 |
| Notice the location of the photo? |
This was my first Murakami book, which for some reason I expected to be a difficult slog, but it was nothing of the sort. As Sam says, reading Murakami is like eating candy--easy and enjoyable. There's always something happening to keep your interest.
This is the story of the toughest fifteen-year-old in the world who runs away from home and ends up working in a small library. It's also the story of a simple-minded man who can talk to cats. And there's a cameo by Johnny Walker, and Colonel Sanders, and women who may or may not be the mother or sister of the runaway. It's on the bizarre side, but in a good way.
I think between Sam's take and my experience I have come to the conclusion that reading Murakami can be as difficult as you make it. I probably should have thought about this book more deeply than I did; I'm sure there are all kinds of layers I could have peeled back, because it's full of metaphors and symbolism. But it's not a reading requirement, and I was on vacation, so I took the easy route.
Sam (who has read at least three of them) thinks it's really only necessary to read one Murakami book. Agree or disagree?
Posts
1 comment:
One of my faves. Murakami's books are always a palate cleanser for me. They are like nothing else and when I need to get all scrubby clean for my next read I crave his writing. I just wish his translations were done quicker because once he writes a new book it's a good two years before we get to see it in the US.
Post a Comment