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The Rat #1
Hear the Wind Sing
Hear the Wind Sing is the first novel by Haruki Murakami; it first appeared in the June 1979 issue of Gunzo, one of the most influential literary magazines in Japan.
There’s not a whole lot to say story wise. A young man drinks a lot of beer and has strange conversations with a mysterious young lady he just met. So, classic Murakami.
There’s not a whole lot to say story wise. A young man drinks a lot of beer and has strange conversations with a mysterious young lady he just met. So, classic Murakami.
130 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1979
637 people are currently reading
22511 people want to read
About the author
Haruki Murakami
582 books130k followersHaruki Murakami (村上春樹) is a Japanese writer. His novels, essays, and short stories have been best-sellers in Japan and internationally, with his work translated into 50 languages and having sold millions of copies outside Japan. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Gunzo Prize for New Writers, the World Fantasy Award, the Tanizaki Prize, Yomiuri Prize for Literature, the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the Noma Literary Prize, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Kiriyama Prize for Fiction, the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fiction, the Jerusalem Prize, and the Princess of Asturias Awards.
Growing up in Ashiya, near Kobe before moving to Tokyo to attend Waseda University, he published his first novel Hear the Wind Sing (1979) after working as the owner of a small jazz bar for seven years. His notable works include the novels Norwegian Wood (1987), The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1994–95), Kafka on the Shore (2002) and 1Q84 (2009–10); the last was ranked as the best work of Japan's Heisei era (1989–2019) by the national newspaper Asahi Shimbun's survey of literary experts. His work spans genres including science fiction, fantasy, and crime fiction, and has become known for his use of magical realist elements. His official website cites Raymond Chandler, Kurt Vonnegut and Richard Brautigan as key inspirations to his work, while Murakami himself has named Kazuo Ishiguro, Cormac McCarthy and Dag Solstad as his favourite currently active writers. Murakami has also published five short story collections, including First Person Singular (2020), and non-fiction works including Underground (1997), an oral history of the Tokyo subway sarin attack, and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (2007), a memoir about his experience as a long distance runner.
His fiction has polarized literary critics and the reading public. He has sometimes been criticised by Japan's literary establishment as un-Japanese, leading to Murakami's recalling that he was a "black sheep in the Japanese literary world". Meanwhile, Murakami has been described by Gary Fisketjon, the editor of Murakami's collection The Elephant Vanishes (1993), as a "truly extraordinary writer", while Steven Poole of The Guardian praised Murakami as "among the world's greatest living novelists" for his oeuvre.
Growing up in Ashiya, near Kobe before moving to Tokyo to attend Waseda University, he published his first novel Hear the Wind Sing (1979) after working as the owner of a small jazz bar for seven years. His notable works include the novels Norwegian Wood (1987), The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1994–95), Kafka on the Shore (2002) and 1Q84 (2009–10); the last was ranked as the best work of Japan's Heisei era (1989–2019) by the national newspaper Asahi Shimbun's survey of literary experts. His work spans genres including science fiction, fantasy, and crime fiction, and has become known for his use of magical realist elements. His official website cites Raymond Chandler, Kurt Vonnegut and Richard Brautigan as key inspirations to his work, while Murakami himself has named Kazuo Ishiguro, Cormac McCarthy and Dag Solstad as his favourite currently active writers. Murakami has also published five short story collections, including First Person Singular (2020), and non-fiction works including Underground (1997), an oral history of the Tokyo subway sarin attack, and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (2007), a memoir about his experience as a long distance runner.
His fiction has polarized literary critics and the reading public. He has sometimes been criticised by Japan's literary establishment as un-Japanese, leading to Murakami's recalling that he was a "black sheep in the Japanese literary world". Meanwhile, Murakami has been described by Gary Fisketjon, the editor of Murakami's collection The Elephant Vanishes (1993), as a "truly extraordinary writer", while Steven Poole of The Guardian praised Murakami as "among the world's greatest living novelists" for his oeuvre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,153 reviews
August 8, 2011
Perfect example of beauty in simplicity!
Even after having read a bunch of novels by Murakami, I always find a new flavor in each of them. Sure they have some similar characters and recurring themes, but each of his novels does have a different note in its voice and a different mood.
Hear the Wind Sing again has a nameless narrator, quirky characters, off-the-wall dialogue, lots of beer, some music and some literature. His characters are the last people one would expect to break into an emotional monologue. And yet Murakami brings out the sense of sadness and loneliness that lurks beneath the nonchalant exterior very well. Where this sadness emanates from, they know not. And their stories have often to do with finding themselves.
Not surprisingly, there is no single straight-forward storyline. What we see are little anecdotes describing various images swimming in the narrator's head, his experiences over a summer and some of his past memories. However, the narrator doesn't yet take a flight to the world beyond. That will have to wait till later books.
Both this and Pinball, 1973 do feel somewhat incomplete and aimless. But they give a clear picture of the humble beginnings, which with later novels matured into stronger works. Pinball, 1973 is more of a prelude to what came later on. It carries a glimpse of almost all of the familiar Murakami elements. Hear the Wind Sing is relatively simpler. This simplicity really works for it and makes it an even more pleasurable read than Pinball, 1973.
I wish there were a way for me to see how his mind works. Well, however it works, what comes out of it is wonderful.
_______________________
I can't believe how super-tiny this book is. Lighter, smaller, thinner and cuter than kindle/nook/kobo or what have you.
My copy arrived in the mail today. The seller had even gift-wrapped it in a beautiful paper!
February 25, 2025
When I first read Haruki Murakami’s debut novel, Hear the Wind Sing I was baffled by why he wrote so much about Derek Hartfield. I knew Hartfield was a writer he admired, but it seemed over the top to include such large portions of his work in a debut novel.
In this novel, he writes:
”Hartfield has a short story called Martian Wells, which is one of his most unconventional works, almost suggesting the upcoming emergence of Bradbury. I read the book a long time ago and have forgotten the details, but here is the gist: It's a story about a young man who descends into countless bottomless wells on Mars. The wells were likely dug by Martians thousands of years ago. Strangely, these wells all cleverly avoid water veins. No one knows why they dug these wells.
In fact, aside from these wells, the Martians left nothing else. No writings, no houses, no utensils, no iron, no graves, no rockets, no towns, no vending machines, not even shells, no nothing. Only wells. Whether this can be called civilization is hard for Earth scholars to determine. Indeed, these wells are impeccably constructed; despite thousands of years passing, not a single brick has collapsed.
It goes without saying that several explorers and investigators have descended into the wells. Those with ropes had to return due to the wells being too deep and the horizontal passages being too long. Those without ropes never returned.
One day, a young man wandering the cosmos descended into a well. He was tired of the vastness of the universe and longed for a quiet death. As he descended, he felt the well becoming increasingly comfortable, and a strange force began to gently envelop his body. After descending about a kilometer, he found a suitable horizontal passage, entered it, and aimlessly walked along its winding paths. He had no idea how long he walked—his watch had stopped long ago. It could have been two hours, maybe two days. He felt no hunger or fatigue; the mysterious force still surrounded his body.
At some point, he suddenly saw daylight. The horizontal passage had connected to another well. He climbed along the well wall and returned to the surface. He sat by the well, gazing at the vast, unobstructed wilderness and then at the sun. Something had gone wrong! The breath of the wind, the sun... The sun, though at its zenith, had turned into a huge orange mass, like the setting sun."
Besides this passage, he mentions Hartfield several times in the novel. It's rare for any author to extensively quote another writer's work, even for Murakami. This might be the only instance.
Now, I finally understand his intent. First, we need to understand what this thin novel - is really about. What themes are hidden behind the seemingly chaotic reviews, descriptions, dialogues, memories, broadcasts, and music?
I believe it's about loneliness and the fragile connections between people. Of course, you might think differently. The novel is Murakami’s, and apart from me, there are millions of readers, including you, each with their interpretations.
On my third read of this novel, I felt a profound sense of loneliness - perhaps an unprecedented loneliness. The evidence is as follows:
1. The record store girl with only 9 fingers: the detached finger from her body;
2. The wandering girl "I" once took in: after a few days of passionate lovemaking, she silently left without even a note;
3. "My" college girlfriend, who died alone in a corner of the woods by the sports field that summer. The cause of death is unknown;
4. Rat (“my” friend) talking about a story he wants to write: a shipwreck, survival, he and she drifting in the ocean, swimming in opposite directions (one toward an island, the other toward land), meeting years later in a bar;
5. After that summer, “I” went to Tokyo for school and never saw the record store girl again (Why was she drunk in the bar initially? Why was she traveling alone (or having an abortion)? Why did she leave the city? Why did Murakami say she had a twin sister?);
6. On the radio, a girl dedicates a song for "me," asking for an old record she lent “me”years ago. After “I”bought the same new record, “I” couldn't find her.
So, I say this is a novel about loneliness. What makes it beautiful is the pervasive subtle sadness (you can call it "loneliness") throughout the story.
Returning to the initial question - why does Hear the Wind Sing extensively quote Hartfield, especially his short story Martian Wells?
On January 15, 2003, Murakami’s long-time Chinese translator, Lin Shaohua, met Murakami for the first time. In the preface to the Chinese edition of Kafka on the Shore, Lin wrote, ”During our chat, he was in high spirits. An hour later, I asked him several questions in an interview format. One of the questions was about loneliness.
”Life is essentially lonely, but at the same time, you can communicate with others through the channel of loneliness," Murakami continued. ”People always enter their world alone, and at the deepest point, a sense of connection arises. Or, people dig deep into their own holes; if they keep digging, they'll connect with others somewhere."
This immediately reminded me of Hartfield’s Martian Wells. ”No one knows why they dug these wells. In fact, aside from these wells, the Martians left nothing else... Whether this can be called civilization is hard for Earth scholars to determine... Those with ropes had to return due to the wells being too deep and the horizontal passages being too long. Those without ropes never returned." And ”At some point, he suddenly saw daylight. The horizontal passage had connected to another well. He climbed along the well wall and returned to the surface."
People, in their deep loneliness, connect with others somewhere. Only then can they return to the surface. Murakami'’s Sputnik Sweetheart note: Sputnik means "travel companion" in Russian; Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union, and Sputnik 2 carried the dog Laika and was not recovered) wrote two strange stories, like dreams - no, like fantasies - unbelievable stories. Hartfield, too, wrote Martian Wells with wild imagination.
Murakami always says his intention in writing novels is to communicate with others through loneliness. He chose an unusual way, through seemingly far-fetched imagination. He says, ”Everyone has an imagination; the difficult part is approaching that place, finding the door, opening it, entering, and then returning. If readers resonate with my books, they have the same world as mine."
