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haruki murakami

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 1:17 am
by onesmokin3g
so i recently read a short story by him in my japanese literature class and i found it amazing. a story i think alot of people here would really enjoy. its called "on meeting my 100 percent woman one fine april morning". its only about 4 pages long, so don't be afraid to do a search and read it. tell me what you think!

Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 4:40 pm
by preciouswhile
Nice. Very touching and succinct. Perfect for the middle of my work day. :)

Posted: Fri May 02, 2008 4:01 am
by TokyoGirl
I really liked that :)

I'm been reading about this author for a while and I was thinking about getting one of his books, I think I definitely will now.

Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:57 pm
by Old Member B
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Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:28 am
by TokyoGirl
Finally got round to it, I read After Dark which I think everyone here would really enjoy...

One of the reviews describes it as "David Lynch directing Before Sunrise" and obviously it's set in Tokyo.

Definitely recommended.

I'm now onto my second one Sputnik Sweetheart and I'm very much enjoying this as well.

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 3:43 pm
by Old Member B
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:47 am
by TokyoGirl
Ben-B wrote:I took your cue TokyoGirl and read After Dark. I was surprised at the change in tone in this one. I thought it was a good read but I think I need to return to it again. I'm stalled on Kafka on the Shore- I often start reading then trail off forgetting to finish them. lol

Let me know what you thought of Sputnik Sweerheart, TokyoGirl.
Wow, since I posted this almost three years ago I've actually read all of his novels and am eagerly awaiting his new one due out in October.

I've only re-read After Dark once since the first time and whilst I enjoyed it, I've enjoyed others much more since then. I really liked Sputnik Sweetheart, there are some parts that really stuck with me actually, I shall have to re-read it again soon.

My favourite though is probably South of the Border, West of the Sun, I've re-read that about six times now. I'd recommend that, Norwegian Wood, Dance, Dance, Dance (although that's sort of a loose sequel on his first trilogy so you'd probably be best reading those first) and I see you're already reading Kafka on the Shore which I also liked a lot.

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 3:18 pm
by Old Member B
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Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 2:06 pm
by TokyoGirl
Haha yeah, I think I've read everything that's been translated so far. I really love his writing.

I'd say Wind Up Bird Chronicle is probably my least favourite actually, but I have only read it once. It was just very long and I didn't really like the war/violent parts.

I really enjoyed Kafka although there are a few disturbing parts, I wish it had focussed more on Kafka than on the other half of the book to be honest.

I hope you do get through them and find something you really enjoy. I know when I read him I never want the story to end (especially with South of the Border and Norwegian Wood).

Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 5:26 pm
by Old Member B
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Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:04 am
by TokyoGirl
Yes Norwegian Wood particularly, I could have just kept reading and reading.

I was really disturbed at the Jonnie Walker parts, I guess that was the idea but it wasn't nice, I don't even think I'd like to read that part again!

The movie for Norwegian Wood comes out at my local cinema in a few weeks, I'm really excited to see it although the reviews haven't been amazing, I'm interested to see what they did with it.

Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 2:52 pm
by Old Member B
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Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:28 am
by TokyoGirl
Haha yeah, there certainly are some interesting characters that pop up in his work.

We're only getting it at the local arthouse cinema (I just watched Somewhere there as well) but I'm not getting my hopes up, from all the reviews it seems that it's just a very basic retelling of the story, with hardly any of the details or specifics, but we'll see.

No sadly I'm not in Japan (I wish!). I have been there twice on holiday and right now I'm getting my degree so that hopefully I'll be able to go and teach there afterwards, that's my plan anyway.

I know what you mean, I don't think I've had the same reaction with any other author as when I read a Murakami book, it's something completely different, and they affect me deeply.

I'm so jealous of you getting to read them all for the first time ^_^ I really want to recommend Dance Dance Dance next although as I said before it is a sort-of sequel. I read it once before the first trilogy and then again straight after and although you really don't need to I felt like it helped to know something about a few of the characters... one of my favourite quotes of his comes from that book actually.

Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2011 7:58 pm
by Old Member B
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 11:42 am
by Old Member B
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 2:49 pm
by TokyoGirl
I read that Murakami gave the green light on the movie and he'd been saying no to any adaptations for years apparently so he must have been somewhat happy with it!

Wow, really? ("even in the smallest events there’s no such thing as coincidence")
I think I know which one that is: 'She's got the moves to rule the world'
Haha it could have been! but no that's merely a lyric from a song of which I also got my username.

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:14 pm
by Old Member B
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Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 12:42 am
by Bob_san
This is fascinating, I am going to have to check out his works!
but the way he writes it's almost like a spell that breaks down the boundaries of the self leaving you naked. And that's when the magic happens.
This is interesting that you put it this way because when people embark on spiritual training for example meditation or yoga, it is discussed in similar terms. So in a way it's like Murakami is a "guru" whose power in his words brings you to a new level of consciousness / awareness.
Mind you it's remarkable that it still works in English. None of its power seems lost in translation.
It's funny I was thinking the same thing on the last page of this discussion, that the translation must be amazing!

Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 11:57 am
by TokyoGirl
Ben-B wrote:Aah so you're a writer. A challenging thing to write, I think. Are you finding it stimulating/enjoyable?

I love it when things just pop into the mind. Cultivating that area & keeping the channel clear seems to be the trick, something I'm still trying to understand. And you seem to have a hold on that, which kinda makes me envy you. lol I usually struggle to find the words I want to say, but every now & then an idea will flash inside of me and it feels like I just need to trace it out in a way. Kinda like an image that slowly becomes more clear and real to you the more you feel/draw it out.

Not many huh? Well that makes us pretty special don't it? :wink:
Not everyone is wired the same, although I do feel one can make new connections in that circuit of the mind. And perhaps devouring all of Murakami's books has had an effectual change in you. Like a book worm turning into a butterfly.
And it happens to me too! I too seem to be influenced by him. It's like you consume the world around you, process it & 'pop'...out comes this new creation. It's kinda mysterious, but maybe not completely hidden.
I like how David Lynch describes the process of creating as 'something in the air'.

Thanks for saying so. I don't know if it's exactly eloquent but I do try to put a little extra effort to make it seem like I know what I'm talking about. lol But seriously tho, I do recognise I have a touch for words.
Even so, the stuff I write mostly feel like the derivative dregs of all my fav. books and films etc. I get so blocked and then I turn away in frustration. I have this silly idea that it should never feel like work if it's to be true art. It should just flow. Maybe that's foolish thinking, I dunno.
I do believe Mr Murakami has thrown us into a world of confusion whereby we no longer understand things clearly, I certainly feel that when I read his work.

Ja?, well I'll def. have to read South of the Border then. & I'm relieved you feel that way too. At times I thought I was going mad. Well, actually I am mad, but the way he writes it's almost like a spell that breaks down the boundaries of the self leaving you naked. And that's when the magic happens. Mind you it's remarkable that it still works in English. None of its power seems lost in translation.

Really. It kinda threw me for a second. I actually tried to hear what the cat was saying. I thought it had been an omen come to wake me up. lol Yet, the chances of that happening are pretty high. There are not a few cats in the area. & crows too. I could easily imagine I'm in Japan. And if I really lost touch I'll probably start singing 'I think I'm turning Japanese...I really think so, think so, think so...' lol
("even in the smallest events there’s no such thing as coincidence")
No?! Oh man, was I wrong. Don't make me guess another thing. lol
Well… I try to be.

Me too, Murakami and his world opens up so many strange and fascinating ideas for us.

It sure does :) Yeah, I mean I've always been a bookworm, for as long as I can remember but when I discovered Murakami it was a complete change, I never really had a 'favourite' author but now it's almost as if no-one compares, all other books sort of pale in comparison, which is sad really because I'm sure there are many other amazing books out there but I can't help feel they can't hold up to Murakami. I guess it's just personal preference.