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The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
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IBR - The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
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I've started this one, but the print in my copy is miniscule, so probably won't get much read until I get my new reading glasses.But so far in the first few pages there are cats (or a distinct lack thereof), and weird sexual goings on, so it's definitely Murakami! 😆
I finished this one, and totally forgot to talk about it here. Idiot girl.This is a mind bender, in such a good way.
Have you gotten any farther in yet? I don't want to be all spoiler-y.
I have to admit I'm struggling, as the print in my copy really is miniscule, and I am still waiting for my reading glasses!If they don't come in in the next couple of days, I'll buy the audio for this one and finish it that way.
Sammy, if you don't feel like buying it, we can just not use the buddy read points this month for this book. I have no problem with that.
That's ok, I have a credit left, and I don't like leaving a book unfinished 😆
I hope the narrator is good then.My advice is to not get stoned before you listen to it. It is dream-like enough without added brain fog.
I ended up taking several days reading this, as I cannot rush through Murakami books.
Yes, I tend to take him pretty slowly too. but it's worth it.
I went back and forth about how to rate this one. I loved loved loved about 80% of it, but wanted a bit less of the various histories. I think there was too much war and atrocity for my current mood. When I reread it, I may feel differently. Toru Okada is one of the coolest characters I have encountered lately, and I can't even tell you why I responded to him so well. You will understand my inner confusion when you get into it.
This is also chock full of very interesting female characters that are engaging and enigmatic and add to the overall brain-fucked-ness of the book.
Done!It was definitely a typical Murakami. Cats, weird sex stuff, general bizarreness...
I agree about the histories/general backstories. I'm not sure I saw the point of the WWII stuff really. just took me out of the fun I was having with Toru.
it's interesting though. Toru is definitely a great character, which is odd because he's kind of not a character at all. For the most part he's very passive - everything is happening to him, rather than because of him - but then he has those moments...
Got to say though... I've found myself going to some odd places in order to think, but the bottom of a well is definitely a new one to me 😆
That's the same thought I had about Toru. He is not really everyman, nor is he totally passive, but with a couple of exceptions, he doesn't do anything much. But, somehow, Murakami made that compelling. Not sure I could do the well thing. I had kind of an "Altered States" vibe with the whole sensory deprivation aspect of it. Not for me, I think.
Making the everyday compelling is a skill he has. He shares it with Stephen King.not many people can pull that kind of thing off, but they definitely do.
I agree wholeheartedly.
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