Author Archives: susan

Then Murakami subtley disappoints: As Miss Saeki went around interviewing people for her book, maybe she met my father.  It’s entirely possible.  There can’t be that many people around who’ve been struck by lightning and lived, can there? I breathe … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As I said, up to these last few chapters life was rather tranquil for both Kafka and Nakata.  Then McCarthy stepped in with blood and guts and now, Marquez.  Raining fish and leaches.  Two of my favorite authors though, so … Continue reading → Continue reading →

One of the things I hate the most is being laughed at for being dumb, but I can’t help but laugh along with those of you who’ve read Murakami and have noted my comments so far about his unmetaphorical writing … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Hoo-boy.  Murakami has just presented us with McCarthy’s Judge (Blood Meridian) in the form of a man who dresses like and calls himself Johnnie Walker and who claims he must kill cats.  A philosopher, a man who forces one to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

But it doesn’t make sense… The dog’s eyes were as glazed and lifeless as glass beads congealed from swamp water. (p. 122) Now I like Murakami for his simple writing style and great story, but I love metaphor and simile … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Ah, my world is riddled with mystery lately.  Here’s some from Murakami: Okawa glanced at the photo and made a gloomy face.  Frown lines appeared between his eyebrows and he blinked in consternation several times.  "I’m grateful for the sardine … Continue reading → Continue reading →

There has really been no language style that Murakami uses that has had me race to the computer in admiration; his style is pretty straightforward writing without metaphor, simile or particular beauty of words. I think where he excells perhaps … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As I’ve said, every other chapter alternates between the two stories, that of Kafka and of Nakata.  Nakata’s story is told by a series of difference techniques and timelines that defy linear sequencing in that while they start out as … Continue reading → Continue reading →

About a quarter of the way into the book, some thoughts on Murakami and his novel: No pretty prose, stark imagery of detailed description rather than any use of simile or metaphor (although I reserve that for the cats that … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Easy reading so far; good thing, as the pages number 401.  We open with a first person narrator, a 15 year-old boy who runs away from home.  His mother long dead, his older sister–where?, but it is his father whom … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Well for one thing, in putting McCarthy back and in interfiling the recently purchased books one in the "M’s" wouldn’t fit.  That’s part of the reason that this is my next selection. The main reason though is that I’ve been … Continue reading → Continue reading →