Murakami found Harrfield’s well on Mars, and I found his Sputnik satellite. So, we are connected somewhere deep in the well, sharing the same world.
4.6 / 5 stars
My other reviews of Murakami's Work:
The City and Its Uncertain Walls
Norwegian Wood
1Q84
Hear the Wind Sing
Kafka on the Shore
Sputnik Sweetheart
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
South of the Border, West of the Sun
After Dark
In this novel, he writes:
”Hartfield has a short story called Martian Wells, which is one of his most unconventional works, almost suggesting the upcoming emergence of Bradbury. I read the book a long time ago and have forgotten the details, but here is the gist: It's a story about a young man who descends into countless bottomless wells on Mars. The wells were likely dug by Martians thousands of years ago. Strangely, these wells all cleverly avoid water veins. No one knows why they dug these wells.
In fact, aside from these wells, the Martians left nothing else. No writings, no houses, no utensils, no iron, no graves, no rockets, no towns, no vending machines, not even shells, no nothing. Only wells. Whether this can be called civilization is hard for Earth scholars to determine. Indeed, these wells are impeccably constructed; despite thousands of years passing, not a single brick has collapsed.
It goes without saying that several explorers and investigators have descended into the wells. Those with ropes had to return due to the wells being too deep and the horizontal passages being too long. Those without ropes never returned.
One day, a young man wandering the cosmos descended into a well. He was tired of the vastness of the universe and longed for a quiet death. As he descended, he felt the well becoming increasingly comfortable, and a strange force began to gently envelop his body. After descending about a kilometer, he found a suitable horizontal passage, entered it, and aimlessly walked along its winding paths. He had no idea how long he walked—his watch had stopped long ago. It could have been two hours, maybe two days. He felt no hunger or fatigue; the mysterious force still surrounded his body.
At some point, he suddenly saw daylight. The horizontal passage had connected to another well. He climbed along the well wall and returned to the surface. He sat by the well, gazing at the vast, unobstructed wilderness and then at the sun. Something had gone wrong! The breath of the wind, the sun... The sun, though at its zenith, had turned into a huge orange mass, like the setting sun."
Besides this passage, he mentions Hartfield several times in the novel. It's rare for any author to extensively quote another writer's work, even for Murakami. This might be the only instance.
Now, I finally understand his intent. First, we need to understand what this thin novel - is really about. What themes are hidden behind the seemingly chaotic reviews, descriptions, dialogues, memories, broadcasts, and music?
I believe it's about loneliness and the fragile connections between people. Of course, you might think differently. The novel is Murakami’s, and apart from me, there are millions of readers, including you, each with their interpretations.
On my third read of this novel, I felt a profound sense of loneliness - perhaps an unprecedented loneliness. The evidence is as follows:
1. The record store girl with only 9 fingers: the detached finger from her body;
2. The wandering girl "I" once took in: after a few days of passionate lovemaking, she silently left without even a note;
3. "My" college girlfriend, who died alone in a corner of the woods by the sports field that summer. The cause of death is unknown;
4. Rat (“my” friend) talking about a story he wants to write: a shipwreck, survival, he and she drifting in the ocean, swimming in opposite directions (one toward an island, the other toward land), meeting years later in a bar;
5. After that summer, “I” went to Tokyo for school and never saw the record store girl again (Why was she drunk in the bar initially? Why was she traveling alone (or having an abortion)? Why did she leave the city? Why did Murakami say she had a twin sister?);
6. On the radio, a girl dedicates a song for "me," asking for an old record she lent “me”years ago. After “I”bought the same new record, “I” couldn't find her.
So, I say this is a novel about loneliness. What makes it beautiful is the pervasive subtle sadness (you can call it "loneliness") throughout the story.
Returning to the initial question - why does Hear the Wind Sing extensively quote Hartfield, especially his short story Martian Wells?
On January 15, 2003, Murakami’s long-time Chinese translator, Lin Shaohua, met Murakami for the first time. In the preface to the Chinese edition of Kafka on the Shore, Lin wrote, ”During our chat, he was in high spirits. An hour later, I asked him several questions in an interview format. One of the questions was about loneliness.
”Life is essentially lonely, but at the same time, you can communicate with others through the channel of loneliness," Murakami continued. ”People always enter their world alone, and at the deepest point, a sense of connection arises. Or, people dig deep into their own holes; if they keep digging, they'll connect with others somewhere."
This immediately reminded me of Hartfield’s Martian Wells. ”No one knows why they dug these wells. In fact, aside from these wells, the Martians left nothing else... Whether this can be called civilization is hard for Earth scholars to determine... Those with ropes had to return due to the wells being too deep and the horizontal passages being too long. Those without ropes never returned." And ”At some point, he suddenly saw daylight. The horizontal passage had connected to another well. He climbed along the well wall and returned to the surface."
People, in their deep loneliness, connect with others somewhere. Only then can they return to the surface. Murakami'’s Sputnik Sweetheart note: Sputnik means "travel companion" in Russian; Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite launched by the Soviet Union, and Sputnik 2 carried the dog Laika and was not recovered) wrote two strange stories, like dreams - no, like fantasies - unbelievable stories. Hartfield, too, wrote Martian Wells with wild imagination.
Murakami always says his intention in writing novels is to communicate with others through loneliness. He chose an unusual way, through seemingly far-fetched imagination. He says, ”Everyone has an imagination; the difficult part is approaching that place, finding the door, opening it, entering, and then returning. If readers resonate with my books, they have the same world as mine."
Murakami found Harrfield’s well on Mars, and I found his Sputnik satellite. So, we are connected somewhere deep in the well, sharing the same world.
4.6 / 5 stars
My other reviews of Murakami's Work:
The City and Its Uncertain Walls
Norwegian Wood
1Q84
Hear the Wind Sing
Kafka on the Shore
Sputnik Sweetheart
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
South of the Border, West of the Sun
After Dark
September 23, 2015
I tried to get into Wind/Pinball: Two Novels and I have to say that although the prose reads beautifully, it flows into my mind and out again, smoothly, a slick of oil on a ripple, now it's gone. I read more than half before finally wondering why was I putting myself through this. It wasn't a test. I don't have to measure up to any standard. This is just for enjoyment and I wasn't enjoying it. Nothing I read, or listened to (I tried both) held my attention. Marukami's characters were just people I might have observed in a cafe while I was waiting for someone. Their lives were of momentary interest but, distracted by something more interesting and I've forgotten them already.
That trite phrase, "It's not you, it's me" comes into my head whenever I don't like an author or book everyone else is madly praising, but really there's another, even more clichéd phrase that is more appropriate, "different strokes for different folks".
I can now add Haruki Murakami to Charles Dickens and all the other prolific authors I really don't like and think that they are in my future. We change, our tastes change and maybe one day I will really, really like these authors and will be thankful they wrote so much. After all I didn't like olives when I was a kid, now a visit to an olive bar is a treat.
One star because of boredom and an extra star because of the writing.
_____
Written when I had just started the book and before I knew what I was really in for. Lack of interest elevated to the posh word, 'ennui'.
That trite phrase, "It's not you, it's me" comes into my head whenever I don't like an author or book everyone else is madly praising, but really there's another, even more clichéd phrase that is more appropriate, "different strokes for different folks".
I can now add Haruki Murakami to Charles Dickens and all the other prolific authors I really don't like and think that they are in my future. We change, our tastes change and maybe one day I will really, really like these authors and will be thankful they wrote so much. After all I didn't like olives when I was a kid, now a visit to an olive bar is a treat.
One star because of boredom and an extra star because of the writing.
_____
Written when I had just started the book and before I knew what I was really in for. Lack of interest elevated to the posh word, 'ennui'.
June 1, 2016
Haruki Murakami’s first novel Hear the Wind Sing is like a lot of first novels in that it’s unfocused, rambling and mostly about the author - and yet it’s kinda compelling because of how well written it is!
There’s no story to speak of. The novel takes place within 3 weeks of the summer of 1970 where our nameless narrator in his early 20s bums around his small town. He meets a wealthy spoilt brat called The Rat who sits in a bar, reads Western novels, and spouts pseudo-intellectual nonsense. He meets a young woman with nine fingers who works in a record shop. The characters interact, a sense of youthful directionless and vague hope sorta permeates the book, and then it’s over.
I’ve read 11 of Murakami’s books before this one and I definitely wouldn’t recommend readers curious about the author to start here - begin with Wind-Up Bird, Wild Sheep Chase or one of his short story collections like after the quake instead. But if you’re familiar with the author you’ll notice a lot of things in this first novel that he’ll go on to feature in many of his subsequent books. Music - especially jazz - cats, precise descriptions of meals, emotionally-detached people, bookworms, sad relationships with sad women, loneliness, and physically deformed characters.
None of the characters here could be called well-rounded; they’re very one-dimensional especially the female characters - Murakami usually writes women quite poorly. More often than not they’re there as literary devices for the male characters to either learn something about the story they’re in or to learn something about themselves; it’s the latter in this book.
However, if the narrative leaves a lot to be desired, the writing is at least very fluid, accessible, and renders the spare story with an ethereal elegance. The pages fly by and that’s a rare quality in a first novel. Besides the overall lack of characterisation, the writing annoyed me only a couple of times like when one character launches into a pages-long speech about nothing, Murakami failing to pass this off as casual conversation, and the parts where a radio DJ rambles on the air were entirely needless. The book definitely feels too slight - it’s a good example of style over substance though I can’t help but admire the stylishness!
For a novel with no story, great characters, or memorable scenes or dialogue, I didn’t dislike Hear the Wind Sing. The writing is much better than you’d expect for a first novel and pulled me swiftly along to the end - the talent is obvious and you can see the writer he’ll become. That said, I’d say it’s really only for fans than casual readers – with this book Murakami’s clearly finding his voice and figuring out what he wants to write about which isn’t always the best place for anyone to start. Unfamiliar readers wanting to understand Murakami’s popularity would do better to check out his later, more original and enthralling efforts when he incorporates magical realism into actual stories that go somewhere.
There’s no story to speak of. The novel takes place within 3 weeks of the summer of 1970 where our nameless narrator in his early 20s bums around his small town. He meets a wealthy spoilt brat called The Rat who sits in a bar, reads Western novels, and spouts pseudo-intellectual nonsense. He meets a young woman with nine fingers who works in a record shop. The characters interact, a sense of youthful directionless and vague hope sorta permeates the book, and then it’s over.
