Haruki Murakami

[close] A group for people who enjoy literature written by Japanese authors, the arts, culture, and history of Japan. May 2026: Dragon Palace by Hiromi Kawakami June 2026: Sisters in Yellow by Mieko Kawakami July 2026: Strange Buildings by Uketsu We have monthly fiction, non-fiction group and buddy reads —the conversation is in English, but read along in any language!

[close] Demystifying the works of Haruki Murakami through a diverse lens. Moderated by @thebookelf_

[close] Discuss all things Haruki Murakami: novels, short stories, non-fiction, books about HM, translation projects, related music/film, interviews, symbolism, surrealism, similar writers, etc. We are moving chronologically through his novels. Apr-May 2026 1Q84 (2009-2010) June 2026 Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage (2013) July 2026 Killing Commendatore (2017) August 2026 The City and Its Uncertain Walls (2023) ??? The Tale of Kaho (2026) Then short story collections We have occasional buddy reads —the conversation is in English, but read along in any language!

[close] When Haruki Murakami's 1994-5 novel 'Nejimaki-dori Kuronikuru' was translated by Jay Rubin for English publication by Random House in 1997, it was more than a case of some words being lost in translation. Random House insisted on shortening down the novel from its large, three-volume size to better fit in a one-volume set for the projected market. Mr. Rubin did more than this, however - he CUT OUT two whole chapters, and what's more--two OTHER chapters were REVERSED, making the storyline unnecessarily convoluted (more so than it already is, fans would say). Even the book's notes dub this as "ADAPTED" from the original Japanese novel, rather than just translated. Random House has not yet realized how much of a potential market they have for a complete translation of this book - and so it is up to all of YOU to help change that. Cast your vote in the poll (right here in the group) and let's SHOW Random House that we want a good and true translation of Haruki Murakami's 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle!'