Thursday, October 6, 2011

I'm hopeless as a logical thinker

People should confront their irrational fears, whether it's fear of being dragged into deep water by crazy sharks or if it's fear of an author that you've never checked out before but seems like it could be really difficult and all these smart people like him so if you don't like him you're probably wrong or you're missing something. I'm still working on that shark fear thing* but I finally tackled Murakami. And I loved it. What was I so worried about?

Granted I went with what I believe is one of the easier, more linear stories and I picked up Norwegian Wood. At least other bloggers told me it was a good one to start with. I can't say yet, but I do plan on picking up some more Murakami's stuff. So if you have any recommendations, please let me know.

It's sort of a love story but it's not sickeningly romantic. It deals with a lot of suicide and death, and loss but it's not melodramatic or heart-string-tugging. There's a love triangle but you don't spend the whole time going "of course the main character is going to pick person A because the other person is a major douche face and the fact that douche face is even a consideration makes me hate the main character". The characters are wonderful and vulnerable and I loved reading about them. I don't think this is going to be a very effective review to convince those to read it who haven't before. I'm not sure what to say because all I want to do is gush about 2 of the characters and the gushing will really only make sense if you already know the characters. So for those of you that know the book, enjoy. For those that don't, you should read it. And then come back and read this.

1. I love Midori. I loved her. Even when she was being a bit of a bitch I still loved her. I read this on my Kindle so I marked down a bunch of quotes I liked and most of them were from her. She's outgoing and direct and kind of ridiculous and just wonderful. It would have been easy to make her annoying and obnoxious and unfeeling but Murakami is better than that.

2. I love Reiko too. Probably because she reminds me of Midori only it's a Midori you could go to for advice. And she plays the guitar. A musical Midori. OK, I guess it's unfair to only think of her as a version of another character but she's another very strong, outgoing and direct character. Plus I was completely drawn into her story within the larger story.

So to sum up: I got over my fear of reading Murakami and plan on checking out more of his stuff, but I'm still irrationally afraid of sharks. I love Midori and Reiko and would rather gush about them than write a useful review. You should read this book.

I'm actually listening to the song "Norwegian Wood" while writing this. I didn't plan it that way but I was Googling the book so I could make sure I was spelling Murakami correctly and the first link that popped up was a YouTube clip for the song. I probably would have ignored it but the top comment was "This song gives me wood" and I started giggling because I'm immature, so I decided to listen.

*No, seriously, I have this major problem with deep water and stuff living in there. I know logically it's a stupid fear and I loved sharks when I was little so I don't know where this fear came from. I do know it's enough that I have trouble completing water levels in video games. Damn you, giant metal whale from Banjo Kazooie.

Title quote from location 1411

Murakami, Haruki. Norwegian Wood. Random House, 1987. Kindle Edition.

Comments (23)

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Thank you for posting this! I have also had an irrational fear of cerebral authors I'm afraid I won't 'get' and Murakami is one of them. But this book, Norwegian Wood, sounds like something I could actually read and enjoy.
1 reply · active 701 weeks ago
You should definitely give this a try! It was very wonderful and accessible. I'm sure I've missed a literary detail here and there but I liked this enough that I'm sure I'll re-read it at some point. And I absolutely want to read some more of his stuff
Of course the first thing I'm going to talk about is how much I enjoy "douche face." High fives all around.

Dude, we would be at a beach together and I would laugh. But then my hubris (...or whatever) would get me dragged down by Shark Gone Insane and you would be justified. Because life is like the movies.

Also, I've never had any interest in Murakami, but NOW I AM INTERESTED. Because I enjoyed your description of Midori.
1 reply · active 701 weeks ago
Life is just like movies. But don't worry cos even if SGI gets you I'm sure I'll be taken down in the end. I'll go out on a tiny boat but I'll be the very cautious one who is doing it because it's The Right Thing To Do and then I'll have to be sacrificed. Because movies hate phobias and those people are punished. Also I'm glad you enjoy "douche face" because seriously, I hate those fake love triangle things.