I’ve read 11 of Murakami’s books before this one and I definitely wouldn’t recommend readers curious about the author to start here - begin with Wind-Up Bird, Wild Sheep Chase or one of his short story collections like after the quake instead. But if you’re familiar with the author you’ll notice a lot of things in this first novel that he’ll go on to feature in many of his subsequent books. Music - especially jazz - cats, precise descriptions of meals, emotionally-detached people, bookworms, sad relationships with sad women, loneliness, and physically deformed characters.
None of the characters here could be called well-rounded; they’re very one-dimensional especially the female characters - Murakami usually writes women quite poorly. More often than not they’re there as literary devices for the male characters to either learn something about the story they’re in or to learn something about themselves; it’s the latter in this book.
However, if the narrative leaves a lot to be desired, the writing is at least very fluid, accessible, and renders the spare story with an ethereal elegance. The pages fly by and that’s a rare quality in a first novel. Besides the overall lack of characterisation, the writing annoyed me only a couple of times like when one character launches into a pages-long speech about nothing, Murakami failing to pass this off as casual conversation, and the parts where a radio DJ rambles on the air were entirely needless. The book definitely feels too slight - it’s a good example of style over substance though I can’t help but admire the stylishness!
For a novel with no story, great characters, or memorable scenes or dialogue, I didn’t dislike Hear the Wind Sing. The writing is much better than you’d expect for a first novel and pulled me swiftly along to the end - the talent is obvious and you can see the writer he’ll become. That said, I’d say it’s really only for fans than casual readers – with this book Murakami’s clearly finding his voice and figuring out what he wants to write about which isn’t always the best place for anyone to start. Unfamiliar readers wanting to understand Murakami’s popularity would do better to check out his later, more original and enthralling efforts when he incorporates magical realism into actual stories that go somewhere.
April 27, 2024
I noticed we can change back to the original edition and book cover I read.
I read this Taiwan edition because I couldn't get the English edition previously.
I read this Taiwan edition because I couldn't get the English edition previously.
February 13, 2016
"How can those who live in the light of day possibly comprehend the depth of night?"
- Nietzche
A nice first novel(la) with most all the known Murakami tropes already stirred in. There is music (pop, jazz, classical) with specific references to actual pressings. There are: cats, bars, whiskey, birds, alienation and needy women. Murakami ventures into existential philosophy and Western literature (both real and fake). It is all there. Things that would later pop up again and again in his later, stronger novels.
It isn't a river that flows very fast.
This isn't a page turner.
It is Gyokuro tea-steeping slowly. It is watching the stray leaves spiral to the center in a cracked, stoneware cup. It is the light and shadows dancing on you, while you sit in the shade watching people walk in and out of view. It is relaxing, interesting, and soon all you have left is the tasseography of a cold cup.
- Nietzche
A nice first novel(la) with most all the known Murakami tropes already stirred in. There is music (pop, jazz, classical) with specific references to actual pressings. There are: cats, bars, whiskey, birds, alienation and needy women. Murakami ventures into existential philosophy and Western literature (both real and fake). It is all there. Things that would later pop up again and again in his later, stronger novels.
It isn't a river that flows very fast.
This isn't a page turner.
It is Gyokuro tea-steeping slowly. It is watching the stray leaves spiral to the center in a cracked, stoneware cup. It is the light and shadows dancing on you, while you sit in the shade watching people walk in and out of view. It is relaxing, interesting, and soon all you have left is the tasseography of a cold cup.
September 17, 2023
خب این کتاب اولین رمان منتشر شده از موراکامی عه، و چندانم قوی نیست، تم خاصی نداره و حتی طرح هم نداره، بیشتر خاطره بود انگار ولی اون فضای صمیمی و گفتگوهای روزمره بی هدفش رو دوست داشتم. من اگر یروز بخوام اولین کتابمو بنویسم همچین چیزی میشه 😄😄
March 7, 2023
Hear the Wind Sing, by Haruki Murakami, (The Rat #1) is an interesting novella set in the 1970s. The major themes here are love, life, loss, lies and literature - oh and drinking, eating and smoking.
The unnamed narrator is a 21 year old man studying biology at a Tokyo University. One summer, he comes back to his small hometown in Kobe, near the sea. This is where most of the story is told. Each chapter is brief, to the point, and contains snippets of the narrator's life – childhood included.
We hear about the 3 girls he’s slept with, we meet his barfly friend “The Rat” (this is the 1st of the Rat Trilogy BTW), these two guys drink a lot of beer and smoke heaps - over these 130 pages. The Chinese bartender “J” is prominent and makes great fries. The most interesting part for me was the narrator’s interesting relationship with a girl with 9 fingers – who he found on a toilet floor.
The 3rd girl I slept with liked to call my penis “raison d’etre”
The Rat’s favourite food was pancakes, hot off the griddle. He would stack several in a deep dish, cut them into 4 neat pieces, and pour Coke over the top.
Rat thought this was a perfect way to “blend solid food and drink”.
Interestingly, Murakami inserts a fictional American writer called Derek Hartfield into this story. Hartfield’s biographical details are included, as is a summary of a fascinating short story written by Hartfield called Martian Wells.
There’s a number of poignant moments here and a handful of warm smiles. There are many beautifully written parts in this story that gave me reason to “feel”. To me, this story had an atmosphere of “otherness and loneliness”. I liked this a lot.
This was Murakami’s first published book.
4 Stars
The unnamed narrator is a 21 year old man studying biology at a Tokyo University. One summer, he comes back to his small hometown in Kobe, near the sea. This is where most of the story is told. Each chapter is brief, to the point, and contains snippets of the narrator's life – childhood included.
We hear about the 3 girls he’s slept with, we meet his barfly friend “The Rat” (this is the 1st of the Rat Trilogy BTW), these two guys drink a lot of beer and smoke heaps - over these 130 pages. The Chinese bartender “J” is prominent and makes great fries. The most interesting part for me was the narrator’s interesting relationship with a girl with 9 fingers – who he found on a toilet floor.
The 3rd girl I slept with liked to call my penis “raison d’etre”
The Rat’s favourite food was pancakes, hot off the griddle. He would stack several in a deep dish, cut them into 4 neat pieces, and pour Coke over the top.
Rat thought this was a perfect way to “blend solid food and drink”.
Interestingly, Murakami inserts a fictional American writer called Derek Hartfield into this story. Hartfield’s biographical details are included, as is a summary of a fascinating short story written by Hartfield called Martian Wells.
There’s a number of poignant moments here and a handful of warm smiles. There are many beautifully written parts in this story that gave me reason to “feel”. To me, this story had an atmosphere of “otherness and loneliness”. I liked this a lot.
This was Murakami’s first published book.
4 Stars
May 14, 2024
Hear the Wind Sing is Haruki Murakami's, less well known, debut novel. It tells the story of a young college-aged man, who spends his summer vacation in Kobe, Japan aimlessly wiling away his time with his friend, nicknamed the Rat (a spoiled rich kid), carousing at J's Bar. Although, the narrative lacks the intricately woven plot, for which Murakami is known for in his acclaimed novels such as Kafka on the Shore and Norwegian Wood, I found myself effortlessly roped in by the characters and sublime, smooth as jazz prose.
My only minor critique of Hear the Wind Sing is that it left me somewhat unsatisfied. It felt to me like the story lacked a clear message (admittedly it was Murakami's first novel!), much like the rudderless life of the protagonist. Murakami scratches the surface of many interesting concepts in this novel, yet doesn't quite develop them to fruition.
I would recommend Hear the Wind Sing to anyone looking to delve into the full depth and breadth of Murakami's writing. It is particularly insightful into his evolution as an author when compared with his more recent works.
My only minor critique of Hear the Wind Sing is that it left me somewhat unsatisfied. It felt to me like the story lacked a clear message (admittedly it was Murakami's first novel!), much like the rudderless life of the protagonist. Murakami scratches the surface of many interesting concepts in this novel, yet doesn't quite develop them to fruition.
I would recommend Hear the Wind Sing to anyone looking to delve into the full depth and breadth of Murakami's writing. It is particularly insightful into his evolution as an author when compared with his more recent works.
December 1, 2022
عندما سئل هاروكى عل اول اعماله " اسمع الرياح تغنى " و " فليبر 1973 " اطلق عليهم روايات مطبخية لانه كتبها فى اوقات فراغه قبل ان يتفرغ تماماً للكتابة و قال انه لا يمكن التبرؤ من اعماله الاولى لذلك يجب الاشادة ب خيال هاروكى الخصب حتى فى بداياته المتواضعة و هذة البداية المتواضعة التى نشرها فى مجلة و فازت بالجائزة الاولى كانت لها الفضل فى استمراره فى الكتابة لاحقاً حتى اصبح من افضل الروائيين الحاليين الذى ننتظر اعمالهم بفارغ الصبر .
الشخصية الرئيسية هنا هو الراوى شاب فى مقتبل العشرين يقضى اجازاته فى مدينته الصغيرة و تدور الاحداث فى 3 اسابيع نتعرف عليه و عل مقتطفات من ماضيه و عن صداقته مع صديقه المدلل " الفار " يجلسون معظم وقتهم فى بار يحتسون البيرة و صديقه يقضى وقته فى قراءة الروايات و يشرع فى كتابة واحدة , فى خلال ايام اجازته يتعرف عل شابة صغيرة ب تسع اصابع تعمل فى محل اسطوانات غنائية و تبدا علاقة صداقة و حب مع هذة الفتاة الغامضة .
ما يميز الرواية الحوارات بين الراوى و الشابة , كانت حوارات غنية بالافكار و الاسئلة الوجودية و السخرية احيانا لكن لا وجود لقصة او حبكة تميز القصة و لا بناء للشخصيات غير شخصية الراوى و بناءه حتى متمركز عل مواقف سابقة فى حياته من ارتباطات سابقة و كيف انتهت .
ليس كل الكتاب مثل نجيب محفوظ و ديستيوفيسكى كانت كتابتهم الاولى رائعة و ناضجة لكن الكتابات الاولى تبشرك بما هو قادم و هاروكى من هذة الفئة , الللغة كانت جميلة , عبثية و مشتتة فى مواقف كثيرة و واضح تاثره بالغرب جدا فى عمله الاول لكن السرد كان جميل الحوارات شيقة و هذة بداية جيدة تطورت و نضجت فى اعماله اللاحقة حتى اصبحت ما عليه الان من البراعة و الدقة .
** كثيرون يرشحون كبداية قراءة له الغابة النرويجية او مطاردة خروف بري او بعض القصص القصيرة و اعتقد ان ترشيحاتهم كانت فى محلها , لولا انى قرات بعض اعماله القصيرة و علي علم مسبق ب هاروكى لكانت هذة البداية من السهل ان تنفرنى منه لانها متواضعة .
