Date read: January 2, 2011 - January 11, 2011
My edition: 607 pages, year 1997
Published by: Vintage International
Rating: 5 Kisses
Murakami :)The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is many things: the story of a marriage that mysteriously collapses; a jeremiad against the superficiality of contemporary politics; an investigation of painfully suppressed memories of war; a bildungsroman about a compassionate young man's search for his own identity as well as that of his nation. | ||
Nobody knows what the wind-up bird looks like, one of the many riddles in the story that would just want you to read much more.
Favorite Quote: "Once it has taken root in your heart, hatred is the most difficult thing on the world to shake off." - Creta Kano
Review:
Murakami is a genius. He manages to create a different, dream-like labyrinth that is anchored in our world. Everything felt surreal like a Salvador Dali painting. Everything felt like dream-like sequences but you're not asleep. At times "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" feels like "Inception" wherein you're in dream world and you can bend reality. However, some things are too VAGUE or OPEN-ENDED, wherein you just have to use your imagination. A lot of unanswered mysteries that you just like to unfold. I want to go down a well and go to that hotel just to unravel the mysteries that can't put me to sleep at night. Only several authors can make me lay awake at night, I hate it and I love it at the same time. :)
Here is a story that names are not that important. But even if the character's names are hard to remember (because Japanese names are used) they're gonna stick to you even in your sleep. Murakami reminds me of Butch Dalisay (a Filipino writer) not because they have writing style (they don't) but because they're both obsessed with personal histories. They use several chapters/paragraphs just to show where a certain character came from even if its a minor character. And coincidentally, I love HISTORY, hehe.
He also reminds me of Gabriel Garcia-Marquez and Isabelle Allende, both are writers of magic realism. But Murakami's novels have a different kind of magic. I always loved magic realism books.
I also love the way Murakami embedded history in this book specifically the Russian-Japanese war. This war, in a way, was close to Pinoy's heart because for a brief time we have been occupied by the Japanese. The Japanese were cruel to us. But through Murakami's book you would see the war through Japanese eyes. The soldiers were demoralized and tired of it too. I'm not offering some sympathy but I can say "quits na kami". If you love historical fiction, romance and magic you'll surely love this.
Here is a story that names are not that important. But even if the character's names are hard to remember (because Japanese names are used) they're gonna stick to you even in your sleep. Murakami reminds me of Butch Dalisay (a Filipino writer) not because they have writing style (they don't) but because they're both obsessed with personal histories. They use several chapters/paragraphs just to show where a certain character came from even if its a minor character. And coincidentally, I love HISTORY, hehe.
He also reminds me of Gabriel Garcia-Marquez and Isabelle Allende, both are writers of magic realism. But Murakami's novels have a different kind of magic. I always loved magic realism books.
I also love the way Murakami embedded history in this book specifically the Russian-Japanese war. This war, in a way, was close to Pinoy's heart because for a brief time we have been occupied by the Japanese. The Japanese were cruel to us. But through Murakami's book you would see the war through Japanese eyes. The soldiers were demoralized and tired of it too. I'm not offering some sympathy but I can say "quits na kami". If you love historical fiction, romance and magic you'll surely love this.
Check this out: The opening of Haruki Murakami's novel 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle' set to Rossini's 'The Thieving Magpie'.
My soundtrack:
1. The Thieving Magpie by Rossini
2. Come Fly with Me by Frank Sinatra
3. Near to You by A Fine Frenzy
4. Whisper by A Fine Frenzy
5. Breathe Again by Sara Barailles
6. Come Back When You Can by Barcelona
off to read a book! see yah!
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