Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage in Overdue Podcast

Aug 22, 2019 Stephanie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"As we go through life we gradually discover who we are, but the more we discover, the more we lose ourselves.”

Colorless Tsukuru has the typical, comfortable feeling of a Murakami novel. If you are a fan of his work, that is. He's a bit like Vegemite; you either love his novels, or you don't. Unlike Vegemite, I am quite the fan of his work, and sunk my teeth into this novel.

Tsukuru was part of a group of five friends, and each one apart from Tsukuru had a colourful name. One day, at the age of t ...more

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Apr 06, 2015 R rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy-reads

Up to date, this is the third Murakami book I’ve read this year. For some odd reason, I find that I really enjoy his writing style; something about it captivates me, leading to the reading sessions that last until 3 in the morning. I started this novel not two days ago and yet here I am, done.

Similar to his books that I’ve previously read, this novel has an almost nostalgic, sad, and almost reminiscent tone to it. I found it so beautifully profound, which in turn translates very well for me bec Up to date, this is the third Murakami book I’ve read this year. For some odd reason, I find that I really enjoy his writing style; something about it captivates me, leading to the reading sessions that last until 3 in the morning. I started this novel not two days ago and yet here I am, done.

Similar to his books that I’ve previously read, this novel has an almost nostalgic, sad, and almost reminiscent tone to it. I found it so beautifully profound, which in turn translates very well for me because I was moved by his writing and the struggles of the main character, Tsukuru.

For all of us who have lost people in our lives, whether by death or the passage of time or another reason, it’s rather easy to understand the pain which Tsukuru faces for much of his life. Not only is it the loss of one friend, but the loss of four friends—the ones who he shared some of the greatest times with—abruptly gone from his life, is devastating to imagine. I love the way Murakami describes the relationship of the five friends as something akin to perfect harmony and a beautiful thing which sadly, did not last as long as they would’ve liked.

Each character was interesting and unique from the other; it was a wonderful thing to see the dynamic between the friends after their relationships ended since we are never quite given a picture of their time together apart from snippets of the conversations characters would have.

Tsukuru I found was also complex in his own way. It was fascinating to see how he saw himself—colourless, unremarkable—whereas others saw him as calm, cool, collected, and even driven. The importance of names is also brought up, the idea that perhaps an individual’s name also takes up their future and destiny. Tsukuru’s name meant “to make” something, which he ponders over its significance, and even his circle of friends with names that were as colourful and diverse as their personalities somehow ended up working out to fit their lives in the meaning of their colours.

I’m sure this sounds like rambling, but truth be told, I love how beautiful his narrative is. It’s a beautiful thing really, to be able to read such words because it just feels like poetry. Definitely a wonderfully sad, poignant, and nostalgic read that I wouldn’t mind reading again.
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Aug 30, 2019 Alexa Steele rated it liked it · review of another edition

Sometimes I recognize that a book is well-written but just not for me. This is one of those books. At first I really appreciated the depictions of sadness and depression -- and the mystery of the broken friendship. But it just didn't end up going anywhere. Also the female characters are poorly developed. ...more

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