Comments | 50books_poc: Books 12-15: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Outlaw Culture, Does Your Mama Know?, Shadow Princess

veleda_k in 50books_poc

Comments 5

zahrawithaz August 3 2010, 01:33:00 UTC

Thanks for these reviews--all are on my to-read list, and this helps prioritize them!

ms_mmelissa August 3 2010, 23:41:55 UTC

Thanks for the reviews. I'm not a huge fan of Murakami, but I feel like I should give him another shot after reading your review.

veleda_k August 4 2010, 03:29:41 UTC

I'll admit that Murakami isn't for everyone. Several of his books don't even really do it for me and I'm a huge fan. Which ones have you read? His work can really vary, so if you dislike one, you might like another.

ms_mmelissa August 4 2010, 21:46:33 UTC

So far only South of the Border, West of the Sun which I found underwhelming despite its initial promise. But like you've said, I've heard from many people who passionately love some of his works while absolutely detesting others. It was hard for me to even figure out a starting point for his works since even within his fans there is much debate about which of his books are good and which ones are not.

veleda_k August 5 2010, 02:12:57 UTC

South of the Border, West of the Sun along with Norwegian Wood are what I call Murakami's sentimental novels. (I also refer to them as "Everyman characters and the mysterious, damaged women they love.") Those two are very different from anything else he's written, which I call his weird novels. (Sputnik Sweetheart is an exception, being a mix of both.) I myself like the weird ones, of which I think The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is the best. (Though I also really like Kafka on the Shore, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, and After Dark.)

I'd read one of the weird ones and give him another try. You might still not like him, but, like I said, he's not for everyone.