“People with dark hearts have dark dreams. Those whose hearts are even darker can’t dream at all.”
الشخصية الرئيسية هنا هو الراوى شاب فى مقتبل العشرين يقضى اجازاته فى مدينته الصغيرة و تدور الاحداث فى 3 اسابيع نتعرف عليه و عل مقتطفات من ماضيه و عن صداقته مع صديقه المدلل " الفار " يجلسون معظم وقتهم فى بار يحتسون البيرة و صديقه يقضى وقته فى قراءة الروايات و يشرع فى كتابة واحدة , فى خلال ايام اجازته يتعرف عل شابة صغيرة ب تسع اصابع تعمل فى محل اسطوانات غنائية و تبدا علاقة صداقة و حب مع هذة الفتاة الغامضة .
ما يميز الرواية الحوارات بين الراوى و الشابة , كانت حوارات غنية بالافكار و الاسئلة الوجودية و السخرية احيانا لكن لا وجود لقصة او حبكة تميز القصة و لا بناء للشخصيات غير شخصية الراوى و بناءه حتى متمركز عل مواقف سابقة فى حياته من ارتباطات سابقة و كيف انتهت .
ليس كل الكتاب مثل نجيب محفوظ و ديستيوفيسكى كانت كتابتهم الاولى رائعة و ناضجة لكن الكتابات الاولى تبشرك بما هو قادم و هاروكى من هذة الفئة , الللغة كانت جميلة , عبثية و مشتتة فى مواقف كثيرة و واضح تاثره بالغرب جدا فى عمله الاول لكن السرد كان جميل الحوارات شيقة و هذة بداية جيدة تطورت و نضجت فى اعماله اللاحقة حتى اصبحت ما عليه الان من البراعة و الدقة .
“But try to think it through a little further. All of us are laboring under the same conditions. It’s like we’re all flying in the same busted airplane. Sure, some of us are luckier than others. Some are tough and some are weak. Some are rich and some poor. But no one’s superman—in that way, we’re all weak. If we own things, we’re terrified we’ll lose them; if we’ve got nothing we worry it’ll be that way forever. We’re all the same. If you catch on to that early enough, you can try to make yourself stronger, even if only a little. It’s okay to fake it. Right? There are no truly strong people. Only people who pretend to be strong.”
** كثيرون يرشحون كبداية قراءة له الغابة النرويجية او مطاردة خروف بري او بعض القصص القصيرة و اعتقد ان ترشيحاتهم كانت فى محلها , لولا انى قرات بعض اعماله القصيرة و علي علم مسبق ب هاروكى لكانت هذة البداية من السهل ان تنفرنى منه لانها متواضعة .
March 22, 2021
2.5 rounded up
This wasn’t memorable enough for me
This wasn’t memorable enough for me
May 17, 2020
I didn't enjoy this first book in the Rat series quite as much as books 2 and 3 (A Wild Sheep Chase and Dance Dance Dance) but it was still fun. I am glad to have read the series out of order; otherwise, I might not have been sufficiently engaged by this one to continue. I think it's better appreciated having read the others first. It's short (just over 100 pages) and so not a whole lot happens. However, we do learn how our young protagonist and the Rat meet, and there are some other interesting if unconventional happenings and characters too.
If you've read other books in the series, you don't want to miss this one. If you haven't, perhaps try jumping into the 3rd book first as I did. It's wild and whacky and enjoyable, once you get pulled onto the ride.
Update: Having now read the entire series, I would recommend reading them in this order: 2, 1, 3, 4
If you've read other books in the series, you don't want to miss this one. If you haven't, perhaps try jumping into the 3rd book first as I did. It's wild and whacky and enjoyable, once you get pulled onto the ride.
Update: Having now read the entire series, I would recommend reading them in this order: 2, 1, 3, 4
February 26, 2016
برای خوندنش خیلی دودل بودم، تحقیق کوچیکی کردم دیدم این کتاب اولین کتاب از مجموعه ی چهار جلدی "رت" هست، برای همین کمی تحریک شدم.
شروع به خوندن کردم و فقط 9 صفحه زمان برد که غرق شدم توی همون اشتیاق همیشگی که از خوندن موراکامی بهم دست میداد.
با اینکه این کتاب اولین کتاب این نویسنده هست ولی سبک نوشتاری کاملا خوب و همون طعم کتابای موراکامی رو داره.
داستان کتاب هم، دقیقا از جنس داستان های موراکامیه، خط داستانی های موازی هم و نقش مهم عشق توی داستان، دلدادگی های خاص و روابط عاطفی پیچیده...
خلاصه اینکه کتاب خیلی خوبی هست. سعی کنید هر چهار شماره ی رت رو بخونید.
شروع به خوندن کردم و فقط 9 صفحه زمان برد که غرق شدم توی همون اشتیاق همیشگی که از خوندن موراکامی بهم دست میداد.
با اینکه این کتاب اولین کتاب این نویسنده هست ولی سبک نوشتاری کاملا خوب و همون طعم کتابای موراکامی رو داره.
داستان کتاب هم، دقیقا از جنس داستان های موراکامیه، خط داستانی های موازی هم و نقش مهم عشق توی داستان، دلدادگی های خاص و روابط عاطفی پیچیده...
خلاصه اینکه کتاب خیلی خوبی هست. سعی کنید هر چهار شماره ی رت رو بخونید.
May 22, 2021
به آواز باد گوش بسپار، اولین رمان از سهگانهی «رت» و البته اولین رمان(بهتر است بگوییم داستان بلند) نوشتهی هاروکی موراکامیست.
موراکامی بارها از دو کتاب اولش (این رمان و رمانِ دوم مجموعهی «رت» یعنی پینبال۱۹۷۳) به عنوان تنها یک نقطه شروع برای دورانِ نویسندگیش یاد کرده و حتی تا پایان نوشتن کتاب دومی که در بالا عرض کردم نویسندگی را شغل اصلی خود نمیدانست، او همچنین در مصاحبهای گفته که چندان از آنها خوشم نمیآید و حسم نسبت به آنها چیزی به مانند حس عشقِ اول میماند اما به نظرم با این گفتار خواسته سطح انتظار خوانندهها را از ای�� دو رمان تا حد معقولی پایین آورده تا وقتی به سراغ آنها میروند انتظار دو کتاب خاص رو نداشته باشند.
یکی از نکات جالب این کتاب این است که موراکامی تصمیم میگیرد کتاب را به زبان ژاپنی ننویسد و سبک خود را در آن پیاده کند یعنی با زبان انگلیسیِ دست و پا شکستهای که با دایرهی لغاتِ محدود بلد بود یک داستانِ ساده، روان، با جملهبندی کوتاه و بدون هرگونه پیچیدگیِ ادبی بنویسد، سپس آنرا از انگلیسی به ژاپنی برگردان کند که نتیجهی آن یک متن انگلیسیِ بسیار ساده و روان از آب درآمده که اگر هر خوانندهای دست و پا شکسته انگلیسی را بفهمد میتواند کتاب را بدون ترجمه بخواند.
داستان کتاب روان و ساده است در مورد یک پسر جوان که بر حسب اتفاق و تصادف با یک پسر جوان دوست میشود و به خواست دوستش او را «موش» صدا میکند، پاتوق همیشگیِ آنان در یک میخانه است که صاحب آن یک مرد چینیست و ...
خواندن این کتاب وقت زیادی نمیگیرد همانطوری که خواندن پینبال۱۹۷۳ هم وقت زیادی نخواهد گرفت برای همین برای اینکه به سراغ کتاب سوم از سه گانهی موشهای صحرایی برویم بهتره که این دو را قبلش بخوانیم هرچند در جایی از دوستی شنیدهام که اگر هم نخوانید میتوانید به سراغ رمان اصلی سهگانه بروید اما قطعا خواندنش بهتر از نخواندن آن است.
موراکامی بارها از دو کتاب اولش (این رمان و رمانِ دوم مجموعهی «رت» یعنی پینبال۱۹۷۳) به عنوان تنها یک نقطه شروع برای دورانِ نویسندگیش یاد کرده و حتی تا پایان نوشتن کتاب دومی که در بالا عرض کردم نویسندگی را شغل اصلی خود نمیدانست، او همچنین در مصاحبهای گفته که چندان از آنها خوشم نمیآید و حسم نسبت به آنها چیزی به مانند حس عشقِ اول میماند اما به نظرم با این گفتار خواسته سطح انتظار خوانندهها را از ای�� دو رمان تا حد معقولی پایین آورده تا وقتی به سراغ آنها میروند انتظار دو کتاب خاص رو نداشته باشند.
یکی از نکات جالب این کتاب این است که موراکامی تصمیم میگیرد کتاب را به زبان ژاپنی ننویسد و سبک خود را در آن پیاده کند یعنی با زبان انگلیسیِ دست و پا شکستهای که با دایرهی لغاتِ محدود بلد بود یک داستانِ ساده، روان، با جملهبندی کوتاه و بدون هرگونه پیچیدگیِ ادبی بنویسد، سپس آنرا از انگلیسی به ژاپنی برگردان کند که نتیجهی آن یک متن انگلیسیِ بسیار ساده و روان از آب درآمده که اگر هر خوانندهای دست و پا شکسته انگلیسی را بفهمد میتواند کتاب را بدون ترجمه بخواند.
داستان کتاب روان و ساده است در مورد یک پسر جوان که بر حسب اتفاق و تصادف با یک پسر جوان دوست میشود و به خواست دوستش او را «موش» صدا میکند، پاتوق همیشگیِ آنان در یک میخانه است که صاحب آن یک مرد چینیست و ...
خواندن این کتاب وقت زیادی نمیگیرد همانطوری که خواندن پینبال۱۹۷۳ هم وقت زیادی نخواهد گرفت برای همین برای اینکه به سراغ کتاب سوم از سه گانهی موشهای صحرایی برویم بهتره که این دو را قبلش بخوانیم هرچند در جایی از دوستی شنیدهام که اگر هم نخوانید میتوانید به سراغ رمان اصلی سهگانه بروید اما قطعا خواندنش بهتر از نخواندن آن است.
