Book Review | Sputnik Sweetheart
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2024
- My review of the second read for my year-long project, #YearofMurakami. Hope you enjoy :]
Thanks for watching!
Sputnik Sweetheart: / 397165.sputnik_sweetheart
Other Sputnik Sweetheart reviews:
Ashley (climbthestacks): • Video
Katie (Effusions of Wit): • Book Reviews: Sputnik ...
Stephen (Stevereadsbooks): • Video
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This was an awesome review, thank you! I love hearing spoiler-free theme-focussed reviews.
topdogoldchap I really enjoyed making it, so I'm glad you liked it :]
This was such a fabulous review. I think that this is definitely the next Murakami that I want to read (when I next get around to him that is). It's kind of been on my radar for a while now, and this review has confirmed that I want to read it. I had no idea that Murakami is fluent in English and approves the English translations! That's so lovely to hear, because I've always thought that his writing and atmosphere is beautiful, but have always wondered a little bit how much that that's translation haha! It's great to hear that the words and feeling that we get from his translations are probably pretty close to what he was trying to convey.
***** I really like that too. Translations can so easily destroy a novel, so its nice to see that he is really particular about who he lets translate his work. I also heard that sometimes he switches between Japanese and English when he writes, which is also really interesting. I'd still love to read it in the original language someday, because Japanese is an absolutely gorgeous language. I'm glad you liked my review :] I like to impart social/historical context when I can.
What about ending? I read it, but I feel like I'm missing the meaning of the ending with blood on his hands. Any ideas?)
I just recently started getting into Murakami and have read: Norwegian Wood, Sputnik Sweetheart and Dance Dance Dance. I also read After dark, and I was really surprised that not a lot of people liked that book and to this day, I am wondering why. For some reason, I really REALLY liked it. Sputnik Sweetheart was great, but to me it had left me with the same feeling as AFTER DARK. I don't know man, I can't fathom my feels!!!
Oh man, this was an amazing review! And awesome to know that he approves of the translations. That always makes me nervous, his writing is so beautiful but I always have in the back of my mind that it isn't 100% his voice. Hope you like HBW!!!
time to read! Me too!
I'm pretty sure Murakami has guest taught in American universities, so his English must be pretty damn good. He also is SO particular about which translators he works with, so I think its safe to say I'm really confident that his English works are indicative of the Japanese, or at least as best as they can.
Well you already know that I am definitely reading something by Murakami this year so your comments about this one just gave me more intrigued.
Kathleen Ann I'm glad to hear that! I hope you enjoy.
Thank you for this wonderful review! It was great to hear about the themes present in the book that I wasn't aware of before. I feel this one is due a re-read now, where I can look at it with new eyes. I have just placed an order for Hard Boiled Wonderland, I wasn't going to participate but now I feel the urge to read some more Murakami before I join you for 1Q84 in May! :)
chboskyy Yay! I'm so glad that you're joining in :]
Having the historical context and social background knowledge that not everyone may have while reading Japanese literature, I always try to make sure I can impart some knowledge, to help people better understand. I'm glad that it doesn't go unappreciated.
I think you bring up a lot of good points that I hadn't really thought about - especially thinking about the social context. I had only read Kafka on the Shore and Norwegian Wood before reading this so I did feel slightly underwhelmed, in comparison to them. I didn't know that he approves the English translations so that's nice to know. I did like Sputnik Sweetheart, but I remember feeling like the latter part (the "after" part) was disconnected to the rest of novel. I look forward to watching more of your Murakami reviews in the coming months.
Natalie Stefanie S It did seem strange, did it? It was as if Murakami was trying to prove K's relevance to the story, despite how little he really was able to affect those around him.
Woooooooow, the background you gave is SO FUCKING AWESOME!!!!!!! So, so, sooo interesting. Thank you!
What a great review. I loved how you contextualized the work. I Read Sputnik sweetheart this month. Really loved both this and after the quake. Thanks for tempting me to go o this journey. I think That sputnik is now my second book. I still love my first Murakami 1Q84 the best. But, this comes a very close second. I will be reading along with March's book. Can't wait
Toria Rich Glad that you've enjoyed the ride so far! I hope it stays just as great :]
Great to hear your thoughts! I felt like this was a missed opportunity for Murakami to delve into the heads of his female characters a bit more. The narrator felt slightly superfluous and didn't really add much to the story. It annoys me that Murakami always holds his female characters at a distance and puts them on a pedestal. It's interesting that you say that the lesbianism isn't fetishised in this, because I felt like it was a little. Not overtly, but we're always hearing things second-hand - through the narrator. Why not just tell it through the eyes of the women rather than always having a male character as a mediator. That's something that I've noticed in all of Murakami's books. Whenever we get the female perspective it's always through the eyes of a man. The women are dealing with very similar emotions to the men, yet they're not allowed to express them to the reader themselves. I'm more than able to empathise with his male characters, I just wish that I could feel closer to the women, and that they weren't so mysterious and elusive.
