Well, I just finished The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by my man Haruki Murakami and as usual, I feel a bit like a lost soul but, um, in a good way? I've read only 2 other Murakami books thus far (1Q84 and Kafka on the Shore) but every time I finish one, I'm left with a profound sense of what I like to call "what-ness" which basically means I have to think about it for a while to decide if I know what I just read or not. And yet, despite that, I'm already thinking of which one I'm gonna read next (Norwegian Wood maybe?).
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You can read the full official synopsis of the book in the link above but Chronicle is basically a surreal detective story where this dude starts off looking for his cat who's gone missing, but then starts looking for his wife who goes missing soon after. AND THEN WEIRD STUFF HAPPENS.
I'm sorry but this is the best I can do. Murakami has been compared to Kurt Vonnegut plenty of times and if you've read anything by him (oh god, please do if you haven't) maybe you'll understand my struggle: while that sounds like a simple story, and while that is indeed what it's about, it's not at ALL that simple.*
As much as I've enjoyed them so far, I hesitate to recommend Murakami books because of that "what-ness" I mentioned above- the story is never that simple and there's a lot you may not understand, even when you're done. It doesn't seem like he concerns himself too much with explaining himself and tying up loose ends and there's a chance you won't feel completely satisfied with the ending. You have to be ok with taking time to flesh things out in your head a while after you finish, but I personally feel as if it's intentional (as opposed to shitty writing, say) and don't think it's a bad thing for an author to keep you thinking about the book long after you finish it.
Anyway, a little more on the story itself: I think I especially liked this one because I really connected with the main character, the poor dude who's missing his cat and wife, Toru Okada. Right from the beginning you learn he recently quit his job and is having a hard time figuring out what to do next. At a bit of a similar crossroads myself (but without the luxury of being able to be out of work indefinitely), I like how, over the course of this novel you discover how much this seemingly lost and unambitious guy, accused of being worthless, has to offer in his own quiet way.
I'm afraid if I continue rambling about this I'll give away too many spoilers so I'll end it here. I'd give this book a 4/5 stars so consider it Highly Recommended.
*And real quick since I mentioned it, I'd like to say that when I mention he's much like Vonnegut, it doesn't mean that he's a "Japanese Kurt Vonnegut;" he's more a "Japanese version of Kurt Vonnegut-esque writing".
I'm sorry but this is the best I can do. Murakami has been compared to Kurt Vonnegut plenty of times and if you've read anything by him (oh god, please do if you haven't) maybe you'll understand my struggle: while that sounds like a simple story, and while that is indeed what it's about, it's not at ALL that simple.*
As much as I've enjoyed them so far, I hesitate to recommend Murakami books because of that "what-ness" I mentioned above- the story is never that simple and there's a lot you may not understand, even when you're done. It doesn't seem like he concerns himself too much with explaining himself and tying up loose ends and there's a chance you won't feel completely satisfied with the ending. You have to be ok with taking time to flesh things out in your head a while after you finish, but I personally feel as if it's intentional (as opposed to shitty writing, say) and don't think it's a bad thing for an author to keep you thinking about the book long after you finish it.
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| Murakami-san himself. Pic found HERE from his 2015 "100 Most Influential People" blurb written by Yoko Ono in TIME Magazine. Check it out (it's short, don't worry). |
I'm afraid if I continue rambling about this I'll give away too many spoilers so I'll end it here. I'd give this book a 4/5 stars so consider it Highly Recommended.
*And real quick since I mentioned it, I'd like to say that when I mention he's much like Vonnegut, it doesn't mean that he's a "Japanese Kurt Vonnegut;" he's more a "Japanese version of Kurt Vonnegut-esque writing".
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