January 31, 2022
এই বইটা নিয়ে হয়তো অন্য কোনোদিন অনেক অনেক কিছু লেখার চেষ্টা করা যেতে পারে। মুরাকামির লেখা কিংবা জাপানিজ সাহিত্যের প্রতি আমার পক্ষপাতদুষ্টতার কারণে সেই লেখা কতটা নিরপেক্ষ থাকবে তা নিয়ে আমি বেশ সন্দিহান। সেসব ভাবনার উল বুনে সোয়েটার আজ নাই বা তৈরি করি।
যেহেতু পড়তে পড়তে ভেতরে কথা জমতে জমতে সেগুলো প্রায় বরফ হয়ে গেছে। সেগুলো জরুরিভিত্তিতে গলানো দরকার। তাই এই পারস্পারিক সামঞ্জস্যহীন অনুভূতিটুকু অদৃশ্য লেফাফায় মুড়ে দিচ্ছি—
"অনেক দিন পর আমি যেন আবার গ্রীষ্মের ঘ্রাণ পেলাম। সেই ঘ্রাণের সাথে মিশে ছিল সাগরের ঢেউয়ের শব্দ,দূর থেকে আসা ট্রেনের হুইসেল,এক বিষণ্ণ তরুণীর শরীরের স্পর্শ,তার চুল থেকে আসা লেবু ফুলের গন্ধ, সন্ধ্যার ভেজা বাতাস,আর গ্রীষ্মকালের সেই সব মিষ্টি স্বপ্ন,যেগুলো নিয়ে ভাবলে কখনো ক্লান্তি আসে না।"
নামহীন একুশ বছর বয়সী যুবক...লেখক হবার স্বপ্ন তাড়া করে ফেরে...বৌদ্ধ সন্ন্যাসীর ভারিক্কি ভাব...
হাতের মুঠোয় ধরা আপেলের মতো জগৎটাকে দেখতে চাওয়ার এক বাসনা...তিন তিনবার প্রেম এসে কী করে যেন হারিয়ে যায়।
বন্ধু র্যাট....
মৃত্যুকে চোখের খুব কাছ থেকে দেখে তার রূপ,রস,স্বাদ,গন্ধ নিয়ে জীবনে ফিরে আসা।
অতঃপর বিয়ার..... বিয়ার...... বিয়ার।
বালিতে ফেলে আসা পায়ের ছাপের মতো ছেলেবেলার বন্দর শহর...প্রিয় বন্ধু র্যাট...সারাদিন বিয়ার খায়,পিনবল খেলে...
প্রশান্ত মহাসাগরের ডুবে যাওয়া জাহাজের যাত্রী...লাইফ জ্যাকেটে করে ভাসতে থাকে মাঝসমুদ্রে... মাথায় চেপে বসে থাকা ঘুগরা পোকার উপন্যাস মাঝে মাঝে
শিঙ মাছের গাঁই দিতে থাকে মাথার ভেতর...আর তারপর...
"মেন্টাল হসপিটালের বাবুর্চি"
"দ্য ব্রাদার্স কারমাজভ"
Happy Birthday & White Christmas
আবার বিয়ার.....বিয়ার.....বিয়ার।
বড় ভাই "জে"...তার বার...ফ্রেঞ্চ ফ্রাই-বিয়ারের ক্যান...
"আগের দিনের কাস্টমাররা কত ভালো ছিল!"
তিন চাচা... একজনের বাসা সাংহাইয়ের শহরতলী...প্যাসিফিক যুদ্ধের সময় বাসার পাশে পুঁতে রাখা ল্যান্ডমাইন...ল্যান্ডমাইনে পা... বুমমমমমমমম।
নয় আঙুলের একটা মেয়ে...যমজ বোন থাকার মতো অস্বস্তিকর অনুভূতি...অ্যাবোরশন...অদৃশ্য শিশু...ধোঁকা?...রক্ষণশীলতা....এক দীর্ঘ মুখর নীরবতা।
তৃতীয় গার্লফ্রেন্ড...ফরাসি সাহিত্য..প্রতি ঘণ্টায় বাড়তে থাকা বয়স...ফটোগ্রাফ...সাগরপাড়,সামার রিসোর্ট...স্বর্গীয় আশীর্বাদ...একজন দেবদূত তার ডানা দুটো প্রসারিত করে স্বর্গ থেকে নেমে আসতে থাকে সোজা...আত্মহত্যা।
শনিবারের "এনইবি স্পেশাল".. "অনুরোধের আসর"...ডিউরেশন? দুই ঘণ্টা...
ফোন কল...স্কুল ট্রিপ..হারিয়ে যাওয়া কন্টাক্ট লেন্স
"ক্যালিফোর্নিয়া গার্লস"
চিঠি...তিনবছর ধরে শয্যাশায়ী...নিউরোলজিকাল ডিজঅর্ডার...জগৎকে একবার চোখভরে দেখতে চাওয়ার আকুতি...
"আপনাদের মনের সব জড়তা ভেঙে চুরমার করে দেব"
ডেরেক হার্টফিল্ড....শান্ত,চুপচাপ,বিষণ্ণ ছেলেবেলা...
উইয়ার্ড ফিকশন রাইটার...ব্যর্থ কাল্পনিক লেখক? লেখায় আজীবন করে গেছেন অজানা শত্রুর মোকাবিলা...রে ব্র্যাডবেরির অনুপ্রেরণা...
"লেখালিখি হচ্ছে আমাদের চারপাশের জিনিসের সাথে আমাদের দূরত্ব মাপার একটা উপায়"-বিশ্বাস করেন এই নিজস্ব দর্শনে।
আগ্নেয়াস্ত্রের বিশাল সংগ্রহশালা...মূল্যায়নের অভাব...নো লাইম লাইট...এম্পেয়ার স্টেট বিল্ডিংয়ের ছাদ...অবশেষে হিটলারের ছবি বুকে নিয়ে ঝাঁপিয়ে পড়া।
স্টেটের সামনের ফুটপাতে চিড়ে চ্যাপ্টা হয়ে থাকে একটা কুনো ব্যাঙের মতো লাশ।
এপিটাফে লেখা হয় নিৎসের উক্তি-
"দিনের আলোয় যারা বাস করে,
রাতের আঁধারের গভীরতা তারা কী করে বুঝবে?"
আর আর?
মুভি...
আর কিছু?
মিউজিক—
Rainy Night in Georgia
https://youtu.be/bDRbF80NKDU
Who'll stop the rain
https://youtu.be/lIPan-rEQJA
California Girls
https://youtu.be/KcrbDYe4qL4
Nashville Skyline
https://youtu.be/F4T3xs4-Jso
Piano Concerto- Beethoven
https://youtu.be/MZudOTnSk9k
Return to Sender
https://youtu.be/LZmUfUBqE-s
Everyday People
https://youtu.be/YUUhDoCx8zc
Woodstock
https://youtu.be/qIHfuihoz70
Spirit in the Sky
https://youtu.be/AZQxH_8raCI
Hey There Lonely Girl
https://youtu.be/alLgxBUcMbc
Good Luck Charm
https://youtu.be/Z0gx4kPDW0w
Hear the Wind Sing আসলে—
"ঘোড়ার তৃষ্ণায় বন্যাপরবর্তী নদীতীরে গজিয়ে ওঠা ঘাস"
শোনো বাতাসের সুর...বিষণ্ণতার বাতাস...অনিশ্চয়তার বাতাস...এলোমেলো করা বাতাস...ঊনপঞ্চাশ বাতাস।
র্যাট টেট্রালজি...কিচেন টেবিল ফিকশন।
অর্থহীন মন্তাজের সমাপ্তি এখানেই।
চারিদিকে শান্ত বাতি—ভিজে গন্ধ—মৃদু কলরব;
কামরাঙা-লাল মেঘ যেন মৃত মুনিয়ার মতো
এমন বিজন ঘাস—প্রান্তরের পারে
ঘাসের বুকের থেকে কবে আমি পেয়েছি যে আমার শরীর—সবুজ ঘাসের থেকে;
যে শালিখ মরে যায় কুয়াশায়—সে তো আর ফিরে নাহি আসে....
যেহেতু পড়তে পড়তে ভেতরে কথা জমতে জমতে সেগুলো প্রায় বরফ হয়ে গেছে। সেগুলো জরুরিভিত্তিতে গলানো দরকার। তাই এই পারস্পারিক সামঞ্জস্যহীন অনুভূতিটুকু অদৃশ্য লেফাফায় মুড়ে দিচ্ছি—
"অনেক দিন পর আমি যেন আবার গ্রীষ্মের ঘ্রাণ পেলাম। সেই ঘ্রাণের সাথে মিশে ছিল সাগরের ঢেউয়ের শব্দ,দূর থেকে আসা ট্রেনের হুইসেল,এক বিষণ্ণ তরুণীর শরীরের স্পর্শ,তার চুল থেকে আসা লেবু ফুলের গন্ধ, সন্ধ্যার ভেজা বাতাস,আর গ্রীষ্মকালের সেই সব মিষ্টি স্বপ্ন,যেগুলো নিয়ে ভাবলে কখনো ক্লান্তি আসে না।"
নামহীন একুশ বছর বয়সী যুবক...লেখক হবার স্বপ্ন তাড়া করে ফেরে...বৌদ্ধ সন্ন্যাসীর ভারিক্কি ভাব...
হাতের মুঠোয় ধরা আপেলের মতো জগৎটাকে দেখতে চাওয়ার এক বাসনা...তিন তিনবার প্রেম এসে কী করে যেন হারিয়ে যায়।
বন্ধু র্যাট....
মৃত্যুকে চোখের খুব কাছ থেকে দেখে তার রূপ,রস,স্বাদ,গন্ধ নিয়ে জীবনে ফিরে আসা।
অতঃপর বিয়ার..... বিয়ার...... বিয়ার।
বালিতে ফেলে আসা পায়ের ছাপের মতো ছেলেবেলার বন্দর শহর...প্রিয় বন্ধু র্যাট...সারাদিন বিয়ার খায়,পিনবল খেলে...
প্রশান্ত মহাসাগরের ডুবে যাওয়া জাহাজের যাত্রী...লাইফ জ্যাকেটে করে ভাসতে থাকে মাঝসমুদ্রে... মাথায় চেপে বসে থাকা ঘুগরা পোকার উপন্যাস মাঝে মাঝে
শিঙ মাছের গাঁই দিতে থাকে মাথার ভেতর...আর তারপর...
"মেন্টাল হসপিটালের বাবুর্চি"
"দ্য ব্রাদার্স কারমাজভ"
Happy Birthday & White Christmas
আবার বিয়ার.....বিয়ার.....বিয়ার।
বড় ভাই "জে"...তার বার...ফ্রেঞ্চ ফ্রাই-বিয়ারের ক্যান...
"আগের দিনের কাস্টমাররা কত ভালো ছিল!"
