Haurki Murakami

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Arrigo_Lupori
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Re: Haurki Murakami

Post by Arrigo_Lupori »

DancingLady wrote: 19 Feb 2018, 09:58 I have listened to the audio version of several of his books and I have to give him a mixed review. I enjoyed and learned from his writing about Japanese culture and ways of thinking and I would say that is very valuable as I live in a small community that doesn’t currently have many people of Asian heritage, so I am limited in what I can learn first hand. He is a very good writer in his style and the story line is always captivating.

What I have to criticize is the sexual content, which is excessive and explicit. I found myself having to fast forward often and miss bits of the story because I do not want to fill my mind with pornographic filth. For me, that content is so incredibly negative that it effectively offsets the positive. I do not plan to read or listen to any more of his works because I have heard enough to know that this type of content is to be expected in anything he writes.
You are absolutely right about that. I do not like the way he writes about sex either. It did not come as a dealbreaker for me but I understand why you wouldn't like it, I don't either. It feels out of place and rushed, very explicit and too fake.. Hardly anyone would ever describe sex the way he does in his books, so I have to agree with you on this one.
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briellejee
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Post by briellejee »

I just saw this forum and I am an absolute fan of this author!!! for first readers, I'd recommend Colorless Tzukuru. Then Norwegian Wood then Sputnik Sweetheart. The trick for liking murakami is to start with these books, otherwise you will not understand his style of writing especially in the much more complciated books with a lot more symbolism.
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Jeyasivananth
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Post by Jeyasivananth »

I have been itching to read this writer for a long time now.
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Javier Campos
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Post by Javier Campos »

I'm really into his writing, I have a game where I try to predict which character is going to commit suicide in each novel, it seems that there always have to be a suicide when it comes ho Murakami.
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briellejee
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Post by briellejee »

Jeyasivananth wrote: 31 Mar 2018, 06:36 I have been itching to read this writer for a long time now.
you've got to start now and you wont be disappointed!!
"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost"
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valsephine
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Post by valsephine »

Seems many people here recommend Norwegian Wood. I'll have to give that one a try!

I listened to Wild Sheep Chase while on a trip to and from the Appalachian Mountains, which I take a few times per year. Seeing the animals grazing atop hills and mountains throughout the drive was a fitting backdrop to the novel. (It shouldn't be a spoiler to tell you that sheep play a central role in the novel!) I remember that novel fondly now every time I make the drive. It is probably the weirdest book I've ever read, but it was fantastic, and I consider Murakami to be one of our best contemporary authors.
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briellejee
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Post by briellejee »

valsephine wrote: 10 May 2018, 20:30 Seems many people here recommend Norwegian Wood. I'll have to give that one a try!

I listened to Wild Sheep Chase while on a trip to and from the Appalachian Mountains, which I take a few times per year. Seeing the animals grazing atop hills and mountains throughout the drive was a fitting backdrop to the novel. (It shouldn't be a spoiler to tell you that sheep play a central role in the novel!) I remember that novel fondly now every time I make the drive. It is probably the weirdest book I've ever read, but it was fantastic, and I consider Murakami to be one of our best contemporary authors.
Norwegian Wood is his famous work but I would also want to recommend Sputnik Sweetheart and Colorless Tzukuru. I haven't finished Wild Sheep Chase though. It is indeed weird but his Kafka on the Shore is also weirddd. Murakami is all for metaphors.
"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost"
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briellejee
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Post by briellejee »

Arrigo_Lupori wrote: 20 Feb 2018, 05:25
DancingLady wrote: 19 Feb 2018, 09:58 I have listened to the audio version of several of his books and I have to give him a mixed review. I enjoyed and learned from his writing about Japanese culture and ways of thinking and I would say that is very valuable as I live in a small community that doesn’t currently have many people of Asian heritage, so I am limited in what I can learn first hand. He is a very good writer in his style and the story line is always captivating.

What I have to criticize is the sexual content, which is excessive and explicit. I found myself having to fast forward often and miss bits of the story because I do not want to fill my mind with pornographic filth. For me, that content is so incredibly negative that it effectively offsets the positive. I do not plan to read or listen to any more of his works because I have heard enough to know that this type of content is to be expected in anything he writes.
You are absolutely right about that. I do not like the way he writes about sex either. It did not come as a dealbreaker for me but I understand why you wouldn't like it, I don't either. It feels out of place and rushed, very explicit and too fake.. Hardly anyone would ever describe sex the way he does in his books, so I have to agree with you on this one.
For the sex scenes are also in line with metaphors that sometimes ot makes no sense. However i find them not disturbing since the way he described the scenes was like keeping up with the tone of the whole book. I dont know about listening to it on audio but it sure does makes sense when you read it.
"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost"
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aby johnson
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Post by aby johnson »

Murakami is a gem to me because no one ever told me how beautifully he writes or the fact that such an author exists. i have read many of his works and I have loved all of them Want to read 1Q84 next and also Wind-Up bird chronicles.
Smile, for better days are yet to come :D
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Anna Bookowski
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Post by Anna Bookowski »

tinybore wrote: 20 Oct 2011, 08:37 I strongly recommend Norwegian Wood. Very deep, interesting characters, and I admire the way Haruki describes and writes about emotions.

I've also read Kafka on Shore. IMO it's not as good as Norwegian Wood, but I still liked it very much.
This is quite interesting how different people perceive the same books - it tells a lot about how subjective it all is. Because I found "Norwegian Wood" rather shallow and depressing. I found story slow and characters predictive and kind of cliche.
Obviously I don't mean to hurt your feelings, I honestly find it curious how people can see the same things completely different way.
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karineyn
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Post by karineyn »

When I first read Murakami, I have to admit I was prejudiced a little, as with most popular authors. And it felt somewhat normal at first. His books started to have an impact on me ‘after I finished them, which was quite curious. Of course that was before I became his regular reader. I definitely recommend his works. He has a unique fictional world, oftentimes it feels like a refuge to me. That being said, it is also important that one starts with the ‘right book, not all of them might appeal to a first reader. His story collections might be a good idea.
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briellejee
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Post by briellejee »

karineyn wrote: 08 Jun 2021, 14:46 When I first read Murakami, I have to admit I was prejudiced a little, as with most popular authors. And it felt somewhat normal at first. His books started to have an impact on me ‘after I finished them, which was quite curious. Of course that was before I became his regular reader. I definitely recommend his works. He has a unique fictional world, oftentimes it feels like a refuge to me. That being said, it is also important that one starts with the ‘right book, not all of them might appeal to a first reader. His story collections might be a good idea.
i agree with the story collections! I started with the The Elephant Vanishes and since then I became his fan.
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Akshi Porwal
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Post by Akshi Porwal »

I have only read one of his books, Norwegian woods and i am not a fan. The author seems a little sexist and the book was too overly sexual and objectifies the female character a lot.
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usef nahg
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Post by usef nahg »

ive only read translated versions of his book, i think so did most people, and i enjoyed the writing style
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