Chilly's comments

Chilly's comments from the Murakami fans group.

Note: Chilly is no longer a member of this group.

I agree with Sarah, Mitchell is huge. I was tempted to mention him earlier, but a little vague on the scope of this thread.

While there are moments in Mitchell that remind me of Murakami (esp. one chapter of Ghostwritten - certainly the Japanese kid working in the record store is an homage), overall I have to say he "scratches a different itch" for me.

There is a danger here of people just naming other novelist we really dig, who may or may not actually relate to M. No big deal, but do you see what I mean? Just look at other things people in the group have given high stars to. We share the love for M, but off of that common root, the forest grows strong in a zillion directions.

Walter - not knowing what brought you to Mitchell, that is - sci fi, or modern literature or whatever, I'm gonna say: yes. You will like Murakami. Start with stories or a novel, but if you think you aren't liking his stuff, try two before you decide for sure-

I believe I am the 'someone' you mention from the "First Murakami" thread: I made the point that the Japan section of David Mitchell's 'Ghostwritten' felt very much like a Murakami homage.
I would want to read more Mitchell and re-read select Murakami before building this case further. At the time though, I was definitely thinking "I like this AND this is SO Murakami"

Lookie here now, chillins... I ain't even TRYIN' to pick a favorite Murakami, as he so solidly delivers each and every time - each s story, novel, I bet even his bathroom graffiti is brilliant, assuming he might do such a thing. In fact, I intentionally don't plow through all of his work quickly to save myself "guarenteed good reads" in the future. I like knowing about mine shafts in which golden ingots lie, for the sake of future mining. Why pilage the entire mountain in a rush?

As a side tangent: I've just delved into David Mitchell's "Ghostwritten" (shame on me Alex for taking so long to follow through on this recomendation) and am trying to explore what about it strikes me as 'so Murakami'. True, I'm not finished yet, and this impression may be vague and premature, but still... It might just be the narrator of the Tokyo chapter. The young man truely seems like a Murakami export: working in the jazz record store, adopted by Mama-san, ennui over his blood line but pampered by escort girls and thug types. Perhaps it is an intentional homage- Anyone?