Library at the Edge of the World I agree that I'm definitely wanting a stronger female presence in his works, especially since he's written so many novels! You'd think that he would have better representation. I hope that I discover more diverse perspectives as I explore his works. I know that angsty salarymen are sort of his thing, but it is frustrating, even when he gets so close to female representation in Sputnik Sweetheart. I think the narrator added a new-ish perspective, and certainly an interesting one, in depicting the story as he did, but I agree that it is problematic. I don't know for sure whether or not he writes exclusively male POV, but I'm hoping that isn't the case, especially since he's demonstrated that he IS capable of writing interesting women, but so far, only from a distance.
Murakami's one of those authors to make a bingo board for:
- angsty male narrator
- mysterious female figure one (probably an ex-girlfriend or wife, or unrequited love interest)
- mysterious female figure two (probably alarmingly young or old in relation to the narrator)
- missing cat (probably has a distinctive tail)
- classical music (bonus points if it isn't piano music)
- mysterious and magical character
- awkward, but matter-of-fact sex scene
- even more awkward masturbation scene
- a dream sequence
- a mystery that doesn't need to be / can't be solved
- reference to American pop culture
- unresolved childhood issues
I'm sure we could go on.
(Sorry, I'm in a Murakami rant sort of mood, I love him really)
Library at the Edge of the World also, if there isn't any classical music, then certainly there is a reference to The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. Hell, this doesn't need to be a bingo sheet, it could be (an extremely fatal) drinking game!
I don't mind the ranting. He certainly is a flawed author, and unique in his flaws. But that's part of why we love him.
Sidenote: I am so interested in his advice column. I really want to work on translating some of his posts, because I want to see how he responds to real life fans! He's so elusive in real life.
That'd be super interesting! If you're able to share the translations I'm sure there would be lots of interest on Booktube. I'm not sure how copyright works with translation or if there are English translations out there already.
Hawaii has hostess bars. Thoughtful review. Thank you.
Lots of good background here!
MsTerriB I'm glad you enjoyed it! :]
뮤는 아주 신비로운 사람으로 놀이기구에서 저 먼 자신의 집에서 자신의 모습을 본다. 남자와 함께 있는. 그 뒤로 뮤는 머리가 하얗게 변했다. 젠이츠가 번개 맞고 머리가 노랗게 변한 것처럼. 뮤는 뭐랄까, 먼 곳에서의 소리가 기분 나쁠 정도로 깨끗하게 들리는 것 같은 사람이다.
나는 잠이 들면 배를 가르고 가슴을 벌려 그곳을 나와서 조금 떨어져 잠들어 있는 나를 보곤 한다. 그건 마치 더 이상 아파하지 않아도 되는 애처로운 한 인간을 보는 것 같다. 나를 보는데 내가 아는 것 같은 기분이다. 그리고 기분 좋게 잠들지 않는 나를 뒤로 나는 도망쳐 버린다. '스푸트니크의 연인'의 뮤처럼 나도 어딘가가 설명할 수 없게 변해 버린다. 손금이 싹 사라지거나 땀샘이 소거되어 버렸거나. 그래도 그 꿈에서 벗어나기 싫어 어디까지고 도망친다.
스미레는 자기가 쓴 원고를 보여줄 수 있는 사람이 단 한 사람밖에 없는데 나에게 있어 내가 잔뜩 써 놓은 원고를 보여주는 사람이 딱 한 사람이었다. 그 사람은 뮤 같은 사람으로 입가에 중립적인 미소를 머금고 눈동자는 탁하지 않고 어두운 우울이 없는 사람이었다.
스푸트니크의 연인에서 상실될 것 같았던, 영영 사라질 것 같았던 스미레가 돌아온다. 어떻든 제자리로 돌아온 것이다. 그러면 된다. 일단 돌아오면 그다음부터는 어떻게든 될 것이다.
Norwegian Wood is super predictable. Murakami wrote the most obvious shit that came in his head. Also it's sooo stretched. Full of fillers and shit, such a boring experience
This was such an interesting review. Loved hearing your thoughts on Japanese culture. I'm yet to start anything from Murakami but Norwegian Wood and Sputnik Sweetheart are both sitting on my shelf. Must get to them soon after watching this!
Rachel Reads I hope you like them! They are both emotional works and I highly enjoyed them both. Like I said, Norwegian Wood is still my favorite, but those two are excellent choices. They are really different, even though they both address more romantic subplots. Norwegian Wood has no magical realism at all, and Sputnik Sweetheart has just a taste of magic.