তিন চাচা... একজনের বাসা সাংহাইয়ের শহরতলী...প্যাসিফিক যুদ্ধের সময় বাসার পাশে পুঁতে রাখা ল্যান্ডমাইন...ল্যান্ডমাইনে পা... বুমমমমমমমম।
নয় আঙুলের একটা মেয়ে...যমজ বোন থাকার মতো অস্বস্তিকর অনুভূতি...অ্যাবোরশন...অদৃশ্য শিশু...ধোঁকা?...রক্ষণশীলতা....এক দীর্ঘ মুখর নীরবতা।
তৃতীয় গার্লফ্রেন্ড...ফরাসি সাহিত্য..প্রতি ঘণ্টায় বাড়তে থাকা বয়স...ফটোগ্রাফ...সাগরপাড়,সামার রিসোর্ট...স্বর্গীয় আশীর্বাদ...একজন দেবদূত তার ডানা দুটো প্রসারিত করে স্বর্গ থেকে নেমে আসতে থাকে সোজা...আত্মহত্যা।
শনিবারের "এনইবি স্পেশাল".. "অনুরোধের আসর"...ডিউরেশন? দুই ঘণ্টা...
ফোন কল...স্কুল ট্রিপ..হারিয়ে যাওয়া কন্টাক্ট লেন্স
"ক্যালিফোর্নিয়া গার্লস"
চিঠি...তিনবছর ধরে শয্যাশায়ী...নিউরোলজিকাল ডিজঅর্ডার...জগৎকে একবার চোখভরে দেখতে চাওয়ার আকুতি...
"আপনাদের মনের সব জড়তা ভেঙে চুরমার করে দেব"
ডেরেক হার্টফিল্ড....শান্ত,চুপচাপ,বিষণ্ণ ছেলেবেলা...
উইয়ার্ড ফিকশন রাইটার...ব্যর্থ কাল্পনিক লেখক? লেখায় আজীবন করে গেছেন অজানা শত্রুর মোকাবিলা...রে ব্র্যাডবেরির অনুপ্রেরণা...
"লেখালিখি হচ্ছে আমাদের চারপাশের জিনিসের সাথে আমাদের দূরত্ব মাপার একটা উপায়"-বিশ্বাস করেন এই নিজস্ব দর্শনে।
আগ্নেয়াস্ত্রের বিশাল সংগ্রহশালা...মূল্যায়নের অভাব...নো লাইম লাইট...এম্পেয়ার স্টেট বিল্ডিংয়ের ছাদ...অবশেষে হিটলারের ছবি বুকে নিয়ে ঝাঁপিয়ে পড়া।
স্টেটের সামনের ফুটপাতে চিড়ে চ্যাপ্টা হয়ে থাকে একটা কুনো ব্যাঙের মতো লাশ।
এপিটাফে লেখা হয় নিৎসের উক্তি-
"দিনের আলোয় যারা বাস করে,
রাতের আঁধারের গভীরতা তারা কী করে বুঝবে?"
আর আর?
মুভি...
আর কিছু?
মিউজিক—
Rainy Night in Georgia
https://youtu.be/bDRbF80NKDU
Who'll stop the rain
https://youtu.be/lIPan-rEQJA
California Girls
https://youtu.be/KcrbDYe4qL4
Nashville Skyline
https://youtu.be/F4T3xs4-Jso
Piano Concerto- Beethoven
https://youtu.be/MZudOTnSk9k
Return to Sender
https://youtu.be/LZmUfUBqE-s
Everyday People
https://youtu.be/YUUhDoCx8zc
Woodstock
https://youtu.be/qIHfuihoz70
Spirit in the Sky
https://youtu.be/AZQxH_8raCI
Hey There Lonely Girl
https://youtu.be/alLgxBUcMbc
Good Luck Charm
https://youtu.be/Z0gx4kPDW0w
Hear the Wind Sing আসলে—
"ঘোড়ার তৃষ্ণায় বন্যাপরবর্তী নদীতীরে গজিয়ে ওঠা ঘাস"
শোনো বাতাসের সুর...বিষণ্ণতার বাতাস...অনিশ্চয়তার বাতাস...এলোমেলো করা বাতাস...ঊনপঞ্চাশ বাতাস।
র্যাট টেট্রালজি...কিচেন টেবিল ফিকশন।
অর্থহীন মন্তাজের সমাপ্তি এখানেই।
চারিদিকে শান্ত বাতি—ভিজে গন্ধ—মৃদু কলরব;
কামরাঙা-লাল মেঘ যেন মৃত মুনিয়ার মতো
এমন বিজন ঘাস—প্রান্তরের পারে
ঘাসের বুকের থেকে কবে আমি পেয়েছি যে আমার শরীর—সবুজ ঘাসের থেকে;
যে শালিখ মরে যায় কুয়াশায়—সে তো আর ফিরে নাহি আসে....
May 12, 2019
A brief note before we begin, this review may (or may not) be revised later. I’ve written it while suffering from major jet-lag (literally traveled for 30 hours, and went through a 11 hour time change in the process). For all I know, it may only make sense to me as the person who wrote it and be absolutely incomprehensible to everyone else. If so, consider it a rather parallel to the novel itself. :)
For those of you who have ever endeavored to write a novel, I feel your pain. That moment of putting everything into a work, only to read it and realize that it sounded much better in your head, I know the feeling well. I have numerous stories stored away in a box because part of me loves them, but also needs to keep them far away and out of sight. Those of you who give those a read every once in a while and wonder “why bother?” let me offer one note of encouragement to you: Murakami is pretty much an international literary rock star, and he wrote this book first. So, you know, there is hope.
Now that I’ve offered that rather intimidating start, let me say that this isn’t really a bad book… it’s just not a very good one. I fully admit that I gave it three stars on account of a fascination aspect, and not because it is “good.” It’s interesting to see the start of an author I will come to respect, in pure amateur mode. I mean, you see ideas he will go on to play with and perfect, and there are little moments of genius here and there, but this is not the Murakami I love. This is very much someone still trying to find a voice. It is pretty much the definition of a first novel; it is mostly plotless, yet still full of holes, unanswered questions, a rambling nature and some just downright weird choices.
As someone who started reading Murakami with The Wild Sheep Chase, it is quite interesting to see early versions of those characters… it’s also weird seeing how tonally different the first novel is compared to the third. This strange little slice of life story will somehow evolve in a future book to a borderline metaphysical noir.
Is this a book I can recommend? Only to those who already have a firm grasp on Murakami’s work, as it’s mostly a curiosity; something to read after you’ve gone through his major works, and want to see where many of the ideas began. For those who fit into that category, you’ll probably find it a fascinating quick read.
For those of you who have ever endeavored to write a novel, I feel your pain. That moment of putting everything into a work, only to read it and realize that it sounded much better in your head, I know the feeling well. I have numerous stories stored away in a box because part of me loves them, but also needs to keep them far away and out of sight. Those of you who give those a read every once in a while and wonder “why bother?” let me offer one note of encouragement to you: Murakami is pretty much an international literary rock star, and he wrote this book first. So, you know, there is hope.
Now that I’ve offered that rather intimidating start, let me say that this isn’t really a bad book… it’s just not a very good one. I fully admit that I gave it three stars on account of a fascination aspect, and not because it is “good.” It’s interesting to see the start of an author I will come to respect, in pure amateur mode. I mean, you see ideas he will go on to play with and perfect, and there are little moments of genius here and there, but this is not the Murakami I love. This is very much someone still trying to find a voice. It is pretty much the definition of a first novel; it is mostly plotless, yet still full of holes, unanswered questions, a rambling nature and some just downright weird choices.
As someone who started reading Murakami with The Wild Sheep Chase, it is quite interesting to see early versions of those characters… it’s also weird seeing how tonally different the first novel is compared to the third. This strange little slice of life story will somehow evolve in a future book to a borderline metaphysical noir.
Is this a book I can recommend? Only to those who already have a firm grasp on Murakami’s work, as it’s mostly a curiosity; something to read after you’ve gone through his major works, and want to see where many of the ideas began. For those who fit into that category, you’ll probably find it a fascinating quick read.
June 1, 2017
این داستان و داستان پین بال اولین داستان های بلند جدی موراکامی اند. من بر حسب تصادف این کتاب رو به عنوان اولین کتابی که از موراکامی می خونم انتخاب کردم. خوندن ابتدای کتاب که به خود داستان نویسی می پردازه - یعنی مقدمه ی ترجمه ی جدید انگلیسی و فصل اول خود کتاب - در کنار فهمیدن این مطلب که این داستان جزو اولین های موراکامیه یه جورایی باعث شد انتظار بدی از کتاب داشته باشم اما وقتی وارد داستان شدم و پیش رفتم دیدم نه برعکس با کتاب خوبی روبروئم و ازش لذت بردم
داستان روایتی صادقانه است از دنیای تخت امروزی: یعنی دنیایی که درش فهمیدیم چیزها خیلی گذرا هستن و زمان قوی تر از اخلاق و احساسات و ... است؛ دنیایی که هیچی دیگه انقدر جدی نیست. اما در عین حال احساسات و انسانیت و ... اینجا و اونجا دیده می شن - چنانکه فی الواقع هم حتی تخت ترین و بدبین ترین آدمها هم گاهی درگیرشون می شن
ترجمه ترجمه ی معقولیه. اما کاش یه جاهایی زبان فارسی و جمله بندی ها بهتر بود. معدودی غلط هم من دیدم. در ضمن توجه کنید که اگه می خواید انگلیسیش رو هم بخونین به ترجمه ی دوم کتاب مراجعه کنید - یعنی ترجمه ای که با پین بال در یک کتاب به انگلیسی برگردانده شده. من اول به ترجمه ی قدیمی تر انگلیسی مراجعه کردم و از اینکه چقدر اختلاف داره با متن فارسی متعجب بودم
سه نقطه گذاشتن به جای حذفیات کار اخلاقی ای بوده اما واقعا جای سؤال داره که عملا کار خوبیه یا نه. مخصوصا در این کتاب که حذفیات عموما در حد بخشی از جمله است - مثلا او را بغل کردم، در حال معاشقه بودیم، او را بوسیدم، برهنه کنارم دراز کشیده بود و امثالهم. من قبل تر در ترجمه های خجسته کیهان از برخی آثار پل استر دیده بودم که کیهان بدون اینکه جمله رو حذف کنه و سکته ایجاد کنه در متن، عبارت رو طوری باز نویسی می کرد که هم مضمون منتقل می شد هم از تیغ سانسور می جست
بخش هایی که به خود نویسندگی می پرداخت - تحت لوای نویسنده ای خیالی به نام درک هارتفیلد - برای من مبهم و فاقد جذابیت بودن. مشکل اصلی هم این بود که معلوم نبود منظورش چیه
داستان روایتی صادقانه است از دنیای تخت امروزی: یعنی دنیایی که درش فهمیدیم چیزها خیلی گذرا هستن و زمان قوی تر از اخلاق و احساسات و ... است؛ دنیایی که هیچی دیگه انقدر جدی نیست. اما در عین حال احساسات و انسانیت و ... اینجا و اونجا دیده می شن - چنانکه فی الواقع هم حتی تخت ترین و بدبین ترین آدمها هم گاهی درگیرشون می شن
ترجمه ترجمه ی معقولیه. اما کاش یه جاهایی زبان فارسی و جمله بندی ها بهتر بود. معدودی غلط هم من دیدم. در ضمن توجه کنید که اگه می خواید انگلیسیش رو هم بخونین به ترجمه ی دوم کتاب مراجعه کنید - یعنی ترجمه ای که با پین بال در یک کتاب به انگلیسی برگردانده شده. من اول به ترجمه ی قدیمی تر انگلیسی مراجعه کردم و از اینکه چقدر اختلاف داره با متن فارسی متعجب بودم
سه نقطه گذاشتن به جای حذفیات کار اخلاقی ای بوده اما واقعا جای سؤال داره که عملا کار خوبیه یا نه. مخصوصا در این کتاب که حذفیات عموما در حد بخشی از جمله است - مثلا او را بغل کردم، در حال معاشقه بودیم، او را بوسیدم، برهنه کنارم دراز کشیده بود و امثالهم. من قبل تر در ترجمه های خجسته کیهان از برخی آثار پل استر دیده بودم که کیهان بدون اینکه جمله رو حذف کنه و سکته ایجاد کنه در متن، عبارت رو طوری باز نویسی می کرد که هم مضمون منتقل می شد هم از تیغ سانسور می جست
بخش هایی که به خود نویسندگی می پرداخت - تحت لوای نویسنده ای خیالی به نام درک هارتفیلد - برای من مبهم و فاقد جذابیت بودن. مشکل اصلی هم این بود که معلوم نبود منظورش چیه
July 20, 2018
“When the time comes, everybody’s got to end up where they belong. Only me, I didn’t have a place to call my own. It’s like musical chairs.”
