringe at the Reiko's story of the young piano student? Maybe I am wrong but it seemed to me kind of a male-gaze, homophobic, child sexualizing... I did not appreciate that story. Maybe someone can offer me a different perspective

Rebecca I despised that part. I found it absolutely unnecessary, extremely problematic, rapey, and creepy. I don't understand what it added to the story and i…moreI despised that part. I found it absolutely unnecessary, extremely problematic, rapey, and creepy. I don't understand what it added to the story and it made me extremely uncomfortable. So no, you're not wrong in thinking that it was misogynistic and homophobic and creepy because it definitely was.(less)

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Shane The fact that it is creepy and uncomfortable is the point of it, to show how it messed Reiko's mind up the same way it messes with us. ...more
Jan 31, 2023 04:55AM

Jim O'Donnell I thought the same think -- to me, it appears to be the primary reason Reiko's in the mountain hospital for 7 years. ...more
Sep 09, 2025 06:48AM

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