Midori is more than enough reason to read this book because she is awesome. I wish I could have done a better job of describing how much I liked her instead of just spewing adjectives
I'm so glad you liked this one! It's still the only Murakami I've read, but I do plan on reading more. I was also team Midori - one of the more memorable characters of the books I've read this year. Let me know if you end up buying anything else by Murakami - I'd be interested to know what titles you chose.
1 reply · active 701 weeks ago
I'm not quite sure where to go next with him but I def plan on picking something else up. I liked Naoko but I was all for Midori. She really made the book for me. Or at least put it over the edge. It was a good book and her character pushed it to something more.
Very happy you liked it. Murakami's quite the charmer and his texts are seamless. His plots are often complex and layered, but it's part of his appeal. I loved the character Naoko too, but she was very sick. I think the narrator was just trying to chase a happy memory with her. Amazing book
1 reply · active 701 weeks ago
I did get the feeling that Toro's love for Naoko was sincere but it was fueled by his memory of Kizuki as much as his wanting to make Naoko happy.
I didn't realise I was meant to be scared of Murakami until you just said it! All I had before your review was 'well, people seem to like him and think he's pretty awesome and some people even think he deserves the Nobel prize' so I was planning on reading something by him sometime. This makes me want to do it soon :).

Also, I saw a trailer for the film of Norwegian Wood and it looked breathtaking- and I'm guessing the book would be even better, considering that, you know, it's a book! Now I'm just rambling so I'm going to stop...
1 reply · active 701 weeks ago
You're better than me because I was totally intimidated by virtue of the fact that lots of super smart people like the guy, so I was afraid I would end up missing the point if I were to try it. I haven't seen the the movie or the trailer for the movie but I could imagine this making a good film.
Everyone and their mother seems to love this book -- clearly I need to read it, and stat! My goal is to try to read 52 non US authors next year, so I'll add this for my Japan option...
1 reply · active 701 weeks ago
This would be a great addition to your non-US authors! :)
Funny I didn't know enough about Murakami to be intimidated by him when I picked up the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle a few years ago, which was my introduction to him. I loved it & read Sputnik Sweetheart soon after, but haven't managed to read anything else of his since. When did he become a fascination/sensation? Has he always been? I'd only heard of WUBC b/c I saw a girl in my organic chemistry lab reading it & was intrigued by both the title and the cover. NW is one I've been meaning to read forEVER now. Maybe by the end of the year, and then I can come back and read your character gushings!
1 reply · active 700 weeks ago
Maybe this whole intimidated-by-Murakami thing was all in my head. It would make sense a lot of sense that I made that up. I'm not sure when he got to be such a sensation, although I feel like by the time I started hearing about him, that aura was already in place.

I'll check out Wind Up Bird and Sputnik Sweetheart for my next Murakami! Thanks for the recommendations
And I meant to say, I'd recommend both Wind Up Bird and Sputnik - SS is much shorter and quicker, if that's what you're looking for in your next Murakami!
Norwegian Wood was the book that got me hooked on Murakami. Now, two and half years later, I've read almost everything he's written that's been translated into English. Norwegian Wood was his most straightforward book, but I wouldn't say any of his books are particularly difficult or dense. When you're done reading them, you'll be scratching your head going "WTF was that all about?" but you'll be smiling. They're a lot like dreams - stuff doesn't make any sense at all - except it does. Anyway, glad you enjoyed this one and hope that you move on to some others. His best is The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles but if you want another relatively straightforward one, read South of the Border, West of the Sun.
1 reply · active 700 weeks ago
Read almost everything he's written, that's certainly an endorsement of the guy! I could see his stuff feeling like a dream when you're done. NW is obviously a pretty straightforward story but it had elements of "what just happened" but I only ever thought that after the fact. I might give South of the Border or Sputnik Sweetheart a try before going into Wind Up Birds, but I absolutely plan on reading more from the guy. Thanks for the recommendation!
I've never even heard of Murakami but I'm totally adding this to my to-read / to-buy list to read some day. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Great review :-) And congrats on tackling one of your author fears, lol.
1 reply · active 700 weeks ago
You should def check this guy out. I plan on reading some more of his stuff. He's got quite a following and if the others are anything like this one, it's well founded.
Murakami is someone I've been wanting to read for a while! I wasn't sure whether to start with the new book that's coming out, or Wind Up Bird or the one that's on the NPR best sci fi list (Hard Boiled Wonderland). It sounds like Norwegian Wood is a good place to start.
1 reply · active 700 weeks ago
Oo I hadn't heard of Hard Boiled Wonderland, but I haven't really heard of too much of his stuff so I guess I'm not surprised. I've heard some of his other stuff is a little hard to follow but NW was pretty linear so it makes a good start to getting used to his writing style. Or I think it makes a good start, but considering I've never read anything else of his I could be wrong.
If you're game to read something totally wacky but strangely enjoyable at the same time, I would recommend Kafka on the Shore and Dance Dance Dance. His short stories are good too, especially Elephant Vanishes.
1 reply · active 700 weeks ago
I've heard very good things about Kafka on the Shore but there's something about it that makes me nervous. I may go with one of his other ones first, but I absolutely plan on giving that a read. And I'm up for some good short stories from the guy!

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