Wind-Up Bird Chronicle - No Spoilers

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami is our July 2021 New School Classic Group Read.

This is the No Spoiler Thread
The Spoiler Thread will open on the 1st.

This early posting of the No Spoiler thread is to discuss any non-plot issues pertaining to the book.

Appropriate Posts can contain:
1. Information about the author.
2. Compare editions/translations.
3. Any historical or background information
4. Are you familiar with this author’s work? Do you have any expectations going into the book?
5. What made you decide to read this book?
6. Any fan fiction that you have read or would like to read? Just link the books.
7. If you loved the book and want others to share in that experience, use this thread to motivate others, again save plot specifics for the Spoiler thread
8. If you hated the book, it would be best to keep that for the spoiler page

The most important thing to remember is no plot discussion. Any post that contains plot information or spoilers will be deleted.

[Natalie]

I've never read any Murakami but I've meant to for years. Hopefully this will be the push I need!

[J_BlueFlower]

I read Kafka on the Shore some years ago. A strange experience. Very different from anything else. I really liked how he disregards almost all storytelling rules, because it was so different. If the rest of the books are great for the same reason, I am not sure I need to read one more.

[Luke]

I read enough Murakami back in the day to be comfortable with not having picked up anything of his since, but if I ever do so again (and I probably will), this is the work I would choose. The fact that I can now use this for a challenge cateogry specifying a group read is an added incentive.

[Robin P]

Yes, Murakami is weird but for some reason I really enjoy him. You have to be willing to suspend disbelief in multiple ways.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

I hope several members are willing to give this book a try - after all, enough people voted for it to win :)

[Janelle]

The Murakami I’ve read I’ve really enjoyed. I’m looking forward to this one!

[Jesus]

So far I have read Kafka on the Shore and Norwegian Wood by Murakami, and I really enjoyed them both even though I found Kafka on the Shore to be a little bit strange. I can't wait to read this one!

[Robin P]

Jesus wrote: "So far I have read Kafka on the Shore and Norwegian Wood by Murakami, and I really enjoyed them both even though I found Kafka on the Shore to be a little bit strange. I can't wait to read this one!"

Norwegian Wood is his most "realistic book". All the others are weird. I can't explain why I like them and it doesn't bother me that lots of stuff is never explained.

[Milena]

I would like to give it a try. I read Norwegian Wood earlier this year. It was good, I really liked it. But I know it's different from all his other books. I really want to read one of the weird ones.

[Natalie]

I forgot to put this on hold earlier and it’s not looking good for July. 😬 It’s not really one I want to buy so I may not be able to join in or it will be a lot later this year. Hopefully I will be able to join you on another of his books.

[Sam]

I read this for the group read this past month and look forward to the discussion.

[Franky]

I read this one years ago and it was one of my first experiences to Murakami. I really enjoyed it and love a lot of his other works. I'll try to find my copy and join in to this one.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I hope to join but haven't found a copy yet. We'll see.

[Erin]

I thought I had commented in this thread but apparently haven’t yet! I’m joining in, just started. I read a few of his short stories many years ago (from The Elephant Vanishes) and have been meaning to read one of his novels. =)

[Jaqui]

I’m about 30% into the book and I have no idea what is going on . There’s so many scenes and issues ; I’m interested to see how this all ties together.

[Jaqui]

How is this not a quarterly long read ?! It’s so long !!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Jaqui wrote: "How is this not a quarterly long read ?! It’s so long !!"

I'm sure it will take me a quarter to finish it. So glad that we keep all of the book discussion threads open indefinitely.

[Luke]

Jaqui wrote: "How is this not a quarterly long read ?! It’s so long !!"

Apparently the original Japanese version is even longer. It's a shame that I can't read Japanese, German, or Dutch, as I'm not at all a fan of forced abridgements.

[Jaqui]

Even longer ?! Those must be the sections that explain what is going on because I finished it and I’m still lost lol