Like you I read this a long time ago but I seem to still remember a melancholy running through the book and lots of food - especially the bowls of soup! Maybe I’m wrong though. This and Hard-boiled Wonderland are probably my favourites of his books.
I havent read any Murakami, but the classic soundtrack references entice me toward Norwegian Wood. With this and your recent Roth videos, I sense a trend revisiting writers that were very popular in the recent past but whose glimmer have waned a bit (perhaps due to misogyny or otherwise).
This is certainly one of Murakami’s stronger works, David, and it serves as a good introduction to his style. I have been going back through a number of books and writers that I first experienced about twenty years ago in high school and college. Some of the revisiting has been fun or interesting. A few returns have also just confirmed what I did not like then. Portnoy’s Complaint from Roth still doesn’t have much of a draw for me.
Hi Jack! I’d be interested in where to start with Murakami. I have only attempted Norwegian Wood and didn’t get along with it. If I recall correctly, I think it was because I found the relationships between the characters so cold but having heard your comments I may have misread them.
There is certainly a distance to some of the characters. I found that sense of miscommunication or mistiming to be realistic on this reading. Some of the characters, particularly Nagasawa, are brutally cold but also contrast to the narrator who condemns that attitude. I’ll see if I can put together a video with recommendations on Murakami. Cheers, Jack
I’m very jealous of your Miles t-shirt (I see what you’re doing there btw). I’ve only read one Murakami (wind up bird) and have shied away since then. What I associate him with is cats, jazz, weird stuff, and objectification of women. I probably should give him another shot and this sounds like the place.
This shirt was a great find when my wife was working at the Gap while she was in nursing school. Murakami’s writing on women can be really tough. I think some of it is exacerbated by cultural differences based on what some friends, including Japanese friends, have told me over the years. I did find this one to work better. Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is definitely one of his most excessive works, in every way.
I discovered your channel through this video. Happy Reading! 😎📚👍
Thanks for the kind words!
Cheers, Jack
Like you I read this a long time ago but I seem to still remember a melancholy running through the book and lots of food - especially the bowls of soup! Maybe I’m wrong though. This and Hard-boiled Wonderland are probably my favourites of his books.
The level of detail that he puts on the food is another fun aspect to this one. I, too, really enjoy Hard-Boiled Wonderland.
I havent read any Murakami, but the classic soundtrack references entice me toward Norwegian Wood. With this and your recent Roth videos, I sense a trend revisiting writers that were very popular in the recent past but whose glimmer have waned a bit (perhaps due to misogyny or otherwise).
This is certainly one of Murakami’s stronger works, David, and it serves as a good introduction to his style.
I have been going back through a number of books and writers that I first experienced about twenty years ago in high school and college. Some of the revisiting has been fun or interesting. A few returns have also just confirmed what I did not like then. Portnoy’s Complaint from Roth still doesn’t have much of a draw for me.
Hi Jack! I’d be interested in where to start with Murakami. I have only attempted Norwegian Wood and didn’t get along with it. If I recall correctly, I think it was because I found the relationships between the characters so cold but having heard your comments I may have misread them.
There is certainly a distance to some of the characters. I found that sense of miscommunication or mistiming to be realistic on this reading. Some of the characters, particularly Nagasawa, are brutally cold but also contrast to the narrator who condemns that attitude.
I’ll see if I can put together a video with recommendations on Murakami.
Cheers, Jack
Thank you so much for replying to me. A video would be great if you have the time and/or inclination. ☺️
I’m very jealous of your Miles t-shirt (I see what you’re doing there btw). I’ve only read one Murakami (wind up bird) and have shied away since then. What I associate him with is cats, jazz, weird stuff, and objectification of women. I probably should give him another shot and this sounds like the place.
This shirt was a great find when my wife was working at the Gap while she was in nursing school.
Murakami’s writing on women can be really tough. I think some of it is exacerbated by cultural differences based on what some friends, including Japanese friends, have told me over the years. I did find this one to work better.
Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is definitely one of his most excessive works, in every way.