Play Book Tag discussion

I've decided I can't compete with the top review on Goodreads of this book, but I'm going to try to compile my thoughts on it anyway.

Initially I found it difficult to get into this book. In fact, it has been over two years since I started it. I think that has more to do with my waning reading habits than Murakami's prose, however.

Once I picked CTTHYP up again and read a decent chunk of it, I was quickly consumed. In the last two days alone I took out two giant chunks of it and now it's sitting there finished before I thought it would be.

I found Tsukuru Tazaki completely uninteresting, much like a lot of the protagonists in Murakami's books. In fact, I think the definition of a Murakami book is an ordinary character going on an extraordinary journey. It's certainly what it felt like reading this one.

Tsukuru is ditched by his four closest friends with nary an explanation nor a reason given. He sinks into a deep depression because of this but because he no longer lives in the same city as his four friends, he is forced to get on with his life with the real possibility of never seeing them again.

I don't want to say too much lest I spoil the entire contents but for me this was a satisfying read. There were one or two minor details I would have liked to see further explored but that's always asking a bit too much when you're reading Murakami.

Like I said before, Murakami has a knack for creating dull characters that nevertheless fulfil their intriguing destinies. The mundane nature of Tsukuru befalls upon the reading an unusual calm. On one hand, Tsukuru's life is normal almost to the point of boredom, yet on the flip side it is completely bizarre.

I also enjoy how Murakami leaves the reader to draw conclusions for themselves, or just leaves the reader to wonder without any answers. Some mysteries are never solved, after all.

4 stars

I've STILL not read any Murakami. 2017 is the year.

Yes you simply must! I'd recommend Wind Up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on the Shore or Norwegian Wood.

I finished this yesterday. I'm still debating whether to go with 3 or 4 stars. I found the middle the most interesting and and the ending a little weak.

This was a great review Justin!

Have you read 1Q84? I found these 2 books similar... except of course, Colorless is so much shorter and I love 1Q84 a lot more.

Denizen wrote: "I finished this yesterday. I'm still debating whether to go with 3 or 4 stars. I found the middle the most interesting and and the ending a little weak."

Denizen, I agree. I also found the middle part to be where it really picked up, as evidenced by how quickly I got through that section. I was initially frustrated by the ending but then thought it was actually a nice place to end it.

Tien wrote: "Have you read 1Q84? I found these 2 books similar... except of course, Colorless is so much shorter and I love 1Q84 a lot more."

Tien! You were a member back in the Shelfari days, right? I started 1Q84 back in the days I was starting to read less and only got through the first 100 pages or so. But it's there sitting on my literal TBR shelf and I will pick it up again soon. Glad to hear you liked it so much.

Nicole wrote: "This was a great review Justin!"

Thanks, Nicole!

Susie wrote: "I've STILL not read any Murakami. 2017 is the year."

Me too Susie, let's make a pact to read at least 1 this year!! He's so popular around here that it seems any would be good to start with.

Let's do it!

Justin wrote: "Tien! You were a member back in the Shelfari days, right? I started 1Q84 back in the days I was starting to read less and only got through the first 100 pages or so. But it's there sitting on my literal TBR shelf and I will pick it up again soon. Glad to hear you liked it so much."

Yes, I was! More of a prowler though and still am, lol... ;p

Me three, Joi and Susie!

A tag will come up that it fits with, I'm sure!

Anita, you haven't read any Murakami either?

Susie, quirky!

My fingers and toes are crossed that quirky wins!

Justin wrote: "Anita, you haven't read any Murakami either?

Susie, quirky!"

No sir, and I really do want to try him out. LOL on quirky - - Susie, maybe we can agree on a Murakami together . . .

Sounds like a great plan.

Anita wrote: "No sir, and I really do want to try him out. LOL on quirky - - Susie, maybe we can agree on a Murakami together . . ."

Good luck to all of you. Hopefully you like his work as much as I do and that you don't stop at just one.

Tien wrote: "Have you read 1Q84? I found these 2 books similar... except of course, Colorless is so much shorter and I love 1Q84 a lot more."

Very interesting that you found them similar as I think of them as worlds apart (certainly not parallel worlds!) Colorless and 1Q84 are the only two Murakami I've read so I can't make a broader comparison.

Anita wrote: "Me three, Joi and Susie!"

I'm not sure if I would say 1Q84 had elements of magical realism but the quirky aspects certainly wander down a similar path.

Which book would be the best introduction that might also fit the quirky tag should it be the winner?

Denizen wrote: "Very interesting that you found them similar as I think of them as worlds apart (certainly not parallel worlds!) Colorless and 1Q84 are the only two Murakami I've read so I can't make a broader comparison. "

oh wow, very interesting indeed! I haven't read all of his books but I've read quite a number of them. I think maybe because I read them within a year of each other so felt quite recent that I felt the similarity? I can't remember the exact examples but there were just moments when I was reading this book that remind me so much of 1Q84 (including & most especially the ending).

Anita, I don't see you really enjoying his quirkier stuff but I could be wrong. Personally I'd recommend Norwegian Wood as a start for you if it is tagged quirky (which you never know with Good reads shelves). This is a good one too since it contains less of the magical elements that you dislike.

My personal favorite is Windup Bird and I also loved Sputnik. I didn't like Kafka as much as others do. 1Q84 is great but really long so I wouldn't recommend it as a starting place. We did a blog post on him where we ranked the books we had each read in terms of personal favorites. You could search in the search bar for it. But that said, BW and I both like magical realism and quirky books so the post may not be too helpful for you Anita.

Susie - you would like his books I think.

Justin - great review!

Jen wrote: "Anita, I don't see you really enjoying his quirkier stuff but I could be wrong. Personally I'd recommend Norwegian Wood as a start for you if it is tagged quirky (which you never know with Good rea..."

Ugh.

Yeah, magical realism is not my thing, but I appreciate you coming up with the best possible recommendation! I do feel like I'm missing out by not at least trying one book . . .maybe this will be the surprise.

Jen wrote: "Anita, I don't see you really enjoying his quirkier stuff but I could be wrong. Personally I'd recommend Norwegian Wood as a start for you if it is tagged quirky (which you never know with Good rea..."

Dang. Norwegian Wood is not tagged "quirky". Well by my definition (I count it if 5 or more people tagged it that way - arbitrary, but seems sensible).

Just happened to be roaming the quirky list and Norwegian Wood is on page 11 of the GR quirky list, shelved three times as Quirky. Its not quite 5, but how many of us are using quirky as a shelf? I found a few choices for myself if this turns out to be the tag. A lot of people seem to be talking quirky. I have a top three. Not necessarily picking up Mirukami or Hamilton these days. I am very bogged down with my PBT challenges and tags, and am a little buried under with next reads sitting in my hallway.

Thank you, Jen!

Anita, I'd recommend Norwegian Wood too. Not that I think it fits the quirky tag either, but I'd still recommend it for the TBR shelf. His others Wind Up and Kafka do fit quirky, but I think you should try them regardless of the magic realism components. Murakami does it in a very...quirky, almost comical way that I think you could enjoy.

I'm not sure about 1Q84 but I will be starting to read it soon.