between this, kafka and wind up bird, my favourites ( )

beautiful. ( )

A contrived amalgamation of Raymond Chandler done with a really bad surreal twist. ( )

After two years since Joann gave me a copy, I finally finished reading Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Murakami Haruki. I will have to say that this book was a tedious read at first, but I was able to “adjust” as soon as I reached the middle of the story.

When I try to compare this book with the rest of the novels he wrote (and translated in English — so basically the ones I have accessed with), this is probably the one that seems to be very different, perhaps I would say that this is Murakami’s “most fictional” work so far, at least novel-wise. Regardless, he stuck with the first-person narration, which I find to be one of the common traits of Murakami’s novels (and to some extent, his short stories). Hard-Boiled ’s narration just reminds me of a later Murakami novel, Kafka on the Shore, which was the first Murakami novel I read, despite of it being one of his newer works.

I like this book, but I still have some quirks about this story; most of them are minor stuff though, and since I am interested in looking at Murakami’s novels in an academic way (ergo hindi ako tulad ng isang poster somewhere out there who only knows how to proclaim how “nakaka-wtf” ang mga stories ni Murakami, hay naku, nakakainis talaga, but I digress), most of these will probably be things that some other people wouldn’t really pay too much serious attention to. For example, like what I mentioned before, the continued usage of “watashi” or “boku” in the story. Also, the very, uh, I guess “carefree” view about sex and marriage. I noticed what my professor back at U of M mentioned about Murakami dropping so many branded and foreign names (i.e. food, music) that some of his novels (using Hard-Boiled… as an example) as a type of “manual” for readers, using the story to pick which ones are “cool” and which ones are “worth trying out.” I think this is not a new thing, as earlier post-war novels tended to name/brand drop a lot of things too.

I guess my main, should I say, pet peeve on this one is that Murakami’s boku (or whoever that narrator was) has the same characteristics as his other boku: likes to drink, likes sex, very observant, but it seems that he seems to be too lazy to do anything about his life. Provided that the situation that they (referring to Murakami’s protagonists) were in are pretty messed up already (and in the case of this novel, it is f*cked up alright), they all seemed to have a solution, but in the end they all choose not to do anything about it. I am not sure if it’s because they find their situation helpless and there really is nothing to do to fix/remedy things; they think doing nothing is the best solution to everything; they just do not want to make things worst; or all of Murakami’s protagonists are just too absorbed with their own minds that they just won’t bother (i.e. or maybe they are just effing lazy?). I would like to look at why most of his characters end up like this, rather than actually look at how Murakami’s novels are “post-modern”, but this whole discussion owes a separate entry (or perhaps, an academic paper).

Regardless of that, I think Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World deserves the acclaim and the popularity that it receives, because it’s a fine book to read. But again it’s a task to start with it as first. The opening is nothing like, say Sputnik Sweetheart, where the opening line just gets the readers’ attention. I think anyone who is interested in reading Murakami should check out Norwegian Wood and Hard-Boiled Wonderland… first, then start reading the Trilogy of the Rat.

I have only two favorite authors listed in my profile. One is Harlan Ellison – and I entered his name fully aware of the body of his work. The second is Haruki Murakami, and his inclusion may have represented more of a leap of faith. I had read some of his books, was consistently floored, so added him as a favorite. And with each additional book I read, I am convinced his inclusion as a favorite is well-founded.

So, I started another of his novels wondering if my anticipation would be shattered with reality. Never fear. Again, an excellent book with a compelling story, excellent descriptions, and off-beat characters we shouldn’t understand but somehow do. While Murakami’s books often have a fantastical aspect (maybe surreal is the better word), this comes of the most science-fictional/fantasy-like I have encountered. In fact, there is almost a cyber-punk feel to it (without the hecticness that really helps define cyber-punk.) Two stories are interwoven – one the science-fiction element of a man who launders information through his memory and the other the fantasy element of a city of unicorns that exists at the end of the world. The elements are brought together seamlessly and, as Murakami always does in spite of the unbelievability of the situations and plot, we believe in what is occurring. Only one minor complaint – one chapter of the book suffers a bit from “As you know Bob” complex (that is, an involved section trying to explain the science behind some of the action). Too much detail, it is unnecessary. We are already believers. But this is a quibble, a small stumble in a well-told tale.

I still have more Murakami to read. But I don’t want to jump into them right away. The idea that in the next month or so I will have another Murakami novel to discover is a bright light in my reading future. I hold off taking them on because the joy of discovery for each new book is heightened by the patience of waiting. And, with each book, the fear that he may not live up to my expectations become less and less a concern ( )