Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage in Overdue Podcast

Aug 18, 2014 Ilias rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2014

I am. Just. Not interested. At all. In reading stories about false rape accusations. That's not. A thing. That really happens in the real world, and I am so tired of people writing with all abandon as if they have no responsibility at all for our cultural narratives. And maybe stories are different in Japan. Maybe there's some complication like the one related to race we have in this country. But I am.

If you're going to write a rape narrative, especially a falsely-accused-of rape narrative, you I am. Just. Not interested. At all. In reading stories about false rape accusations. That's not. A thing. That really happens in the real world, and I am so tired of people writing with all abandon as if they have no responsibility at all for our cultural narratives. And maybe stories are different in Japan. Maybe there's some complication like the one related to race we have in this country. But I am.

If you're going to write a rape narrative, especially a falsely-accused-of rape narrative, you should have to write it across the front cover. You should have to include a justification in the forward. You should have to explain what exactly it is about your book that makes this story worth the SUPPORT IT IS GIVING TO RAPISTS. That's? Maybe moderately extreme but? The only thing you are doing when you write false rape narratives is letting all of your readers know that Sometimes people who claim they've been assaulted are lying about it; sometimes it's not true. And? Statistically? Not really?? Besides which, just, come on, this is really not something I feel needs to be rearticulated, except apparently for how it DOES, we really don't need to be telling people in our society not to trust victims of assault. There is So Much Evidence all around us that people constantly take the side of the abuser when there is any question as to the veracity of the victim's account, and narratives featuring false accusations, a thing which don't really happen in any significant proportion in the real world, tell people that their mistrust of survivors is justified. Obvs.

I have now finished the book. It got. I dunno. It turned out that the accusation was only really made to two people, that the person who claimed to have been raped wasn't really the accuser. It was. In other words. More ~~complicated~~ than a simple false accusation of rape. I'm not impressed. Because while abuse can feel complicated [and be complicated] from the perspective of one who has been abused, for the rest of us, it's really not. And ideally the people who write these stories for us would recognize that and THINK??? About the ways in which their stories contribute to our cultural narrative and I dunno. It's not that I think Haruki Murakami didn't think hard enough about this book before he published it, right? It's just that. I can honestly not imagine what he thought that could justify what he has written.

Additionally, I have a collection of quotes from the end of the book, when I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with its portrayal of women. I mean. I was uncomfortable from the beginning, but near the end started collecting actual quotes as evidence of a really weird atmosphere.

"'I imagine Kuro could tell you more details about Shiro,' Sara said. 'Even if your group of five was a harmonious, perfect community, there are always things that only girls can discuss between themselves. Like Ao told you. And what they talk about doesn't go outside the world of girls. Sometimes it's just chatter, but there are certain secrets we tightly protect, especially so boys don't get wind of them.'"

"'When you get back to Tokyo,' Eri said, 'tell her everything. Being open and honest is always the best way to go. But don't tell her you saw her with that other man. Keep that to yourself. There are some things women don't want other people to see. Besides that, tell her everything you're feeling.'"

"They left the cabin and walked over to where his Volkswagen Golf was parked. Slowly, deliberately, as if weighing the significance of each step. They hugged each other once more, and this time, she didn't cry. He felt her gentle smile on his neck, her full breasts pressed against him, filled with the vitality to keep on living. Her fingers against his back were strong and real."

Has Haruki Murakami ever actually spoken to a woman?? We just don't know.

That being said, the prose was pleasant. I enjoyed his short, declarative sentences. They were clear and sort of comforting to read. The writing style is why he gets more than one star. ...more

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Aug 03, 2015 Valeriia Arnaud rated it it was amazing

Shelves: japan, _overdue_pod

На мой взгляд одна из, если не наилучших, то самых захватывающих книг Мураками.
Многие скажут, впрочем, что они друг на друга похожи, да, здесь тоже есть асоциальный персонаж, токийское метро и странные сексуальные похождения во сне, и, всё же, "Бесцветный Цкуру Тадзаки" был куда более приземленным романом с куда более реальными проблемами и переживаниями. О друзьях, о вере в себя, о судьбе. Мураками приятно читать, пусть его книги и не "разрывают мозг", я с удовольствием проживаю будни его таки ...more

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Aug 26, 2019 Inge rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Prachtig weemoedig boek!

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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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