A little rough around the edges, and heavily influenced by Kerouac(i.e. On the Road), Hear the Wind Sing is Murakami's first ever novel. The novel tells the story from the perspective of an unnamed narrator as he writes down the events of the summer vacation of 1970 that he spent at his hometown on the seaside. The story introduces some of the most notable Murakami characters, like Rat and J, and introduces the setting of the J's bar which makes multiple appearances in the his writing. The book is the first part of the Rat series.
A little rough around the edges, and heavily influenced by Kerouac(i.e. On the Road), Hear the Wind Sing is Murakami's first ever novel. The novel tells the story from the perspective of an unnamed narrator as he writes down the events of the summer vacation of 1970 that he spent at his hometown on the seaside. The story introduces some of the most notable Murakami characters, like Rat and J, and introduces the setting of the J's bar which makes multiple appearances in the his writing. The book is the first part of the Rat series.
February 20, 2018
دروغها چيزهاي وحشتناكي هستند؛ ميتوان گفت بزرگترين گناهاني كه جامعه مدرن را مي آزارند؛ افزايش دروغ و سكوت است؛ گستاخانه دروغ ميگوييم و بعد، زبان مان را قورت ميدهيم...
در كنار موسيقي، كتابها خوشي بزرگم بودند... مهم نبود چقدر مشغول، بي پول يا خسته باشم، هيچكس نميتوانست اين لذتها را از من بگيرد.....
از اول تا آخر، همه ش شد خوردن آبجو.. و يه سري نظرات درمورد يه نويسنده قديمي بنام درك.... يه سري روزمرگي هاي خيلي بيمزه كه هيچ نكته جالب توجهي توشون وجود نداشت.. 😔😔
در كنار موسيقي، كتابها خوشي بزرگم بودند... مهم نبود چقدر مشغول، بي پول يا خسته باشم، هيچكس نميتوانست اين لذتها را از من بگيرد.....
از اول تا آخر، همه ش شد خوردن آبجو.. و يه سري نظرات درمورد يه نويسنده قديمي بنام درك.... يه سري روزمرگي هاي خيلي بيمزه كه هيچ نكته جالب توجهي توشون وجود نداشت.. 😔😔
December 14, 2008
James found out that the only two Murakami books I haven't read are this one and Pinball, 1973. He got me this one and then, because the other is like rare and therefore expensive (these two earliest Murakami novels have been translated but not published here--only in Japan, I guess, by cute Kodansha) HE MADE ME A COPY OF PINBALL. That is right, he MADE me one. He got the text from some fan's website, printed everything out, COLLATED that shit or whatever, and then BOUND it.
Tell me that is not the most amazering boyfriend in the history of TIME.
This book was lovely, by the way, now that I am done raving.
Tell me that is not the most amazering boyfriend in the history of TIME.
This book was lovely, by the way, now that I am done raving.
April 20, 2022
This was one of Murakami's very first pieces of writing. My understanding is that it was so hard to find in translation for years because Haruki was not proud of his early attempts at finding his voice. While it is true that it is at times uneven, it still has that unique Murakami spark that got better with Pinball, 1973 and then solidified and matured with Norwegian Wood and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.
Fino's Murakami Reviews - Novels
Hear the Wind Sing (1979/1987-2015)
Pinball, 1973 (1980/1985-2015)
A Wild Sheep Chase (1982/1989)
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (1985/1991)
Norwegian Wood (1987/1989-2000)
Dance Dance Dance (1988/1994)
South of the Border, West of the Sun (1992/2000)
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1995/1997)
Sputnik Sweetheart (1999/2001)
Kafka on the Shore (2002/2005)
After Dark (2004/2007)
1Q84 (2010/2011)
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage (2013/2014)
Killing Commendatore (2017/2018)
Fino's Murakami Reviews - Short Story Collections and Misc
The Elephant Vanishes (1993)
After the Quake (2000/2002)
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (2006)
Men Without Women (2014/2017)
First Person Singular (2020/2021)
Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (2007/2008)
Fino's Murakami Reviews - Novels
Hear the Wind Sing (1979/1987-2015)
Pinball, 1973 (1980/1985-2015)
A Wild Sheep Chase (1982/1989)
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World (1985/1991)
Norwegian Wood (1987/1989-2000)
Dance Dance Dance (1988/1994)
South of the Border, West of the Sun (1992/2000)
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (1995/1997)
Sputnik Sweetheart (1999/2001)
Kafka on the Shore (2002/2005)
After Dark (2004/2007)
1Q84 (2010/2011)
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage (2013/2014)
Killing Commendatore (2017/2018)
Fino's Murakami Reviews - Short Story Collections and Misc
The Elephant Vanishes (1993)
After the Quake (2000/2002)
Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (2006)
Men Without Women (2014/2017)
First Person Singular (2020/2021)
Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche
What I Talk About When I Talk About Running (2007/2008)
July 2, 2018
Haruki Murakami okumak, edebiyat ve ben... Bir tür onunlayken bile onu özleme, anlamaya çalışma, anladığımı düşündüğümde bile anlayamadığımı hissedip üzülme hali. Eserini eline almak, bırakmamak isteyip kitabın elinden kayıp senden kaçacağını bilmenin verdiği hüzün. Murakami her seferinde neden bende bu duyguyu yaratıyor fazlasıyla düşünüyor, cevap bulmaya çabalıyorum. Metinleri beni küçümsemese bile anlattıklarının gizli dehlizleriyle kör labirentlere sokup orada ışıksız, bırakıyor sanki. Doğan Kitap'tan çıkan son ama aslında ilk kitabı, romanı olan "Rüzgârın Şarkısını Dinle" de böyle bir eser işte. Düşünüldüğünden daha hızlı okunan, rahat cümlelerle kurgulanmış şahsa özel bir metin. Akıcı. Ama yine de, evet yine de insana acaba Murakami başka bir şey anlatıyor ve ben başka bir şey mi anlıyorum dedirten bir yapısı var.
November 30, 2022
درچند فصل اززبان پسر جوان دانشجویی ، خاطرات ساده زندگی ، ارتباطش با دخترها ، نگاه و پیچیدگیهای احساساتش را درمواجهه با دنیا و زندگی شرح میدهد. بسیار ساده ولی درعین حال دربعضی جاها عمیق . طنز حرفهایش مثلا درباره ثروتمندان و فقرا یا عدم ارتباط گیریش با دخترها جالب است . زندگی عادی که ساهاست ما درکشورمان به سخت ترین وپیچیده ترین وگاه رنجبارترین روش ها مجبوربه داشتن آنیم .
بعضی فصل ها کلا نامرتبط بود یا شاید من نفهمیدم .مثلا " جایی که شرح کشتن جادوگران درقرن پانزدهم راتوصیف میکند و نکته ای که وصف حال ما بود: قاضی خوشحال بود که مردم آنقدر ازاومی ترسند که قبل ازاینکه درچنگش گرفتارشوند ، خودرامی کشند ( نقل به مضمون ) .
تا حدود بیست صفحه ازکتاب ، ارتباط نمیگرفتم ولی تا انتها بهتر وبهترشد وبرایم عجیب بود که درانتها کتابی که ازنظر سن وجنسیت هیچ نزدیکی با من نداشت ، این چنین به دلم نشسته بود که بخواهم دوباره بخوانم .کتاب کم نقصی نیست ولی گویا اولین کتاب تویسنده است که اگر اینطورباشد ازنظرمن شایسته جهارستاره است .
بعضی فصل ها کلا نامرتبط بود یا شاید من نفهمیدم .مثلا " جایی که شرح کشتن جادوگران درقرن پانزدهم راتوصیف میکند و نکته ای که وصف حال ما بود: قاضی خوشحال بود که مردم آنقدر ازاومی ترسند که قبل ازاینکه درچنگش گرفتارشوند ، خودرامی کشند ( نقل به مضمون ) .
تا حدود بیست صفحه ازکتاب ، ارتباط نمیگرفتم ولی تا انتها بهتر وبهترشد وبرایم عجیب بود که درانتها کتابی که ازنظر سن وجنسیت هیچ نزدیکی با من نداشت ، این چنین به دلم نشسته بود که بخواهم دوباره بخوانم .کتاب کم نقصی نیست ولی گویا اولین کتاب تویسنده است که اگر اینطورباشد ازنظرمن شایسته جهارستاره است .
