OnMyLunchBreak
03-12-2007, 01:13 PM
I am thinking of picking up Murakami’s recently released collection of short stories, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, for my next read:
http://i5.tinypic.com/4csdaqh.jpg
From Booklist (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/partners/marketing/booklist.html/)
This well-honored and avidly read Japanese writer, who is the author, most recently, of the novel Kafka on the Shore (2005), extols the virtues of, as well as admits to a fondness for, the short story form ("a joy") in his introduction to this selection of 25 of his short works. Readers who fear the short story, particularly by writers with a high literary reputation, need to set hesitations aside here. Murakami is an open-armed, hospitable short story writer who avoids the obscurantism often caused by the concision that the form requires. His stories have an oral tone, a greatly appealing and embracing personal narrative voice. "Yep, that's life all right," says the narrator of "A Perfect Day for Kangaroos," on the subject of finding a suitable day--what with inclement weather and health issues--to visit the zoo. The sheer perfection of that story is counterpoised by "Tony Takitani," a longer and more elaborate but no less jolting story about a man's life, which begins and ends in loneliness. The title story is a low-key but poignant memoir-type narrative about a young man's caring for his hearing-impaired cousin, and the pleasure of "The Mirror" arises from the feel it gives of an Edith Wharton ghost story. The beauty of the author's prose style seals every story's sharp delivery. Brad Hooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
I find Murakami to be a truly transcendent writer. When I read Kafka on the Shore a couple of years ago I felt so transported in time and mythos – like I walked around in my ‘real’ world in a trance as I eagerly awaited Murakami’s world to unfold. The Wind Up Bird Chronicles had the same effect on me.
I find Murakami’s stories so fascinating because while they are thoroughly modern in setting and events, their surrealist injections are captivating and somehow very meaningful.
Anyone else a Murakami fan?
http://i5.tinypic.com/4csdaqh.jpg
From Booklist (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/subst/partners/marketing/booklist.html/)
This well-honored and avidly read Japanese writer, who is the author, most recently, of the novel Kafka on the Shore (2005), extols the virtues of, as well as admits to a fondness for, the short story form ("a joy") in his introduction to this selection of 25 of his short works. Readers who fear the short story, particularly by writers with a high literary reputation, need to set hesitations aside here. Murakami is an open-armed, hospitable short story writer who avoids the obscurantism often caused by the concision that the form requires. His stories have an oral tone, a greatly appealing and embracing personal narrative voice. "Yep, that's life all right," says the narrator of "A Perfect Day for Kangaroos," on the subject of finding a suitable day--what with inclement weather and health issues--to visit the zoo. The sheer perfection of that story is counterpoised by "Tony Takitani," a longer and more elaborate but no less jolting story about a man's life, which begins and ends in loneliness. The title story is a low-key but poignant memoir-type narrative about a young man's caring for his hearing-impaired cousin, and the pleasure of "The Mirror" arises from the feel it gives of an Edith Wharton ghost story. The beauty of the author's prose style seals every story's sharp delivery. Brad Hooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
I find Murakami to be a truly transcendent writer. When I read Kafka on the Shore a couple of years ago I felt so transported in time and mythos – like I walked around in my ‘real’ world in a trance as I eagerly awaited Murakami’s world to unfold. The Wind Up Bird Chronicles had the same effect on me.
I find Murakami’s stories so fascinating because while they are thoroughly modern in setting and events, their surrealist injections are captivating and somehow very meaningful.
Anyone else a Murakami fan?