I'm no literature expert, the last literature class I took was 5 years ago in high school, & the closest thing I took to a literature class in college was about reading and writing scientific articles and labs. However, my love of reading has never died down, although it has been neglected due to my studies. I first fell in love with Haruki Murakami's novels when I read Kafka on the Shore a few years ago. When I first read it, I couldn't put it down. I was pulled into the story of Kafka and Hoshino, I re-read it a few months ago and found different parts of the story sticking out to me compared to when I first read it. Recently, I picked up Murakami's latest novel, Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. Once again, another novel I couldn't put down (I finished it in less than a week). I've read a handful of Murakami novels, which is why I've decided to sit down and share my thoughts on one of my (safe to say) favorite authors.
I've loaned a few of my novels out to friends, but I still have a good collection on my bookshelf.
So what is it about Haruki Murakami's novels that compel me to forget about the growing stack of books I've yet to read and make a beeline to the nearest B&N to pick up Murakami's latest novel recently translated to English?
When I read a novel by Murakami, I find myself transported into the world he has created. I'm instantly drawn into the story, the characters, the imagery. His novels are strange, but inviting. Each novel is set apart from the other, but with each story there are elements that create a universe that are undeniably Murakami. He has the power to create his own unique blend between fantasy and reality. There is something enticing about the surreal, almost supernatural events surrounding his characters.
He puts importance in his character's names, with most names composed of Japanese words with different meanings; how beautiful that even in English, the original Japanese language plays an important part in his novels.
I'm in love with his use of music to add depth to the characters and the story. I read that Murakami aspired to be a musician, but he could not play instruments well (I can relate to that). But his love of music, especially Classical and Jazz is evident in his novels. I love looking up the pieces mentioned and imagining his characters listening to that very tune.
I can relate to his characters very well. They're mostly loners, maybe with a few friends, that are very introspective. Maybe I see a little of myself in each of his characters -- in Kafka the runaway searching for something, in the colorless, "ordinary" Tsukuru Tazaki, in Aomame stuck in an alternate reality. Most of his characters seem to be perfectly lonely. They go through their own unique stages of growth, and each journey is as engaging as the next.
A main component in his novels are vivid, strange dreams that play an important role in a character's development. This stands out to me, having dreams so vivid that I'm sometimes confused between what is dream and reality. Some say dreams are your subconscious thoughts, and some say dreams are your reality. Whatever dreams are, Murakami uses them expertly to delve deeper into the mystery surrounding a character's persona.
Every time I read a Murakami novel, I feel as if I'm reading a puzzle, with missing pieces I may never find. And there's something surprising, strange, and beautiful about that.
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