May 26, 2023
واقعا دلیل محبوبیت هاروکی موراکامی رو متوجه نمیشم. البته در روزگاری که امثال ریچل هالیس کتاب مینویسن و کتابهاشون در لیست پرفروشهای نیویورک تایمز قرار میگیره نباید تعجب کرد که امثال موراکامی کتابهاشون پرفروش نشن. نمیخوام بیانصافی کنم و موراکامی رو با امثال هالیس مقایسه کنم ولی نوشتههای این بزرگوار در خوشبینانهترین حالت، نوشتههایی متوسط هستند. نوشتههایی که با انواع و اقسام صحنههای ایروتیک، خوردن دلیل و بیدلیل انواع و اقسام نوشیدنیها و قطار کردن اسم خوانندههای جاز و آثارشون انباشته شده و در این بین با آوردن چند جملهی دهن پر کن سر و تهاش رو هم میاره، نوشتهای نیست که بشه اینقدر بهش پرداخت و بهش توجه کرد. شخصیتها در اکثر کتابهاش سرگردانند، گویا میخواد با سرگردانی شخصیتها سبک تازهای رو به ادبیات معرفی کنه که گویا موفق شده نظرها و خوانندههای زیادی رو به خودش جلب کنه مثل فیلمهایی که جدیدا مد شده که هر چقدر بی سروتهتر باشه فاخرتر به نظر میان.
خلاصه به باور من این موجی که از کتابهای موراکامی بلند شده روزی فرو مینشینه و کتابهاش در ته کتابخانهها خاک خواهند خورد و از یاد میرن.
خلاصه به باور من این موجی که از کتابهای موراکامی بلند شده روزی فرو مینشینه و کتابهاش در ته کتابخانهها خاک خواهند خورد و از یاد میرن.
September 3, 2016
In November this book traveled from Japan to New Orleans via my son and then traveled back to Japan with me the following month. I brought it because it's small and lightweight, easily fitting in my carry-on, so I could read it on the plane ride over.
If you already know HM's work, this first novella of his might seem lightweight in substance as well (though it is well-written) but you'll have the pleasure of recognizing many of the themes and motifs that will surface and grow in his later, longer and/or fuller works: adrift, emotionally detached young men; disappearing or dead young women; and, here, only mere mentions of underground tunnels, wells, the cooking of pasta and cats.
Interesting to me at the time I read it: the few times yen are mentioned I could easily convert the amount to American dollars as I had to deal with that while planning our trip; and a character's mention of a visit to Nara as it was a place we'd be seeing in just a few days.
If you already know HM's work, this first novella of his might seem lightweight in substance as well (though it is well-written) but you'll have the pleasure of recognizing many of the themes and motifs that will surface and grow in his later, longer and/or fuller works: adrift, emotionally detached young men; disappearing or dead young women; and, here, only mere mentions of underground tunnels, wells, the cooking of pasta and cats.
Interesting to me at the time I read it: the few times yen are mentioned I could easily convert the amount to American dollars as I had to deal with that while planning our trip; and a character's mention of a visit to Nara as it was a place we'd be seeing in just a few days.
December 21, 2023
Nothing new under the sun, as just from the beginning, Mr. Murakami likes to play with the reader's mind.
The problem with him, besides the travel on the verge of reality, is that he has more questions than answers, so it depends on your mood how much do you intend to invest in such writings...
The problem with him, besides the travel on the verge of reality, is that he has more questions than answers, so it depends on your mood how much do you intend to invest in such writings...
April 11, 2020
You could almost call Hear the Wind Sing a short story or a novella it is that short. It is the debut novel of Haruki Murakami.
It is set in Japan in the 1970’s and revolves around the life of a protagonist whose name we never find out. He is a university student on a break and the novel is predominantly about his character and his thoughts during this period of time. Much of the novel sees him and his friend, "Rat", drinking and chatting at J’s Bar. Rat is a writer and is my favourite character of the book. I wish he could have played a more prominent role.
The protagonist seems like a pretty normal 21-year-old student. One night he finds a girl, missing a finger on her left hand, drunk in the bathroom. He takes her home and stays the night to look after her. However, when the girl wakes in the morning she is naked, and I think Murakami does this to make you question the morals or scruples of the protagonist. The girl must think the same thing as she asks him why he removed her clothes. She is not too happy and is late for work leaving in a huff. The two meet again by accident in the record store where she works and they become friends.
The rest of the novel is the protagonist talking about his first three girlfriends and about an author named Derek Hartfield, who eventually went on to commit suicide.
Interestingly his third girlfriend committed suicide as well.
I have not read any of Murakami’s books yet, but if they have the same style of writing he employs with this short debut I will be happy. Murakami uses short, very short chapters, and tends to make leaps from one situation or encounter to another completely different one with regularity. I loved the style and it works well with this novel, cutting out any “fluff” and not wasting any words or time. The dialogue between characters is also written well. The problem is, and remember this is his debut, there is nothing particularly special about this debut. Very little happens and it has the feel of a short story. It is an enjoyable read though and does enough to get me interested in his other books. 3.5 Stars.
This is a buddy read with the wonderful Nat K, but we have not had much discussion on this one. Nat has read much of Murakami's work and I am very interested to see her take on this debut. We are now reading his second novel, which is again another short novel, "Pinball 1973".
It is set in Japan in the 1970’s and revolves around the life of a protagonist whose name we never find out. He is a university student on a break and the novel is predominantly about his character and his thoughts during this period of time. Much of the novel sees him and his friend, "Rat", drinking and chatting at J’s Bar. Rat is a writer and is my favourite character of the book. I wish he could have played a more prominent role.
The protagonist seems like a pretty normal 21-year-old student. One night he finds a girl, missing a finger on her left hand, drunk in the bathroom. He takes her home and stays the night to look after her. However, when the girl wakes in the morning she is naked, and I think Murakami does this to make you question the morals or scruples of the protagonist. The girl must think the same thing as she asks him why he removed her clothes. She is not too happy and is late for work leaving in a huff. The two meet again by accident in the record store where she works and they become friends.
The rest of the novel is the protagonist talking about his first three girlfriends and about an author named Derek Hartfield, who eventually went on to commit suicide.
Interestingly his third girlfriend committed suicide as well.
I have not read any of Murakami’s books yet, but if they have the same style of writing he employs with this short debut I will be happy. Murakami uses short, very short chapters, and tends to make leaps from one situation or encounter to another completely different one with regularity. I loved the style and it works well with this novel, cutting out any “fluff” and not wasting any words or time. The dialogue between characters is also written well. The problem is, and remember this is his debut, there is nothing particularly special about this debut. Very little happens and it has the feel of a short story. It is an enjoyable read though and does enough to get me interested in his other books. 3.5 Stars.
This is a buddy read with the wonderful Nat K, but we have not had much discussion on this one. Nat has read much of Murakami's work and I am very interested to see her take on this debut. We are now reading his second novel, which is again another short novel, "Pinball 1973".
August 8, 2019
Tên sách này mà rơi vào tay một tác giả khác, như Takuji Ichikawa chẳng hạn, thì câu chuyện này chắn hẳn sẽ là một câu chuyện tình yêu lãng mạn. Nhưng tiếc thay, Lắng nghe gió hát lại rơi vào tay Murakami, thế là chuyện tình yêu chẳng còn, mà gió lại còn là gió sao Hỏa và nó hát lên rằng: "Sau hai trăm năm mươi ngàn năm nữa, mặt trời sẽ phát nổ. Đùng... OFF." Thật là một câu hát hay làm sao! Đúng như những gì mình mong đợi khi cầm cuốn sách này lên, tức là chẳng mong đợi gì cả, để tự nó đến đâu thì đến. Mình sẵn sàng để Murakami buộc một dải băng quanh mắt và cầm tay dẫn ra giữa cánh đồng sao Hỏa đầy những giếng là giếng. Ông sẽ không để mình lỡ chân lọt xuống và nếu có lỡ, thì ông cũng sẽ cùng rơi xuống với mình, sẽ chọn một cái động tối đen và đi vào mà đến lúc thấy ánh sáng thì hóa ra một tỷ rưỡi năm đã trôi qua. Cứ mỗi lần đọc xong một cuốn của Murakami là trong đầu mình lại bật ra cái suy nghĩ: "A! Đây là cuốn sách hay nhất của ổng! Mình sẽ còn đọc đi đọc lại nhiều nhiều!" (Tất nhiên là trừ Kafka on the shore ra). Đọc cuốn nào cũng nghĩ như thế mà chỉ có Lắng nghe gió hát này là đọc được đến lần thứ hai, ngay sau khi đọc xong lần đầu vì lẽ là đọc nhanh quá, chưa kịp hiểu gì thì đã hết rồi. Đọc lần hai mình cũng chẳng hiểu gì hơn, chỉ được cái là đọc chậm nên hình dung trong đầu rõ ràng hơn, và chẳng hiểu sao, mình thấy vui hơn. Mình cũng thích nhân vật tôi cực. Rồi mình sẽ còn đọc lại cuốn này nhiều nhiều!
June 20, 2020
3.5* and more!
This is my first Murakami book. I have chosen an odd book to begin with. I loved his writing style. It's simple, beautiful and very much alive. I don't know how else to put it. The characters though they don't speak much are sketched in a way you believe they are real and out there living their life.
This book felt like an incomplete story. Theres no real beginning or ending to a "story", there's not much of a story too. This book is about a 21 year old guy telling us about his time between coming back home during his college vaccation and going back towards college. He spends time with his friend Rat and meets an unnamed woman whom he helped, he recollects about the three girls he had slept with etc.
What caught my attention about this book is, how Murakami is able to fool me as reader to go on reading about absolutely nothing much, and still make me not regret reading it. That's a true talent.
This is my first Murakami book. I have chosen an odd book to begin with. I loved his writing style. It's simple, beautiful and very much alive. I don't know how else to put it. The characters though they don't speak much are sketched in a way you believe they are real and out there living their life.
This book felt like an incomplete story. Theres no real beginning or ending to a "story", there's not much of a story too. This book is about a 21 year old guy telling us about his time between coming back home during his college vaccation and going back towards college. He spends time with his friend Rat and meets an unnamed woman whom he helped, he recollects about the three girls he had slept with etc.
What caught my attention about this book is, how Murakami is able to fool me as reader to go on reading about absolutely nothing much, and still make me not regret reading it. That's a true talent.
December 2, 2019
اگه چیزی داشته باشیم، میترسیم از دستش بدیم؛ اگه هیچی نداشته باشیم نگران اینیم که همیشه همینطوری بمونیم.
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