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"Body cells replace themselves every month. Even at this very moment. Most everything you think you know about me is nothing more than memories."
I am a huge Murakami fan. I absolutely recognize that he's not everyone's cup of tea but...if he is your cup of tea call me; we'll talk. This is Murakami's first widely published novel and the fifth one I've read (after Kafka on the Shore, Windup Bird, 1Q84, and the nonfiction What I TalkAbout When I Talk About Running) and I've fallen completely in love with his particular, quirky brand of magical realism. Reading a Murakami novel is like floating around inside someone else's strange and slightly creepy dream. AWSC is part detective novel, part sci-fi, part quest/self-discovery and (and this part I was kind of unprepared for) part horror.
There's always a sense of the eerie and foreboding in Murakami's novels, but this is the first time he has genuinely FREAKED ME THE F*&% OUT. Ben can vouch for that at one point I yelled AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! and threw my book onto the coffee table like it was a hot potato, because I was so creeped out. Anyway, if you are looking at venturing into the wonderful and weird world of Murakami I would highly recommend A Wild Sheep Chase...although I'd maybe say start out with Kafka on the Shore or Wind up Bird Chronicle (KotS is probably not his best, but it's a good introduction to his style. WBC is maybe his most critically acclaimed novel, but it is a bit more of a committment).
Yay reading!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Agree with your recommendations for first time Murakami readers, have read all the other ones you mentioned, and haven't read this AWSC yet! Will have to check it out soon, after I'm done with Blood, Bones and Butter, Gabrielle Hamilton's fantastic memoir that I am LOVING right now.
ReplyDeleteJust looked up Blood, Bones and Butter on goodreads and it looks amazing! Might have to add that to my (massive and growing) to-read list ;)
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