Since about three months back I have been reading about Murakami at various forums and I had even been recommended one particular book by a friend – Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki And His Years Of Pilgrimage. Since I have so much of backlog of books to finish reading, I had not paid much attention to these messages that were coming to me, but I had put this book on two online book sellers’ wishlists.
My friend Anil came for a day’s visit to Pune yesterday and left today. Strangely enough, he brought precisely this book for me to read! He had brought this to finish reading on the plane on his way from Delhi and having finished reading it, left it with me with the recommendation that I read it.
I was first taken aback at the message coming at me again but kept the book aside intending to go to it after Anil left. Yesterday, after Anil had gone to catch up with some other friends, I just thought that I would see what the brouhaha about Murakami and the book was all about and before I knew it, I had started reading the book and got totally involved. I was not able to finish reading it yesterday, but I achieved that earlier this evening.
Murakami tells a story with powerful imagery and flowing structure. It did not matter that the story takes place almost entirely in Japan. The characters can be from any country in the world and the story can happen to any person anywhere in the world. Philip Gabriel’s translation is effective in so far as making it appear as though it is not a translation!
I have now decided on two courses of action. 1. To go to reading fiction again, leaving all my non fiction books aside and 2. Get and read all of Murakami’s books.
what a wonderful recommendation of this book.
i shall look for it.
as for my day to day reading… i shall have to spend much of it right here! i’ve missed many wonderful posts. and will definitely be catching up.
it’s finally cool here my friend. and SO WONDERFUL!
tammyj recently posted..jerkin’ your chain?
Tammy, I am delighted to see you here. It is wonderful indeed that you are back in circulation. Enjoy!
Yes, hurray, tammy!
Cheerful Monk recently posted..An Organizational Glitch
I am delighted to see you back here Tammy.
You will not regret getting and reading the book.
Great post. I’m so glad you’re getting back to reading fiction as well! Thanks for the book info, will look it up. Looks like it was meant eventually to make its way to you 🙂
Yes, synchronicity at its best.
My favorite of his is THE WIND-UP BIRD CHRONICLES. I think he is a deeply spiritual writer, which is one of the many reasons I love his books. I also find his straightforward, no-nonsense prose, when he’s writing about subjects that are FAR from straightforward, compelling.
Right ho. It has gone into my bucket list of books to read. Thank you.