Once in a while, we stumble upon an author, just to follow his trail of thoughts.
Haruki Murakami is one of those He too likes writing and running. Not to mention his out-of-this-worldliness (Moon vs Sun).
Murakami’s world often consists of characters who feel detached, more like an observer than participant.
They struggle and strive, often times never arrived. But the journey they took, the travail they faced make it worthwhile. From Kafka to Carver, Murakami exhibits his synthesis skills. His ethos is neither East nor West. In 1Q84, it’s other-worldly ( I read part I and II in Vietnamese, and part III in English, which made the experience even more international).
He dwells a lot not just on the protagonist but also on the antagonist.
And he spared not his protagonists who got flaws as much as the antagonists who got redeemable qualities (aren’t we all!).
His sidekicks sometimes are older men, senile, but with a midas touch (Kafka on the shore) or strong women with a hang-up from the past (tycoon lady in 1Q84).
When it comes to the meaty part (sex), he just touch-bases on the surface to keep the character real (dark realism).
Exhaustive but worthwhile, that’s how a journey with Murakami was.
Just like his 100 km-run. So what do I talk about when I talk about Murakami?
That his novels don’t rock? His flow of thoughts weird? And his characters while other-worldly, yet seem more real if we chose to conspire?
All of the above. And more over, Murakami grows richer in detail and description over time.
I look forward to more developed characters in his upcoming novels. Pick one from his collection, and dive right into his world. Neither East nor West, but then, who needs all those neatly categories, given our blended taste for culture and couture nowadays.
Thang Nguyen 555 