Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Haruki Murakami

  1. #1
    bootiesrus's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2019
    Posts
    316
    Userbars
    14
    Thanks
    1,506
    Thanked
    929/214
    DL/UL
    6/0
    Mentioned
    64 times
    Time Online
    36d 19h 21m
    Avg. Time Online
    31m

    Haruki Murakami

    So, any one into Haruki Murakami? He's one of the few modern authors I've read nearly everything by. Although he is Japanese, he is also a translator and knows English, and he also reads his own English translated books - this makes me feel more secure because it seems the English translations really do him justice.

    However, I find it difficult to explain why I like him so much. I think it's because he writes so casually about such weird/existential/magical topics?

    If you are interested I recommend starting off with a few short stories first. My favorite short story collection by him is:
    The Elephant Vanishes

    it gives you a taste of his style for sure.

  2. The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to bootiesrus For This Useful Post:

    Fabulous (02-15-2020),helen (03-30-2020),Menine (02-15-2020)

  3. #2
    gjniev's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2017
    Posts
    366
    Userbars
    9
    Thanks
    1,751
    Thanked
    1,479/269
    DL/UL
    1/0
    Mentioned
    9 times
    Time Online
    27d 7h 35m
    Avg. Time Online
    17m
    I had a friend beg me to read Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World which I did and enjoyed. I eventually ended up reading Kafka on the Shore, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and 1Q84 (his best work, imo, and if someone can successfully make this into a film I'd be stunned), and Men Without Women.
    I was mildly disappointed with Killing Commendatore but one out of 5 isn't bad.

    I have issues with his depictions of women but that's for another thread. He's a great storyteller.

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to gjniev For This Useful Post:

    bootiesrus (02-19-2020)

  5. #3
    helen's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2020
    Posts
    189
    Userbars
    6
    Thanks
    285
    Thanked
    92/55
    DL/UL
    3/0
    Mentioned
    6 times
    Time Online
    2d 20h 9m
    Avg. Time Online
    2m
    i read Norwegian wood in english and i liked it very much. It helped visualising the characters as manga heroes too.

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to helen For This Useful Post:

    bootiesrus (05-09-2020)

  7. #4


    hiddenblink's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2017
    Posts
    108
    Userbars
    6
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked
    65/34
    DL/UL
    15/0
    Mentioned
    14 times
    Time Online
    3d 1h 46m
    Avg. Time Online
    1m
    I've recently been gifted a few of his books, which one should I read first? I've got 1Q84, Kafka on the Shore, and Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage.

  8. #5
    katongpool's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2020
    Posts
    100
    Userbars
    6
    Thanks
    103
    Thanked
    79/28
    DL/UL
    15/0
    Mentioned
    6 times
    Time Online
    6d 2h 46m
    Avg. Time Online
    6m
    I have never really gotten into Murakami but he is certainly very popular here in my country. I just saw this tweet about his books the other day that made me laugh: (you need an account to see links)

  9. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to katongpool For This Useful Post:

    bootiesrus (05-09-2020),gjniev (05-09-2020)

  10. #6
    bootiesrus's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2019
    Posts
    316
    Userbars
    14
    Thanks
    1,506
    Thanked
    929/214
    DL/UL
    6/0
    Mentioned
    64 times
    Time Online
    36d 19h 21m
    Avg. Time Online
    31m
    Quote Originally Posted by hiddenblink View Post
    I've recently been gifted a few of his books, which one should I read first? I've got 1Q84, Kafka on the Shore, and Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage.
    I thought 1Q84 was really good but it's terribly long so can drag on a bit. Kafka on the shore is my absolute favorite, it's very weird and fantasy/surreal which is sth I like. Colorless Tsukuru is more realistic but I also still like it.

  11. #7
    mokavanila's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2018
    Posts
    102
    Userbars
    14
    Thanks
    266
    Thanked
    122/48
    DL/UL
    37/0
    Mentioned
    11 times
    Time Online
    9d 17h 30m
    Avg. Time Online
    6m
    Oh I didn't know he does his own translations. Even though I'm not reading his books in English nor Japanese.
    There are some books I was really excited about like Kafka On the Shore and some I was a bit disappointed by like Norwegian Wood. His writing kinda reminds me of 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

  12. #8


    hiddenblink's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2017
    Posts
    108
    Userbars
    6
    Thanks
    89
    Thanked
    65/34
    DL/UL
    15/0
    Mentioned
    14 times
    Time Online
    3d 1h 46m
    Avg. Time Online
    1m
    Quote Originally Posted by mokavanila View Post
    Oh I didn't know he does his own translations. Even though I'm not reading his books in English nor Japanese.
    There are some books I was really excited about like Kafka On the Shore and some I was a bit disappointed by like Norwegian Wood. His writing kinda reminds me of 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
    Ah, I love Gabriel Garc�a M�rquez's writing! That bodes well for the next few days I'll be spending on reading some of Murakami's stuff.

    What language do you read them in?

  13. #9
    bootiesrus's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2019
    Posts
    316
    Userbars
    14
    Thanks
    1,506
    Thanked
    929/214
    DL/UL
    6/0
    Mentioned
    64 times
    Time Online
    36d 19h 21m
    Avg. Time Online
    31m
    Quote Originally Posted by mokavanila View Post
    Oh I didn't know he does his own translations. Even though I'm not reading his books in English nor Japanese.
    There are some books I was really excited about like Kafka On the Shore and some I was a bit disappointed by like Norwegian Wood. His writing kinda reminds me of 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
    He doesn't do translations of his own books though.

  14. #10
    gjniev's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2017
    Posts
    366
    Userbars
    9
    Thanks
    1,751
    Thanked
    1,479/269
    DL/UL
    1/0
    Mentioned
    9 times
    Time Online
    27d 7h 35m
    Avg. Time Online
    17m
    Quote Originally Posted by katongpool View Post
    I have never really gotten into Murakami but he is certainly very popular here in my country. I just saw this tweet about his books the other day that made me laugh: (you need an account to see links)
    Pretty much all of his work summed up, just missing cats.

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to gjniev For This Useful Post:

    bootiesrus (05-09-2020)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •