Akutagawa Prize winner, Kawakami mieko uses the same duality of a writer and reader to ask Haruki Murakami quesitons about his work Being a professional writer and Killing Commendatore. With detailed observation and her passion in literature, she uncovers the never-before thought process of Haruki Murakami.
In this collection of interviews mainly focused on KILLING COMRADE, Kawakami invites the readers to peer into Murakami's writing process and philosophies. There's nothing more joyful than reading two of my fav authors talk about writing. There are so many interesting conversations, from how Murakami comes up with ideas, his belief that novels should be "kind", his refusal to explain his stories, to his seemingly apolitical stories, I relished every moment of these interviews.
Get a glimpse of the scene behind Murakami's magic? It is always quite amusing to see the process of creative activity.
Interesting to see Murakami's obsession (?) for style, and how he described how the process of shaping/ polishing his style (sentences) becomes the self-seeking (self-knowing) step for him (it's not the theme or actual story, but his tireless work/re-work on the style that he learns about himself).
I think the interviewer, Kawakami did a great job bringing out Murakami's magic. She did bring out some really interesting questions; roles of fiction writer in society (in the face of social problems) and also view of women in Marakami's works. Would love to check-out her fictions as well.