tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post4318614256691172537..comments2024-03-03T03:12:26.280-05:00Comments on Reading on a Rainy Day: Kafka on the Shore by Haruki MurakamiAthirahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366654538383603004noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-78665055345800298822011-10-24T13:48:01.731-04:002011-10-24T13:48:01.731-04:00There are a lot of metaphors in this book, maybe t...There are a lot of metaphors in this book, maybe that's why. I wouldn't say hard, but nothing is direct, that's all. I hope you give it a try.Athira / Athshttp://www.readingonarainyday.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-82927959426530730932011-10-24T09:16:43.035-04:002011-10-24T09:16:43.035-04:00I really enjoy magical realism but for some reason...I really enjoy magical realism but for some reason just keep putting off reading this, I guess I read a few reviews which said it was too much like hard work, but your review has made it sound like it is exactly my kind of thing, I will definitely pick up a copy of this soon.Daniellenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-35116821827524062932011-10-24T08:48:28.758-04:002011-10-24T08:48:28.758-04:00I'm envious! I'm sorely tempted to buy but...I'm envious! I'm sorely tempted to buy but I don't think I will have time to read it this year, so I'll have to give it a pass for now.Athira / Athshttp://www.readingonarainyday.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-37986998292689394012011-10-24T05:28:17.410-04:002011-10-24T05:28:17.410-04:00I'm soon going to be immersed in IQ84. I may ...I'm soon going to be immersed in IQ84. I may give it another try tonight, but I'll have it in my hand by 4pm tomorrow at the latest. Can't wait.cbjamesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-68060262807117825622011-10-23T23:52:04.416-04:002011-10-23T23:52:04.416-04:00I'm curious to know that too. If you choose to...I'm curious to know that too. If you choose to read the book, I will be looking for your thoughts, esp on the translation.Athira / Athshttp://www.readingonarainyday.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-46632286528524586582011-10-23T23:50:54.796-04:002011-10-23T23:50:54.796-04:00I do hope you give it a try. I was pretty much sur...I do hope you give it a try. I was pretty much surprised by it. I definitely enjoyed it so you may too.Athira / Athshttp://www.readingonarainyday.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-42274555526366131372011-10-23T17:41:09.811-04:002011-10-23T17:41:09.811-04:00I hadn't realized this one had magic realism i...I hadn't realized this one had magic realism in it. I've tried and tried but that rarely works for me (Isabel Allende is the lone exception). But since you're not a big fan of it either and still enjoyed this book, I may yet have to give it a try.Lisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-72959771796226602482011-10-23T07:25:28.296-04:002011-10-23T07:25:28.296-04:00What an intriguing review- haven't read Muraka...What an intriguing review- haven't read Murakami in a long time, and wasn't really interested in this one, but now you have piqued my interest. Fascinated by your note about the translation- that would annoy me as well, I wonder why publishers assume we need everything Americanized? Curious to know what they have done with the translation for sale in the UK, and if that would be different.occasionallyzenhttp://twitter.com/occasionallyzennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-52812039025866302062011-10-22T22:56:45.840-04:002011-10-22T22:56:45.840-04:00I did catch plenty of those Western references and...I did catch plenty of those Western references and I was fine with that - curious yes, but I assumed Murakami was just creating such a setting. I did wonder about many of the phrases (I assumed the translation took some liberties with that). The currency thing though, bugged me. I wonder what the currency was in the original Japanese book.Athira / Athshttp://www.readingonarainyday.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-62570931470163051002011-10-22T22:55:01.673-04:002011-10-22T22:55:01.673-04:00I think timing is very important when you read Mur...I think timing is very important when you read Murakami. It's easy not to absorb his writing and just abandon it. I'm glad I managed to read it at a very receptive time and I hope you enjoy it too. I know you love magical realism. :)Athira / Athshttp://www.readingonarainyday.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-78643907101675807212011-10-22T22:54:10.433-04:002011-10-22T22:54:10.433-04:00Magical realism does me in too, so I'm glad th...Magical realism does me in too, so I'm glad that I lasted through (and enjoyed) this book. It was definitely different from many other such books I've read.Athira / Athshttp://www.readingonarainyday.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-51290282539116789032011-10-22T22:53:22.352-04:002011-10-22T22:53:22.352-04:00When I started reading, I felt it was a very simpl...When I started reading, I felt it was a very simple book, but as I kept reading, I came across a ton of themes and I realized that this is a book with many layers.Athira / Athshttp://www.readingonarainyday.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-42924878093879358632011-10-21T12:38:46.957-04:002011-10-21T12:38:46.957-04:00You could not have reviewed this any better than y...You could not have reviewed this any better than you did. You really set the tone, just right. I loved so many characters in this book. Mr. Nakata and the truck driver being two of them. And as you said, as soon as you get over the initial weirdness, everything else seems just fine.<br /><br />I do think Murakami is known for his infatuation with American pop-culture. That is one of the reasons why Japan is not overly fond of his work. He is the black sheep and it sounds like he enjoys being that person .There is an article that I just shared on Facebook that discusses this very thing. <br /><br />http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/magazine/the-fierce-imagination-of-haruki-murakami.html?pagewanted=all%3Fsrc%3Dtp&smid=fb-shareTinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-58997790259561327712011-10-21T10:50:07.847-04:002011-10-21T10:50:07.847-04:00I tried to read Murakami once, and didn't have...I tried to read Murakami once, and didn't have much success, but I think that was because I wasn't ready for him as a reader at that time. I have to admit that this one sounds very interesting and like something that I would really love to check and for myself. It sounds surreal, and magical, and wonderful, so it goes on the list! Fantastic and wonderfully detailed review, Aths! I loved it!zibileenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-62569541981368694722011-10-21T08:40:49.797-04:002011-10-21T08:40:49.797-04:00This sounds like quite a read and I am impressed t...This sounds like quite a read and I am impressed that you stuck with it for so long. Magical realism does me in (though I am not proud of that fact) and I would probably have given up on this book. But, I am so glad you didn't as it sounds like it has a lot to offer!Helen Murdochhttp://helensbookblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6318555580612720798.post-18236813508467554182011-10-21T07:52:31.920-04:002011-10-21T07:52:31.920-04:00It sounds like reading this was quite an undertaki...It sounds like reading this was quite an undertaking and I admire you for doing it. I'm not sure it's for me though.bermudaonion (Kathy)noreply@blogger.com