Haruki Murakami fans discussion

So, like I said in other posts, i have read the amazing wind up..., and i think its time to dive into some short stories. I have asked this a lot on good reads, and im asking it again; where do i start? ugh what a task.

The Elephant Vanishes, has some of the same concepts that are in wind up... and Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman seems to have some mixed reviews. Underground is another choice, but its format may not be what im looking for.

thoughts? ideas?

The Folklore of Our Times was amazing. So simple, but with such an impact, I loved it. It's only one short story so it won't take much of your time, I really suggest you read it. I, myself, am about to read his other short stories too.

Where is Folklore of our times from? is it an individual story? or a novel/collection?

It's an individual story. I think he published it in some newspaper or the other, I'm sure you can google it, I read it online also.

Haha yah I was making sure. I got it online. Out of these two collections what do you think is the best? People are so divided over them

I am yet to read his short-story collections, so I have no formed opinion right now. :)

i think ill go with kafka next, even though his shorts look good.

Blind willow sleeping woman have a good selection.
Elephant vanishes have longer stories. After the quake, the stories are not that strong but it is the only compilation that has a general theme, which is the quake.

blind willow sleeping woman, wonderful collection, one of my favourite books! :)

I like the reviews of blind woman. I'm going to do kafka next.... Though

Willy wrote: "blind willow sleeping woman, wonderful collection, one of my favourite books! :)"

This is a good break book, if you have just finished one of his novels and are looking to dive into another one.

im diving into Kafka right now after MONTHS of space between wind up and this one. i like to use it to cut through the seriousness between reads like Roach

I like Blind Willow more personally. I think because The Elephant Vanishes was actually the first Murakami book I've read and didn't enjoy it that much because I wasn't familiar yet with Murakami's writing. Whereas I have read at least 5 more Murakami novels before reading Blind Willow so everything kind of flowed smoothly.

Chrissie wrote: "I like Blind Willow more personally. I think because The Elephant Vanishes was actually the first Murakami book I've read and didn't enjoy it that much because I wasn't familiar yet with Murakami's..."

yah. blind willow seems more sprawling in its variations and topics. its def going to be used in between more serious words, if even just for one or two stories.

Jas wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "I like Blind Willow more personally. I think because The Elephant Vanishes was actually the first Murakami book I've read and didn't enjoy it that much because I wasn't familiar ye..."

And enjoy reading Kafka! That, Hardboiled Wonderland, and Norwegian Wood are hands down my favorite books of Murakami. And I always recommend Kafka to strangers in bookstores :D

im so lost. is it more vignettes strung together? or does it make a cohesive (FOR Murakami, ha). granted i JUST started out... like 20 pages in... so maybe its foolish to even ask this question.

Jas wrote: "im so lost. is it more vignettes strung together? or does it make a cohesive (FOR Murakami, ha). granted i JUST started out... like 20 pages in... so maybe its foolish to even ask this question."

Kafka, is that kind of a book, like with all Murakami's books, you need patience for the story to build up before it traverses through intertwined events. However, there is no guarantee that the story will unravel to be as definitive as you expected. Oh! the Murakami charm :).. Enjoy reading, i am half way through Kafka myself.

Ha I noticed. I'm early on though. Just finding out the accident leading to the cat talkers powers. Maybe there is hope.

Jas: I ALWAYS feel lost whenever I Murakami so I think I got used to it already and not easily bothered where the story is leading, or if it`d lead somewhere at all -.-`I experienced that with A Wild Sheep Chase and Wind-up Bird. But don't worry, Kafka is not as baffling but IMHO twice as charming. And I personally feel that it`s the easier read among these three :D

Chrissie wrote: "Jas: I ALWAYS feel lost whenever I Murakami so I think I got used to it already and not easily bothered where the story is leading, or if it`d lead somewhere at all -.-`I experienced that with A Wi..."

yah i went with this one a after wind up. i do confess i put a huge amount of time, like 10 months between this and wind up. i just couldnt do it... was too much for my brain. i decided against sheep for a bit, since i liked this cover (yah... sometimes a cover gets me). im glad you say that its an easier read. maybe those stories will come together more tightly... im only at chapter 6

Blind Willow Sleeping Woman is the best. The story that stung my heart was "A Poor Aunt story" is about a poor aunt that you get embarrassed whenever she shows up, she can be an aunt, or someone else's bad habit, or anything that someone is embarrassed about possessing.

I have a few great Aunts like her. It seems as though, he focuses on age and her time in life. For some reason, they feel as though they're burdens because of their inability to fit in or take care of themselves. There's a lot of emotion in his story! A lot of loneliness as well. Which is his strong points.

Jas wrote: "im diving into Kafka right now after MONTHS of space between wind up and this one. i like to use it to cut through the seriousness between reads like Roach"

I've read Kafka 3 times! It's seriously that good. I can honestly say it's personally changed my life. It isn't too surrealistic as Wind-up was. It's full of heart warming relations to; reality, time, conquests, death, and birth. I don't think you'll struggle to read this one, like you did with the rest of his twisted metaphorical paradoxes.

Be sure to post updates for us! I am actually listening to the free Audible story I downloaded on my cell phone. It's going to make a great book for the beach. I posted the link if you want. But, honestly I would rather feel a good book in my hands. :-)

Oh good people keep saying that all his books are the same. I'm struggling with the concept of multiple story lines that all sorta don't make sense as a whole. Obviously though I'm very early on in this one. I love the description if that means anything. But his portrayal of sex scenes and intimacy is still so lackluster and not realistic. I'll keep you privy to any changes in progress and likeability. I adore wind up so it's a hard measure to stand against.

Oh and I own this one on kindle. Total bummer because I like showing off that I'm reading his work.

Kafka is a wonderful book of Haruki Murakami. I hardly put it down :)

Jas wrote: "Oh good people keep saying that all his books are the same. I'm struggling with the concept of multiple story lines that all sorta don't make sense as a whole. Obviously though I'm very early on in..."

It is an established fact that Murakami is a unique writer and his storyline’s are never an ordinary feat. Keeping all this in mind, Kafka failed to keep me intrigued throughout the novel. I felt lost with the enforced reckless sexual element in the book. However the book is inventive and the story in itself weaves through intelligently from one plot to another as it progresses throughout the storytelling.

Kafka has actually sidelined my reading for almost a week. The dialog involving girls and women is horrible. So are the sexual themes.