[horribleman]

Has anyone else read stuff by this Japanese man and loved it? I've read Norwegian wood and have all his other books. I think they qualify as fantasy as they contain surreal elements.

[horribleman]

Hey Whitebelly!

If you want to start with his most popular book it's called Norwegian Wood, and while not fantasy is wonderful in character development, and a bit surreal. However, for more fantastic books, get 'the wind up bird chronicle' or 'a wild sheep chase'.

His prose is really easy to read. But you must not expect knights and totally different worlds.

[estranghero]

Sorry, was trying to post on this thread yesterday but my computer kept shutting down my internet everytime I tried doing so.

Anyway, I've heard of Murakami in other forums and how good he is. He supposedly ranks up there with Jonathan Lethem, Thomas Pynchon, Jeff Noon in terms of speculative fiction stuff. Is he really? What's your review? And how many books has he written?

Thanks!

[whitebelly]

hi there, horrible man! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

I checked out Murakami on amazon.co.uk; "Norwegian Wood" seems to be the novel I once spotted in the library, consisting of a little green and a little red book. The amazon review compares it to Plath's "The Bell Jar" ... which is as good a recommendation as a book can get for me (big Plath fan). I'll definitely read that one now!

Any other books by Murakami to start with as a novice? He has written quite a few.

[Llama]

WILD SHEEP CHASE
DANCE DANCE DANCE
WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLE

All good.

[whitebelly]

I've just started reading "Sputnik Sweetheart" this afternoon and am thoroughly baffled. My God, what a writer!

Next on the list is "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle"

[LeMort]

Haruki Murakami?

What a wonderful phrase.

Haruki Murakami!

Ain't no passing craze.

It means no worries for the rest of your days.

It's our problem-free philosophy.

Haruki Murakami!


Sorry .

http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by LeMort (edited May 20, 2002).]

[horribleman]

Whitebelly, Glad you are enjoying ( I Hope http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif) the book. What are your impressions? Style? Subject Matter? etc???

[Alucard]

Because of this thread, I decided to give Murakami a shot. I'm glad I did. The Wild Sheep Chase was one of the most bizarre yet surprisingly fun books I have read in a while. I will be reading more of him (just got a copy of "hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world" today). Thanks for bringing him up.

For anyone else who's willing to try this guy, I think you can go into his books knowing it will be unlike most anything you've read before.

[whitebelly]

horribleman, alucard! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

Sorry for not replying earlier, but I have been positively DROWNING in Murakami. Having finished "Sputnik Sweetheart" I am now deep into "Hard-Boiled Wonderland & the End of the World" - reading over 100 pages non-stop, which I don't often do - and I'm just ... baffled. A couple of days ago I just sped off to the bookshop and bought every Murakami book they had, then ordered the rest through amazon.

It's funny, there's lots of things I don't quite "get", but somehow this doesn't feel annoying. "Sputnik Sweetheart" just left me speechless at the end - this is how it ENDS? - but it has been doing the rounds in my head ever since and somehow I know that, in time, I will be getting more & more out of it. This guy, like Borges, makes me feel weird & elated at the same time.

Horribleman, which ones have you read? do you know of a good website on Murakami? I did a (quick) search, but excepting some useful info on www.complete-review.com (http://www.complete-review.com) I didn't come across anything noteworthy.

Spread the Word! http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif